TOPIC: Disease Identification

Good luck this year on those. Makes me glad that my biggest problem is deer.

All plants are emerging. How long should I wait before first application of Aliette or Ridomil?

I wouldn't use Aliette unless you see a need for it. I would wait until everything is mostly leafed out (another week or two) and drop the first of the three Ridomil applications then. You can do a copper application any time now also if you wish, or combine the copper/ridomil.

I thought I posted the other day - but the first picture looks like powdery mildew to me as one would see on cucurbit (pumpkins, squash, and cucumbers) plants and some landscaping plants (namely euonymus japonicus)

my problem is more localized to the berry stem itself; and I have no problems with my ginseng leaves. It appears to soften and rot the berry stem before the berries turn red. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I have had this problem for the past few years.

That sounds like alternaria Kaybus. As I mentioned in the other post, hard to say without pictures.