Canopy management in raspberries - What's happening in the field?

What's happening in the field?

At the Missouri State Fruit Experiment Station

Canopy management in raspberries

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We thinned the raspberry canopies in early July. Originally the shoots were thinned to about 4 to 5 per bag, or in the case of the in-ground raspberries, per foot of row. We decided to do additional thinning this year before applying pesticides for management of Spotted Wing Drosophila. Additional canes that grew after the original canes were chosen for production in April were removed for better spray penetration into the canopy and better air movement throughout the canopy. The goal is to have an average of 4 canes per bag or square foot.

Weak and spindly canes that grew after the original canes were selected were removed from the base.
Weak and spindly canes that grew after the original canes were selected were removed from the base.
The raspberries in bags after the canopy was thinned during the first two weeks in July.
The raspberries in bags after the canopy was thinned in July.