IFVN Vol. 30, No. 5 | June 2024 | Illinois Fruit and Vegetable News | Illinois Extension

Cover Crop Update: Shifting to summer

May 30, 2024

Spring cover crops are mainly now reaching their end. Many have been incorporated or terminated and either planted into or getting ready too. This is year 2 of my no-till/cover crop tomatoes and peppers in a small garden type area. This is an extension of a research project from 2020-2021 with these practices. Transplants were hand set in this small area but a no-till...

Blog articles

Potato leafhoppers are moving into Illinois

May 30, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

It is starting to be potato leafhopper season in Illinois. Potato leafhoppers are pests on a variety of crops (fruit, vegetable, ornamental) and they do not overwinter here, so they migrate in from the south as the weather warms up. Potato leafhoppers feed by inserting their needle-like mouthparts...

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tomatoes and flowers growing in raised beds inside high tunnel

From Dixon Springs Ag Center: Crop development looking good in high tunnels

May 30, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

In our current research project, “Strategies for Improving Biological Control of Insect Pests for Vegetable Growers Utilizing High Tunnels”, the second treatment or strategy besides establishing and overwintering cover crops is growing a row of cut flowers within the same high tunnel as...

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two periodical cicadas on an apple tree limb

From Southwestern Illinois (Waterloo): Example of periodical cicada damage on apple trees

May 30, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Out in the field, most crops have been off to a good start. There was a week or two of some downtime on planting due to the wet weather, but some of that is starting to resume. Harvest of peas, greens, and other spring vegetables is underway. Asparagus harvest is nearing the end with an early start...

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tomato plants growing inside a high tunnel

From Central Illinois (Decatur): Grafted tomato observations

May 30, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

I stopped by a large produce grower in my area, Maddox Sweet Corn Farm, and Ted showed me their grafted versus non-grafted heirloom tomato trial. In the photo (photo credit: D. Gucker Illinois Extension 2024), the row of tomatoes on the left and the row on the right are the same tomato variety. The...

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Personal Protective Equipment and Sprayer

Maintaining personal protective equipment

May 29, 2024

Pesticide News

At this time of year, when pesticides are commonly being used, it is important to take the time to properly clean and maintain Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The following is taken, with little revision, from the national Pesticide Applicator Core Manual first edition and was...

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News releases

A farmer wearing a hearing aid while doing outdoor chores at a chicken coop.

May 23, 2024

Illinois AgrAbility provides assistive technology to farmers statewide
URBANA, Ill. — Stepping in to assist farmers through research, conversation, knowledge, and assistance devices is how Illinois AgrAbility continues to work alongside farmers across the state of Illinois. Together, the two work together to...

Events

July 16, 2024

High Tunnel Production Field Day
More Illinois specialty crop growers are planting in high tunnels to benefit from the extended growing season, increased crop diversity, higher yields, and improved quality. But high tunnels come with their own unique challenges including deciding on layout and structural design, managing insect...