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Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

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black and yellow striped insect on a yellow cucumber flower

From Northern Illinois (Rockford): Progress of high tunnel research and apple season

July 28, 2026

Freeport High School High Tunnel Research, July 2026The cucumber and tomato high tunnel research project at the Freeport High School Student Garden continues to highlight both the benefits and challenges of protected vegetable production in Northern Illinois. Cucumbers have...

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healthy apple tree with plenty of leaves but no fruit

No apple crop in 2026? Focus on finishing the season strong

July 28, 2026

As I've talked with apple growers across northern Illinois this June and July, I've heard many variations of the same question:"The crop is gone. What should I be doing now?"For some growers, spring freeze events resulted in complete crop losses. Others have orchards with highly variable...

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From Northeastern Illinois (DuPage County): Tornadoes and extreme weather events

July 1, 2026

On the evening of June 11, a tornado touched down in Bartlett and continued southeast bound towards Naperville, Lisle and Northern Indiana. A total of 23 tornadoes were confirmed on June 11 for the Chicago area from the...

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Give us a severe weather break, already!

July 1, 2026

Weather update and outlook from Illinois State Climatologist, Trent Ford.Following the warmest April on record in Illinois, May cooled us down a bit, with temperatures that were right around 1 degree below average. June temperatures have been a mixed bag of warmer conditions early in the month and...

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person walking through a field holding a canister and a spray wand making a herbicide application

Johanning selected as new Extension Specialist-Commercial Agriculture Specialty Crops

July 1, 2026

Nathan Johanning has been selected as the new Extension Specialist - Commercial Agriculture in Specialty Crops and will begin his new role on July 1. Nathan will be filling the position held by Elizabeth Wahle prior to her retirement. He is a 13-year veteran of Illinois Extension, where he has...

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Indeterminate tomato variety trial fruit observations from DSAC

July 1, 2026

Historically, applied fruit and vegetable research conducted at the University of Illinois Dixon Springs Agricultural Center in southern Illinois has always included variety trials, whether in open field production or in high tunnels. For the past 15 years, research projects have been conducted...

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tomato plants wilting and dying in high tunnel

From Central Illinois (Bloomington): From not enough to too much rain - saturated soils are enhancing food safety risks and killing crops

July 1, 2026

According to NOAA weather data, between May 1 and 30, Bloomington-Normal area received about 2.1” of rain – less than half the historical average of 4.8” in that month. We were heading back towards drought-like conditions for many growers – until June. As of the time of writing this part of...

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Ginger update: Container-grown, field-grown ginger doing well, receiving first fertigation dose

July 1, 2026

We are one month in to the second year of a statewide, cross-Illinois fresh ginger rhizome trial, with 6 Extension field staff and 14+ specialty growers collaborating to identify and improve best practices of fresh ginger rhizome production. We are looking at high tunnel and field cultivation of...

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From Northeastern Illinois (St. Charles): Rain rain go away!

July 1, 2026

When local meteorologists said it would be a wet spring for Northern Illinois, they sure weren’t lying! At the time that I am writing this, the rainfall for the month as of June 25 is 6.45 inches for Elgin, which is 2.68 inches above the June monthly average. While this is much needed rainfall for...

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person working on vines inside a high tunnel

From Dixon Springs Ag Center: High tunnel crops enjoyed the moderate June weather conditions

July 1, 2026

Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, melons, strawberries, eggplant, green beans and herbs all appreciated the moderate June temperatures experienced at DSAC. The average maximum temperature was 86.5° F, average minimum temperature was 64.5° F, and the monthly rainfall total was 6.35 inches. All of the...

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Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Latest Posts

From Northern Illinois (Rockford): Progress of high tunnel research and apple season

No apple crop in 2026? Focus on finishing the season strong

From Northeastern Illinois (DuPage County): Tornadoes and extreme weather events

Give us a severe weather break, already!

Johanning selected as new Extension Specialist-Commercial Agriculture Specialty Crops

Indeterminate tomato variety trial fruit observations from DSAC

From Central Illinois (Bloomington): From not enough to too much rain - saturated soils are enhancing food safety risks and killing crops

Ginger update: Container-grown, field-grown ginger doing well, receiving first fertigation dose

From Northeastern Illinois (St. Charles): Rain rain go away!

From Dixon Springs Ag Center: High tunnel crops enjoyed the moderate June weather conditions

Blog Authors

Nathan Johanning

Bronwyn Aly

Nick Frillman