Saskatchewan berry producers faced many challenges last growing season, including flooding, a heavy snowpack, and disease.

The Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture says all the moisture helped breed berry diseases like entomosporium, one of the most damaging diseases on Saskatoon berries.

But some innovative thinking by farmers ensured a good crop this year. The ministry says to help combat the disease, farmers turned to new control products. Topaz is the traditional control product used for entomosporium, but the ministry says farmers are now using another product called Pristine.

"There were very positive results in the use of pristine and it reduced the amount of entomosporium damage down to acceptable levels," says Forrest Scharf, with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture.

The flooding pushed berry crops behind by two weeks leading to some frost damage. Also the heavy snowpack last winter didn't help either. It forced wildlife onto orchards to look for food. These weather challenges are leading more fruit producers towards protective cultivation techniques.

Dr. Adam Dale, from the University of Guelph, says that new techniques can lengthen the growing season. "Growers are experimenting with protective cultivation like high tunnels and green houses. With the right varieties they can grow from July into the fall."

Source - http://saskatoon.ctv.ca/