IFVN Vol. 31, No. 11 | December 2025 | Illinois Fruit and Vegetable News | Illinois Extension

Review of yields and gross sales for high tunnel tomato and pepper crops in 2025

December 9, 2025

Yield data is collected every year from crops grown within the high tunnels at the Dixon Springs Agricultural Center in southern Illinois. Plots are assigned within each of the tunnels based on the type of research that is being conducted, and replicated data collection allows for statistical analysis to be run to determine treatment effects. A portion of yield data is also captured for the non-...

Blog articles

stalks of brussels sprouts laying out on display at a market

From St. Louis Metro East: Adding pizzazz to your produce display

December 9, 2025

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Whoever thought up harvesting the entire stalk of Brussels sprouts may be on to something. Not only does it show consumers how brussels sprouts grow on the stem, it adds an interesting stacking texture to a display that draws interest.Locally, the St Louis Metro East has experienced a hard...

Finish this story

close up of young cover crop seedlings growing in a field

From Southwestern Illinois (Waterloo): December actually feels like December

December 9, 2025

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Our outdoor growing season has come to an end with a few subfreezing mornings, with the coldest I have seen so far being December 5, registering 16 degrees Fahrenheit. We got our first measurable snowfall on November 29, with about 3 inches of snow followed by 0.45 inches of very cold rain....

Finish this story

green seedlings next to black plastic irrigation tape growing in soil

From Dixon Springs Ag Center: Late seeded cover crops catching up in high tunnel

December 9, 2025

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Two of the three high tunnels are completely cleaned out and have been winterized. The other tunnel has been seeded and is overwintering cover crops for the fourth winter in a row. Due to late-season tomato and pepper harvests, cover crops were seeded during the first week of November, about a...

Finish this story

Pesticide applicator in-person training and testing locations and dates set for 2025-2026

December 2, 2025

Pesticide News

The University of Illinois Pesticide Safety Education Program has released their upcoming clinic schedule with locations that span the state. Offerings will be similar to that of recent years although quite limited compared to when in-person was the only option. If you are interested in attending...

Finish this story

Events

View into a small field with green, growing specialty crops in rows

December 9, 2025

Nonprofit Business Structure Basics
A farm's setup can significantly impact its daily operation and profitability. Farmers don't just grow food because they enjoy it; they farm to provide their community with good food and good jobs while stewarding the earth's resources. Does that mean the nonprofit business structure is a good...

June 9, 2026

5 Steps to Protect Your Farm, Legally Speaking
Build a resilient farm by first taking a few steps to protect it. Are there a few key steps that provide a big impact when it comes to the farm or ranch’s protection from legal risks? Yes, there are, and every farm or ranch, of any size, location, or longevity, is in a great position to build...

April 14, 2026

Land Leasing Basics
Don't let a loose lease delay a farm's growth. Leasing farmland is so commonplace that landowners, farmers, and ranchers may only think about the lease itself once things go wrong. Prevent problems with a strong lease while building a path to a resilient future. Leasing basics will teach what...

February 10, 2026

Forming an LLC
Discover the key questions to ask before selecting the LLC option. If you or your producers are curious about the details of an LLC, you’re not alone. Most farmers choose the LLC as their preferred business structure. The good news is that forming one is quite simple. But at the same time,...