Position your commercial fruit and vegetable crop for success.

Commercial fruit and vegetable growers face a lot of uncertainties. One thing is certain: University of Illinois Extension has the practical, current research to help you make those important production decisions. The 2024 Southern Illinois Fruit and Vegetable School brings informative, practical, and up-to-date research-based information to address the challenges of growing fruit and vegetables commercially in Southern Illinois and Missouri. Industry experts will share current trends in insect and disease management, as well as a variety of other production-related topics. Onsite vendors will be available to discuss production needs.

Attend any sessions within these concurrent tracks:

• Tree Fruits
• Vegetables
• Cut Flowers and Small Fruits

Registration Details

• $35 per person for advanced registration on or before February 1.
• $50 per person for late and at-door registration after February 1.

Conference Schedule

Registration begins at 7:45 p.m.

Tree Fruit Track

• 8:30 AM: 2024 Climate Prediction
  Trent Ford, State Climatologist, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois
• 9 AM: Peach Disease Updates
  Mohammad Babadoost, Professor and Extension Crop Sciences Specialist, University of Illinois
• 9:30 AM: Tree Fruit Insect Update
  Kacie Athey, Assistant Professor and Extension Entomology Specialist, University of Illinois
• 10 AM: Break with Vendors
• 10:30 AM: Illinois Statewide Tick Surveillance Program
  Holly Tuten, Associate Vector Ecology Scientist, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois
• 11 AM: The 2023 Season in Review
  Rick Weinzierl, Weinzierl Fruit and Consulting, LLC; Professor Emeritus, University of Illinois
• 11:30 AM: Apple Disease Update
  Mohammad Babadoost, Professor and Extension Specialist, University of Illinois
• Noon: Lunch Break
• 1:30 PM: Perennial Cankers
  Janna Beckerman, Professor and Extension Plant Pathology Specialist, Purdue University
• 2 PM: Biorational Insecticides
  Kacie Athey, Assistant Professor and Extension Entomology Specialist, University of Illinois
• 2:30 PM: Break with Vendors
• 2:45 PM: Biorational Fungicides
  Janna Beckerman, Professor and Extension Plant Pathology Specialist, Purdue University
• 3:15 PM: Adjourn

Vegetable Track

• 8:30 AM: High Tunnel Research Update
  Kacie Athey, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, University of Illinois
• 9 AM: Cottage Food Sales and Transitioning to Retail and Commercial Space
  Libby and Derek Ervin, Owners and Operators, Glacier's End Farm
• 9:30 AM: Rispens Seed Update
• 10 AM: Break with Vendors
• 10:30 AM: Products and Techniques to Improve the Efficiency of Irrigation on Specialty Crops
  Mark Torkelson, Indiana Irrigation Company
• 11 AM: Management of Tomato Diseases in Open Field and Indoor Production
  Mohammad Babadoost, Professor and Extension Crop Sciences Specialist, University of Illinois
• 11:30 AM: AgrAbility
  Haley Jones, Illinois AgrAbility Program Coordinator, University of Illinois Extension
• Noon: Lunch Break
• 1:30 PM: Management of Cucurbit Diseases in Illinois
  Mohammad Babadoost, Professor and Extension Crop Sciences Specialist, University of Illinois
• 2 PM: Review of Cottage Food Laws for Specialty Growers
  Mary Liz Wright, Nutrition and Wellness Educator, University of Illinois Extension
• 2:30 PM: Break with Vendors
• 2:45 PM: Review of Asparagus Production in Southern Illinois
• Katie Bell, Local Food Systems and Small Farms Educator, University of Illinois Extension

Cut Flowers/Small Fruits Track

• 8:30 AM: Add Value to Your Flower Crop Succession Plan
  Chris Lueking, Horticulture Educator, University of Illinois Extension
• 9 AM: Starting an Urban Farm: Perspectives From a Minority Female Farmer
  Quianya Enge, Social Justice Advocate and Restorative Justice Practitioner, Heartland Alliance
• 10 AM: Break with Vendors
• 10:30 AM: Natural-Based, Sustainable Approach to the Floral Farm Industry
  Morgan Hopkins, Owner and Operator, Flowers to the People Flower Farm
• Noon: Lunch Break
• 1:30 PM: Considerations in Establishing Blueberries
  Pat Byers, Horticulture Field Specialist, University of Missouri Extension
• 2:30 PM: Break with Vendors
• 2:45 PM: Strawberry Production and Marketing at Arnold Family Farms
  Randy Arnold, Owner and Operator, Arnold Family Farms (Alma, AR)

• 3:15 PM: Adjourn