A September 4th, 2023 Wisconsin Public Radio article featured CIAS Summer Research Mini-Grant Award Recipient Celeste Huff’s research

Cranberry growers often rely on commercially available bees for pollination. Researchers are hoping research on pollinators can help mitigate diseases that can cause harm to cranberry crops.

A new research project led by CIAS Summer Research Mini-Grant Program award recipient, Celeste Huff, is studying the microbes carried by pollinators into cranberry marshes. These microbes can have various effects on cranberry crops. Some may be pathogens that can harm the crop, while others could be beneficial microbes that help protect the crop by outcompeting pathogens.

This project is complimentary to the cranberry grower survey being conducted by Huff with funding from the CIAS Summer Research Mini-Grant Program.

Huff used sites throughout several central Wisconsin marshes to identify the microbes carried by both wild pollinators and those brought in by farmers.

The initial phase of the research did not provide specific recommendations for farmers, but it lays the groundwork for potential future applications that could benefit cranberry growers.

Wisconsin is the leading producer of cranberries in the United States, accounting for approximately 60% of the nation’s cranberry crop. Most cranberries in the state are grown in central Wisconsin.

The leading market for Wisconsin cranberry growers is sweetened, dried cranberries, often sold as “Craisins.” Cranberry juice is the second-largest market, and some growers also harvest juice during the drying process. Fresh cranberries have the smallest market share.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Division of Extension provides research and advice to cranberry growers to help maintain Wisconsin’s position as the top cranberry producer. This support includes advice on various aspects of cranberry farming, such as wintering practices and pest control.

The research on pollinators and their impact on cranberry crops highlights the importance of understanding the role of these insects in agriculture and the potential benefits of managing their microbial interactions to improve crop health and yield.

See the original WPR article here.