Based on research by Wallis and Cox with Cornell University and with support from BASF, an Apogee Sec. 2(ee) Recommendation for Illinois apple growers is now...
Fall Cover Crop Mixtures
With spring weather pushing growth, our cover crops are also taking off as well. I had some early fall planted spring oats, crimson clover, and rapeseed (25/6/2 lb/A, respectively) in a few areas including some planted after potato harvest last year...
We have been on the typical March roller coaster for weather lately. We have generally been fairly mild but have gone from a few days around 80°F to some morning lows in the upper 20s. We have still been relatively dry for the month of March with only 1.54” of rain to date (as of 3/25/...
The latest addition to the demonstration tunnels at the Dixon Springs Ag Center is a caterpillar tunnel. The site was selected late last summer and the grass was sprayed with a burndown herbicide. Compost has been added and incorporated into the native soil. Crops planned to be grown in this tunnel...
Much like the rest of the state, the St. Louis Metro East has been on average experiencing warmer winters, yet the coming spring to date hasn’t been following suite. I’ve noticed the bloom date of snowdrops (winter bloomer) seems to mirror this winter warming trend. For example, 2018-19...
Plum curculio has been a growing problem in most peach and apple orchards in Illinois. A small weevil, laying eggs inside the fruit, is quite destructive to the peaches and apples. Traditionally, we have diagnosed this problem through the crescent-shaped scar that appears on fruit as a result of...
We have gotten a break from the most intense cold with a fairly mild February overall. Precipitation has been fairly light so far with only 0.54” of rain in this month bringing our yearly total to 5.82”. Half of our February precipitation came 2/16 in the form of a light layer of ice...
Illinois will experience the co-emergence of two broods of periodical cicadas in 2024, the 13-year Great Southern Brood (XIX) and the 17-year Northern Illinois Brood (XIII). For the most part, the two brood ranges are not expected to overlap but together much of the state’s inhabitants will be...
Here in Olney, we have been on the same weather roller coaster as the rest of the state. At my house, we received around 2 1/2” of snow along with sleet and drifting on February 16. In a week we have gone from 70-degree days to 19-degree lows and now back to 53 degrees.
Like everyone else, I am...
Sarah Farley and I were privileged to host again the Stateline Fruit and Vegetable Growers Conference on Monday, February 19, in Rockford, Illinois. Over 100 attendees and Extension educators and specialists from 4 universities joined us this year for sessions in the fruit, vegetable, and new...
