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Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

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A large group of bugs feeding on the surface of an orange pumpkin

Be on the lookout for squash bugs!

The squash bug is the main pest of pumpkins in Illinois. Squash bugs overwinter as adults and move into pumpkin plantings in June (southern IL) and July (northern IL). They prefer squash and pumpkins compared to cucumbers and melons. In southern Illinois, two...
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A hand holding a quarter with three purple blue oval shaped fruit each smaller than the coin

Recap on the haskap

Since 2016, the Rockford Illinois Extension office has been home to a small planting of honeyberry (also known as haskap) bushes. Originally supported by a Specialty Crops Block Grant, the project explored the potential of honeyberries—and goji berries—for Northern Illinois growers. (Spoiler: goji...
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many muskmelon seedlings with two leaves each growing in a black tray with soil on a rack.

Muskmelons seeded for summer cantaloupe variety trial

Muskmelons are considered a high value crop in Northern Illinois and continue to be a popular choice at farmers markets. Certain specialty melons like cantaloupe and honeydew are often too big to enjoy in one sitting, which can negatively affect fruit quality in just 1-2 days. However, muskmelons...
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A black service dog guiding a person walking with a cane.

Service animals: Where they can or cannot go

Animals of all kinds, whether they are wildlife, domesticated animals, work animals, pets, or pests, are all potential sources of contamination to fresh produce and water sources on the farm. Animals can track their feces containing harmful microorganisms from one place to another so their presence...
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peach tree branch with small leaves and busted part of bark from hail

From St. Louis Metro East: Fruit crop looking good

Since the last newsletter, several cold fronts have come through the region; not enough to take the fruit crop, but enough to slow development and do some damage to blackberry canes in the northern part of the region. Several reported hail damage to buildings and fruit trees after severe weather,...
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