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May brings an extended spring

Update from Trent Ford, Illinois State Climatologist. April 2026 was the warmest April on record statewide in Illinois and stirred intrusive thoughts of an early and hot start to summer. However, cool air arrived from Canada just as the calendar turned to May, and the first two-thirds of the final...
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Drying hands: An important step during hand washing

By now many of us know that washing hands involves wetting hands with clean water, applying soap and rubbing palms, between fingers, under fingernails, and the back of the hands, followed by rinsing under clean running water and then drying. This article talks more about the drying step.It is...
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April of weather extremes

Trent Ford, Illinois State Climatologist, provided this article.April has continued our very warm and active spring, with average temperatures that have been 5 to 10 degrees warmer than average statewide (Figure 1). The warmth has pushed soil temperatures into the 60s and 70s statewide, well ahead...
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Close-up of a purple asparagus stalk

From St. Louis Metro East: Spring is here again

One final regional update from Elizabeth Wahle. And the cycle begins again for 2026.  Asparagus harvest is ongoing and a good crop overall is being reported. Plasticulture strawberries are in week two of harvest and as usual for early berries, could benefit from some heat and...
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A small diameter apple trunk with a vertical split in the bark from winter damage

Assessing winter trunk damage in May: apples and stone fruits

May is a critical month for assessing winter trunk damage because trees are fully leafing out and water demand is increasing. Differences in vigor among cultivars and rootstocks that were subtle during bloom are often more obvious now. Along with thinning decisions, this is a good time to evaluate...
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