Illinois Fruit and Vegetable News
Condition changes could be costly to your specialty crop business. The Illinois Fruit & Vegetable Newsletter gives practical production advice you can use today to improve your farming operation. From pest management to marketing advice, Illinois Extension experts help you meet the challenges that impact your profit and product.
IFVN Vol. 30, No. 10 | November 2024
In this issue
- "Scary" dry across Illinois as a mild fall persists
- NASS sends out two vegetable surveys this fall
- IEEE Smart Ag Working Group conducting research
- USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service seeking grower input
- From Southwestern Illinois (Waterloo): Fall crops performing well
- From St. Louis Metro East: Cool dry weather perfect for fall agritourism activities
- From Dixon Springs Ag Center: Fall cover crops seeded
- Upcoming programs
IFVN Vol. 30, No. 9 | October 2024
In this issue
- Neopestalotiopsis in strawberry
- Legal training for Illinois small farms: business structure basics
- Mechanical weed control field days
- Squash bug and cucurbit yellow vine decline research proposals
- Dry weather as we transition from summer to fall
- From Dixon Springs Ag Center: High tunnel tomato and pepper crops winding down for the season
- From St. Louis Metro East: The four big weekends leading up to Halloween
- From Northern Illinois (Rockford): Heavy apple crop this year might cause biennial fruiting of some varieties
- Webinar offering: financial tool to adopt biological control
- Upcoming programs
IFVN Vol. 30, No. 8 | September 2024
In this issue
- EPA issues emergency order to stop all use of the pesticide Dacthal
- From Northern Illinois (Rockford): Seasonal environmental stresses showing up in various crops
- From St. Louis Metro East: 'Honeycrisp' apple showing unusually good color development for southern Illinois
- From Southwestern Illinois (Waterloo): Fall crops and more pumpkins
- From Dixon Springs Ag Center: Insect and disease pressure picking up as harvest is winding down
- Burr knot tendency is an undesirable apple characteristic
- Squash bugs spread deadly disease: A new challenge for cucurbit growers
- Cover crop update: Plan now for fall planting
- 2024 Pumpkin Field Day
- Upcoming programs
IFVN Vol. 30, No. 7 | August 2024
In this issue
- From Dixon Springs Ag Center: Field day demonstrates possibilities with farm robotics
- From Southwestern Illinois (Waterloo): Everything is thriving including the weeds
- From St. Louis Metro East: Field corrections needed in some locations after heavy rains
- From Northern Illinois (Rockford): Growers preparing for the upcoming u-pick apple season
- Summer cools down but stays stormy
- Pumpkin disease not evolving, could make a difference for management
- Explore commercial pumpkin production at Extension field day
- Upcoming programs
IFVN Vol. 30, No. 6 | July 2024
In this issue
- Leaf mold observed early in growing season for high tunnel tomatoes in Southern Illinois
- Warm spring and a hot and active start to summer
- Why you should not wash fresh produce with contaminated water
- Assessing periodical cicada damage to fruit
- From Dixon Springs Ag Center: Tomato and pepper harvest well underway
- From Southwestern Illinois (Waterloo): No-till pumpkins transplanted for Pumpkin Field Day
- From St. Louis Metro East: One of the longest strawberry seasons
- From Northern Illinois (Rockford): Apple crop developing as expected
- Here’s what to do if you find spotted lanternfly
IFVN Vol. 30, No. 5 | June 2024
In this issue
- Cover Crop Update: Shifting to summer
- Potato leafhoppers are moving into Illinois
- From Dixon Springs Ag Center: Crop development looking good in high tunnels
- From Southwestern Illinois (Waterloo): Example of periodical cicada damage on apple trees
- From Central Illinois (Decatur): Grafted tomato observations
- Maintaining personal protective equipment
- Illinois AgrAbility provides assistive technology to farmers statewide
- High Tunnel Production Field Day
IFVN Vol. 30, No. 4 | May 2024
In this issue
- Management recommendations of periodical cicadas for commercial tree fruit growers
- Weed Management Strategies for Vegetable Farms
- Cover Crop Update: The April explosion
- Southwestern Illinois(Waterloo) Update: Spring plantings off to a good start
- Mild winter puts plants in a precarious place
- Suggested spray schedule for peach trees without fruit
- Dixon Springs update: Crops planted in high tunnels
- St. Louis Metro East Update: 2024 season is running well ahead of average
- Intensive Vegetable Production, Processing, and Freezing
- Cut Flower Farm and Market
- Cattle and Hog Production and Custom Processing
- Largemouth Bass and Diverse Row Crops Farm
IFVN Vol. 30, No. 3 | April 2024
In this issue
- Cover Crop Update
- Assessing Freeze Damage on Peaches
- February and Winter 2024 IWCS Update from Trent Ford
- Dixon Springs Update: Cool season crops growing in the caterpillar
- Southwestern Illinois (Waterloo) Update: Spring is Abound
- St. Louis Metro East Update: New Apogee recommendation available
- Refresh your grass identification skills
IFVN Vol. 30, No. 2 | March 2024
In this issue
- Sweet corn sensitivity to tolpyralate
- Central Illinois Update: Food production techniques at the Unity Community Center garden
- Northern Illinois (Rockford) Update: Stateline Conference recap
- St. Louis Metro East Update: Warmer winters
- Southwestern Illinois (Waterloo) Update: Cover crops enjoying mild temperatures
- Southeastern Illinois (Olney) Update: Options for cutting costs and reducing waste when seed starting
- Dixon Spring Update: Caterpillar tunnel added for cool season crops
- Plum Curculio Updates: Insights from the orchard
- Considering eating a periodical cicada?
- Time to uncover strawberries
- Forming an LLC
- Upcoming programs
IFVN Vol. 30, No. 1 | February 2024
In this issue
- Chilling requirements for plants
- St. Louis Metro East Update: Will the cold snap effect our perennial fruit crop?
- Southwestern Illinois (Waterloo) Update: Be a part of the Community Collaborative, Rain, Snow, & Hail Network
- Dixon Spring Update: Winter injury on cover crop in the high tunnel
- Curran's Orchard and Grissom Family Orchard and Farm Market Claim Top Honors at the 2024 Illinois Cider Contests
- Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Grants Available
- Sign up for in-person pesticide applicator training clinics, testing across Illinois
- Shifting USDA plant hardiness map reflects changing climate, changes for plants
- 2024 Southwestern Illinois Commercial Tree Fruit School
- 2024 Southern Illinois Fruit and Vegetable School
- Stateline Fruit and Vegetable Growers Conference
- Annie's Project Training
- Forming an LLC
- Less Seriously
IFVN Vol. 29, No. 11 | December 2023
In this issue
- Let your voice be heard! Public comment period on proposed rate changes to chlorothalonil
- New mobile resource for commercial vegetable production
- Dixon Springs Update: Cover crops established in high tunnel
- Everything Local conference strengthens Illinois food supply chain
- Land Leasing Basics
- Forming an LLC
IFVN Vol. 29, No. 10 | November 2023
In this issue
- Hydroponic day-neutral strawberry production observations
- Dixon Springs Update: Preparing beds for year 2 insect trial
- St. Louis Metro East Update: Time for 'EverCrisp' apples
- WPS pesticide safety training requirements refresher: Illinois
- Know this for a simplified registration and licensure process
- Land Leasing Basics
- Forming an LLC
- News and Announcements
IFVN Vol. 29, No. 9 | September 2023
In this issue
- Remember to look at disease resistance when selecting varieties
- Day-neutral strawberries still producing
- Dixon Springs Update: Time to clean the tunnels
- Central Illinois Update: Ginger is teaching valuable lessons
- Southwestern Illinois Update: Pumpkins survive despite weather
- St. Louis Metro East Update: Cool nights benefit red apples
- Land Leasing Basics
- Forming an LLC
- Before you go
IFVN Vol. 29, No. 8 | August 2023
In this issue
- Missouri webinar helps specialty crop growers with organic production
- Southwestern Illinois Update: Pumpkin fruit accelerate growth
- Dixon Springs Update: Hydroponic vegetables continue producing
- St. Louis Metro East Update: Monitor weeds before they go to seed
- Complete survey on two-spotted spider mites
- 5 Steps to Protect Your Farm, Legally Speaking
- Land Leasing Basics
- Forming an LLC
IFVN Vol. 29, No. 7 | July 2023
In this issue
- Rainfall will affect severity of fast-developing phytophthora blight disease
- Farmers Market Food Safety Guide available
- Time for pumpkin disease and insect management
- Central Illinois Update: Unity site tests soil solarization against bindweed
- St. Louis Metro East Update: Blossom end rot attacking peppers, tomatoes
- Dixon Springs Update: Research continues on biological insect control
- Southwestern Illinois Update: Peaches, potatoes excel
- It's your chance to speak at 2024 Food To Flowers conference
- LFPA to strengthen Illinois food system
- Pumpkin Production and Fall Agritourism
- 5 Steps to Protect Your Farm, Legally Speaking
- Land Leasing Basics | Legal Training for Illinois Small Farms
- Forming an LLC
- Less Seriously
IFVN Vol. 29, No. 6 | June 2023
In this issue
- Weather Report: Drought takes hold in Illinois
- What to do about fungicide applications in dry weather
- It's your chance to speak at 2024 Food To Flowers conference
- LFPA to strengthen Illinois food system
- Central Illinois Update: Ginger planted at new Unity high tunnel
- St. Louis Metro East Update: Late freeze creates apple frost rings
- Southwestern Illinois Update: Small fruit harvest continues
- Dixon Springs Update: Tomato harvest reveals some pest damage
- Asking for help just got easier with no-cost mental health access for agricultural community
- Exploring the H-2A Visa Program
- Direct Market Sales
- Pumpkin Production and Fall Agritourism
- 5 Steps to Protect Your Farm, Legally Speaking
- Land Leasing Basics
- Forming an LLC
- Less Seriously
IFVN Vol. 29, No. 5 | May 2023
- Northern Illinois Regional Report
- Download this Issue
- Legal Training for Illinois Small Farms Webinar Series
- Pumpkin Weed Management
- University of Illinois Extension Fruit and Vegetable Specialists
- Summer Horticulture Field Day to be June 8
- Peach Winter Injury Observations
- Less Seriously
- Dixon Springs Ag Center Regional Report
- Upcoming Events
- Southwestern Illinois at Waterloo Regional Report
- Cooler and drier as we move into May
IFVN Vol. 29, No. 4 | April 2023
- Less Seriously: Nothing
- Southwestern Illinois at Waterloo Regional Report
- Upcoming Events
- St. Louis Metro East Regional Report
- Missouri Tomato School
- Cover Crop Update: Cereal Rye Varieties
- Print Version
- Wild End to March, but a Mild April so Far
- Plum Curculio Trapping and Scouting
- Extension Experts
- Dixon Springs Ag Center Regional Report
IFVN Vol. 29, No. 3 | March 2023
- Updates and Information Related to FSMA
- Download this Issue
Recent Issues