At Ozark Berry Farm, we’re often asked about pesticide use and whether we grow organic berries. While we are not certified organic, we follow eco-friendly, transparent practices designed to minimize chemical use and promote healthy soil and plants. On this page, you’ll find everything you need to know about how we care for our blueberries, blackberries, elderberries, and strawberries—year by year.
We avoid using the "cide brothers"—herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, or other common farm sprays. If treatment is ever necessary, we choose organic-based options first.
To be 100% transparent, here are the details of our standard practices and annual applications. We update this page any time our methods change.
Weed Control: We use mulch to suppress weeds and enrich the soil. We also till the bed edges and hand-weed. Unlike many berry farms, we do not use herbicides for weed or grass control.
Fertilizers:
Blueberries: In March, we apply a pellet fertilizer (not organic) with ammonium sulfate, sulfur, and potash for essential nutrients.
Blackberries & Elderberries: We use a balanced 13-13-13 pellet fertilizer.
All Berries: From May to June, we also apply a soluble fertilizer through the drip irrigation system (which waters the roots, not the berries or plants directly).
Strawberries: Grown on tabletops, they require daily feeding through the drip irrigation system with a water-soluble fertilizer.
All Berries (except strawberries):
March: Pelleted fertilizer and sulfur side dressed.
May–June: Soluble fertilizer through drip irrigation.
Strawberries: Daily water-soluble fertilizer through drip irrigation.
Same practices as 2025.
Same practices as 2025.
All Berries (except strawberries):
March: Pelleted fertilizer and sulfur side dressed.
May–June: Soluble fertilizer through drip irrigation.
Blackberries & Elderberries: No additional applications.
Strawberries: Drip irrigation feeding. In mid-July, we applied an organic pyrethrin (from Chrysanthemum plants) for Japanese beetles.
Blueberries, Blackberries & Elderberries:
March: Pelleted fertilizer and side dressing.
Organic lime sulfur sprayed in March.
Strawberries:
Fertilized through drip irrigation.
July–August: Organic insecticides (pyrethrin, Venerate, and Grandevo) used for fruit flies.
All Berries:
March: Pelleted fertilizer and side dressed.
Organic lime sulfur applied in March.
All Berries:
March: Pelleted fertilizer and side dressed.
Organic lime sulfur applied in March.
Blackberries:
No Japanese beetle treatments needed. If required, planned to use Ecotrol (organic oils).
Cane borers treated only once early in the season with organic pyrethrin.
We’re proud of our sustainable practices and are happy to answer any questions you have. Just reach out!