2006 Annual Report 4d.Progress report. This report serves to document research conducted under a non-funded cooperative agreement between ARS and the University of New Hampshire. Additional details of research can be found in the report for the parent CRIS 1931-21000-012-00D, "Small Fruit Production Systems." The purpose of this project (1931-21000-012-00D) is to develop novel blackberry cultural techniques to mitigate low temperature damage. In late fall 2005, middle 1/3-section of each row was covered with floating row cover and in spring 2006 plant survival was assessed. The findings showed that 'Triple Crown' blackberry plants that were covered during winter produced fruit while no flowering shoots appeared on plants that were not covered. An effective winter protection system would help to expand the blackberry production areas in which a USDA-developed blackberries such as 'Triple Crown' can be grown. Another USDA-developed trailing blackberry ('Siskiyou') could not be adequately protected by simply covering them with light-weight spun-bounded polyester fabric under New Hampshire conditions.