Illinois Fruit and Vegetable News

Condition changes could be costly to your specialty crop business. The Illinois Fruit and 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.

close up of small, young apple fruits developing on tree

In this issue

Revisiting chemical thinning options for apple growers

From Dixon Springs Ag Center: High tunnel cover crop termination
Fresh ginger rhizome cultivation in Illinois - the pre-sprout process
Lettuce varieties for spring
Special focus: Notching for improved apple branching
From Southwestern Illinois (Waterloo): Conditions conducive for small fruit crop and early season transplant development
From Central Illinois (Bloomington): Weather update
From Northern Illinois (Rockford): Tree fruit crops off to a good start
Construct your portable handwashing station this season
Welcome to the new Assistant Professor of Horticulture
Spring has sprung
From St. Louis Metro East: Fruit crop looking good
Phytobac™ breaks down spray tank residues

Summer Twilight Series continues the tradition of learning and connection with local growers

Upcoming programs

In this issue

Frost and freeze risk across Illinois next week

green and white diamond shaped open ended cardboard with insects inside

In this issue

Monitoring key insect pests in tree fruits using pheromone traps

Protect your customers and loved ones from Norovirus
From Dixon Springs Ag Center: High tunnel cover crop solarization
From Southwestern Illinois (Waterloo): Taking a gamble on early sweet corn planting
New fruit thinner in the pipeline
From St. Louis Metro East: Field work ramping up with warming temperatures
From Central Illinois (Bloomington): Learn by doing - bench grafting
2024 Recap: Common pest concerns and how to control them in 2025

Southern Illinois Grow Gathering at St. Louis Area Foodbank

red cab tractor pulling a piece of tillage equipment through a field

In this issue

Before you plant that field with fruits and vegetables

2025 small fruit survey for Illinois growers
Winter's last shot
From Dixon Springs Ag Center: Seedlings and cover crops are springing into action
From Southwestern Illinois (Waterloo): Definitely not starting off the year in drought conditions
From St. Louis Metro East: Preparations underway for the 2025 growing season
From Central Illinois (Bloomington): Tarping new location for Unity Community Center garden
From Northern Illinois (Rockford): Another successful Stateline Fruit and Vegetable Conference

Land Leasing Basics

Less Seriously

high tunnel in winter with snow on outside

In this issue

Be diligent in snow and ice removal on high tunnels

Specialty crop insurance for the small farmer
Food safety education needs assessment survey
Food safety in fresh produce washing and packing areas
From Dixon Springs Ag Center: Winter weather not effecting cover crops in high tunnel
From St. Louis Metro East: Highlights from South Africa Study Tour
From Northern Illinois (Rockford): Pruning classes offered in February
Illinois EQIP 2025 application deadline established

Land Leasing Basics
Organic production transition and other alternatives
Stateline Fruit and Vegetable Growers Conference
Farm Property Insurance

Upcoming programs

green strawberry plants growing in rows on black plastic mulch

In this issue

Strawberry plasticulture field observations from southern Illinois

Winter insect pest control
From Dixon Springs Ag Center: Cover crop establishment in high tunnel
From Southwestern Illinois (Waterloo): Excellent performance of fall crops
From Northern Illinois (Rockford): Season highlights
A resilient broccoli alternative: Broccolini
Revised Pesticide Safety Education publications for 2024-2025
EPA releases Rodenticide Strategy, including final biological evaluation on the effects of 11 rodenticides on endangered species and associated mitigation

Planning Farm Succession-POSTPONED
Digging Deep Into Data
Digging Deep Into Data
Annie's Project 101
2025 Southwestern Illinois Commercial Tree Fruit School
Digging Deep Into Data
Digging Deep into Data
Digging Deep into Data

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

person holding a new strawberry plant growing in a soil plug

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

rows of green strawberry plants in a field

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

two persons working with a computer and a robot inside a high tunnel with tomatoes

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

green tomato leaves with pale yellow splotches

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

green peppers transplanted into brown dead cereal rye mulch

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

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

rapeseed and crimson clover cover crops growing in a field

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

white bleached out leaves on sweet corn seedling

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

map of midwest showing gradients of blue to represent number of chilling units

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