By Clint Thompson
The recent revelation that Neopestalotiopsis impacted multiple nurseries from Prince Edward Island will affect the supply of strawberry tips and plug plants that are available for Southeast growers. Producers are likely to experience a shortage as well as a spike in costs per plants that are available, says Jeff Cook, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agriculture and natural resources agent for Peach and Taylor counties.
“Last year was kind of a shortage, I would say. People were scrambling and trying to find plants because we had some disease issues early; like when we got transplants in, they weren’t looking good,” Cook said. “I feel like every year, there’s a shortage somewhere. A lot of times, it’s just a matter of figuring out who has plants and who has extras.
“I talked to a few people who have been talking about getting into strawberries and I just told them, this is not the best year to do it.”
High Risk
Cook estimated that half of the plants utilized in Georgia and the Carolinas originate from Prince Edward Island. It’s the same place, though, that had major nurseries informing customers that they are cancelling orders or telling plug plant producers and growers to take plants at their own risk. All are due to high levels of Neopestalotiopsis.
It will tighten up supplies significantly as growers look for product elsewhere. Producers should also expect to pony up extra for plants once they find them.
“I know some of the bigger guys secured sources of plants and they secured sources of plants outside of the normal growing regions. There’s a nursery over in Oregon that I sent contact information for some people,” Cook said. “The smaller growers that don’t need a bunch, they’ll more easily find what they need. If you talk about Washington Farms up in Watkinsville and Jake Carter with Southern Belle, you’re looking at 15, 16, or 20 acres. It’s not easy to find that when you don’t have it this time of year.
“If it’s getting close to $1 a plant, you’re looking at $15,000 straight out of the gate just to plant an acre; and that’s not including irrigation, plastic, fertility.”