Home Newsletters Illinois Fruit and Vegetable News IFVN Vol. 30, No. 1 | February 2024

IFVN Vol. 30, No. 1 | February 2024

Chilling requirements for plants

January 29, 2024

With climate change, many growers are concerned about plants receiving enough cold to be fruitful the next year. Endodormancy, a period of rest, is a term used when plant buds remain dormant due to some internal physiological block, even when external growing conditions are conducive to growth. A chilling requirement is one such physiological block employed by most perennial fruit plants grown in...

Blog articles

up close view of dormant apple fruit bud

St. Louis Metro East Update: Will the cold snap effect our perennial fruit crop?

January 29, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

The big question on everyone’s mind is whether the peach crop has been affected by the recent cold snap. Experience tells us -9°F is the benchmark temperature of concern for peaches, where there is an ever-increasing risk of bloom thinning and cambial damage as temperatures approach and drop past...

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small spinach sprouting under a low tunnel

Southwestern Illinois (Waterloo) Update: Be a part of the Community Collaborative, Rain, Snow, & Hail Network

January 29, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Rain, rain, glorious rain!!! We are happily finally getting some much-needed rain in quantities that actually can help us recover the depletion of soil moisture from over the first month of this year. The nice part is that it really is not hampering any major field activities right now...

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spring oats and crimson clover cover crops growing in high tunnel

Dixon Spring Update: Winter injury on cover crop in the high tunnel

January 29, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

For many growers, January and February is the time to attend meetings and conferences to learn about the latest research information, production and marketing management practices, and to network with other growers. Many have already made seed orders for the coming season but may decide on a last-...

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men standing on stage receiving awards for top cider making in Illinois

Curran's Orchard and Grissom Family Orchard and Farm Market Claim Top Honors at the 2024 Illinois Cider Contests

January 29, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

The Illinois State Horticulture Society sponsored its 34th Illinois Sweet Cider Contests and the 21st National Hard Cider Contest, held in conjunction with the From Food to Flowers Everything Local Conference on January 18th in Springfield, Illinois. Patrick Riofredo and Victor Rios of Curran’s...

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News releases

January 24, 2024

Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Grants Available
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) announces $6.4 million in competitive grant funds will be available for projects designed to help strengthen the state’s food supply chain. The program, Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program (RFSI), is a cooperative...

Large group of people sitting in pesticide training clinic session.

January 29, 2024

Sign up for in-person pesticide applicator training clinics, testing across Illinois
URBANA, Ill. — Certain pesticide applications require that the applicator be licensed and certified. It is important to ensure this training and certification is done before making a pesticide application. Putting understanding, experience, safety, awareness, and knowledge to the test helps...

A map of the US with mostly shades of brown and white showing the shifts in grow zones since 2012

January 12, 2024

Shifting USDA plant hardiness map reflects changing climate, changes for plants
URBANA, Ill. — On a cold, blustery January day, it may be hard to remember that 2023 was the hottest year on record. But the newest update to the plant hardiness map, in which half the country shifted to warmer zones, is a stark reminder that the climate is changing and changing fast....

Events

red apple hanging from apple tree branch

February 6, 2024

2024 Southwestern Illinois Commercial Tree Fruit School
Ensure you have the pick of the crop this season. Support the success of your tree fruit operation with practical research-tested best practices from industry experts at the 2024 Commercial Tree Fruit School. This year’s program features a wide range of topics to help growers meet the...

fresh produce fruit, and herbs on a table

February 7, 2024

2024 Southern Illinois Fruit and Vegetable School
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...

February 19, 2024

Stateline Fruit and Vegetable Growers Conference
28th Annual Stateline Fruit and Vegetable Growers Conference - Monday, February 19, 2024 at NIU-Rockford, 8500 E State Street, Rockford, Illinois   University of Illinois Extension is excited to present the 28th Annual Stateline Fruit and Vegetable Growers...

illustrations of jam, corn, herb bunch, and 6 pack of eggs on a faded green background over a yellow wheat field illustration

January 23, 2024 - February 27, 2024

Annie's Project Training
Annie's Project Training is here to support your farm goals and grow your agriculture network. An educational program on risk management, covering financial, legal, market, production, and personal risk, Annie's Project offers farm women an opportunity to: Learn from women experts in the...

Farmer walking though wheat field in the sun, brushing crops with their hand.

March 18, 2024

Forming an LLC
Legal risks can be fatal to a farm business and addressing them proactively can keep farms in business. Just as important, understanding legal issues can dispel anxiety and help farmers realize their power to control their circumstances.    This is the final in a quarterly webinar series...

Less Seriously

They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder but as I be holding my lovely attempt at art, my eyes are not sending signals of beauty to my brain. I guess this was a fun winter activity, but I think I will stick with my day job!

red barn with trees and baby yoda in a winter scene

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Download the PDF of IFVN 30-1 February 2024 (1.42 MB)