Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

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Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

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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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two green peach leaves with raised, crinkled tissue in the center of the leaves that appears red and yellow in color

From Northeastern Illinois (St. Charles): Recognizing and managing peach leaf curl

May 29, 2026

Over the past month, the DuPage and Kane Counties Extension office has received several calls and emails regarding peach leaf curl. Given the wet spring conditions, it is not surprising that this fungal disease is showing up in orchards this year. However, early symptoms can easily be mistaken for...

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May brings an extended spring

May 29, 2026

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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row of green tomato plants in a high tunnel

Early observations from high tunnel determinate tomato variety trial

May 29, 2026

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black and red raspberry fruits on a plant

From Southwestern Illinois (Waterloo): Small fruit harvest ramping up but so is fireblight

May 29, 2026

May has been a very busy month out in the field. The weather has been variable but has given growers multiple opportunities for field work and spring planting. Rainfall has gone in waves with a total of 2.91” for the month so far at Waterloo. Areas to the north got hammered with a 3.5”...

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Drying hands: An important step during hand washing

May 29, 2026

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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Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Latest Posts

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): Recognizing and managing peach leaf curl

May brings an extended spring

Early observations from high tunnel determinate tomato variety trial

From Southwestern Illinois (Waterloo): Small fruit harvest ramping up but so is fireblight

Drying hands: An important step during hand washing

Blog Authors

Nathan Johanning

Bronwyn Aly

Nick Frillman