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 2025 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 session within these concurrent tracks (full lineup with speakers listed below):

• Tree Fruits
• Vegetables
• Cut Flowers and Small Fruits

Registration Details

• $35 per farm for advanced registration on or before February 1.
• $50 per farm for late and at-door registration after February 1.
• Lunch is not included in this year's program and will be on your own.

A new spray guide is not available this year. Instead, you will be given a supplement to the 2023-2024 Midwest Fruit Pest Management Guide. Spray Guides will be available for purchase at the school for $15. Learn more or register for the 2025 program at go.illinois.edu/TreeFruitVegetable.

2025 Schedule

Tree Fruit Track

• 8:30 a.m. - Winter & Spring Weather Outlook and a New Climate Tool for Planning 
  Trent Ford, University of Illinois
• 9:15 a.m.- Practical Weed Management Plan for the Orchard 
  Elizabeth Wahle, University of Illinois Extension 
• 10 a.m. - Break with Vendors
• 10:30 a.m. - Peach Disease Updates 
  Mohammad Babadoost, University of Illinois
• 11:15 a.m. - Cold Damage in a Changing Climate: What's a Grower To Do?
  Brent Arnoldussen, University of Kentucky
• Noon - Lunch Break
• 1:30 p.m. - Apple Disease Updates 
  Mohammad Babadoost, University of Illinois
• 2 p.m. - Beaks And Snouts: Plum Curculio and Stink Bugs in Tree Fruits 
  Kacie Athey, University of Illinois
• 2:30 p.m. - Break with Vendors
• 2:45 p.m. - Modern Intensive Orchard Systems Research for Peaches and Pears 
  Brent Arnoldussen, University of Kentucky
• 3:15-3:45 p.m. - Adjourn 

Vegetable Track 

• 8:30 a.m. - Winter & Spring Weather Outlook and a New Climate Tool for Planning 
  Trent Ford, University of Illinois
• 9:15 a.m. - Weed Management Strategies with Soil Conservation in Mind 
  Nathan Johanning, University of Illinois Extension
• 10 a.m. - Break with Vendors
• 10:30 a.m. - Water Management for Small Scale Vegetable Farms 
  Wenjing Guan, Purdue University
• 11:30 a.m. - Cucurbit Diseases 
  Mohammad Babadoost, University of Illinois
• Noon -  Lunch Break
• 1:30 p.m. - Biological Control in High Tunnels: Lessons from Four Years of Research 
  Kacie Athey, University of Illinois
• 2 p.m. - Tomato and Pepper Disease Updates 
  Mohammad Babadoost, University of Illinois
• 2:30-2:45 p.m. - Break with Vendors
• 2:45-3:45 p.m. - Adjourn 

 Small Fruits Track 

• 8:30 a.m. - Winter & Spring Weather Outlook and a New Climate Tool for Planning 
  Trent Ford, University of Illinois
• 9:15 a.m. - Small Fruit Q & A 
  Bronwyn Aly, University of Illinois Extension
• 9:30 a.m. - Blackberry Trellising Options Pros & Cons
  Dan Becker, University of Kentucky
• 10 a.m. - Break with Vendors
• 10:30 a.m. - A History of Neo Pestalotiopsis: From Discovery to Current Management
  Natalia Peres, University of Florida
• 11:30 a.m. - Opportunities for Long Cane Red Raspberry Production
  Kayla Grey, Southern Illinois University
• Noon - Lunch Break
• 1:30 p.m. - Alternative Management Strategies for Common Midwest Strawberry Diseases
  Natalia Peres, University of Florida
• 2 p.m. - Weed Management in Brambles and Blueberries
  Elizabeth Wahle, University of Illinois Extension
• 2:30-2:45 p.m. - Break with Vendors
• 2:45 p.m. - Grower Talk
  Justin Stevens, Blackberry Hollow Farm
• 3:15-3:45 p.m. - Adjourn 

 Cut Flowers Track

• 8:30 a.m. - Growing Lavender with Tips on Winter Protection 
  Kimberly Hansen, Tenderloin Farms
• 10 a.m. - Break with Vendors
• 10:30 a.m. - U Pick Zinnias and Seed Saving 
  Justin Stevens, Blackberry Hollow Farm
• 11:15 a.m. - Farm Management on a Small Flower Farm 
  Meghan DeGroot, Simple Gifts Flower Farm
• Noon - Lunch Break
• 1:30 p.m. - Pricing and Budgeting for Market Bouquets        
  Irina Sheshukova, Kansas State University
• 2:30 p.m. - Break with Vendors
• 2:45 p.m. - Demonstrating a Centerpiece Arrangement and Hand Spiral Bouquet Technique
  Irina Sheshukova, Kansas State University
• 3:15-3:45 p.m. - Adjourn