Extension Specialty Crop Resources
Specialty crops of all varieties add food, fun, and decorations to our everyday life, from pumpkins for Halloween to our favorite Farmers Markets veggies. Illinois Extension offers many resources for today's specialty crop growers, including exceptional webinars, tip sheets, and how-to videos.
Summer horticulture field day set for June 12 at Flamm Orchards
The Illinois State Horticultural Society is proud to announce the annual Summer Horticulture Field Day at Flamm Orchard in Cobden, Illinois. The Flamm Family is welcoming guests to tour their orchards, retail shop, and packing house operation on Thursday June, 12th. Located in Cobden and nestled in the rolling hills of Southern Illinois, Flamm Orchards is a multigenerational family farm founded in 1888. Currently owned and operated by the 5th & 6th generation of the family, Flamm Orchards has a rich history of over 137 years in orchard and vegetable production. Implementing new practices, innovative growing methods and industry leading technologies are all a part of keeping the farm viable going into the future.
The field tour will take attendees through Strawberry fields to learn about variety selection, disease pressures and protection strategies, and utilizing plasticulture. A tour through the Peach orchards will include discussions on a fruit thinning trial using Accede, pruning techniques, crop load management, and a sprayer demonstration using SmartSpray Technology. Lastly, through the apples, the Flamm’s will discuss rootstock selection, training and pruning techniques, thinning strategies, implementing drainage tile and more. The tour will also include University of Illinois and Southern Illinois Extension specialty crop researchers and educators in Entomology, Pathology, Horticulture, and Weed Management that will provide insight and answer questions along the way.
The greatest way to learn about the industry is from trial and error and hearing from fellow farmers. Hear from the Flamm family about their business, their farm and lessons learned, both good and bad. Specialty crop industry researchers, suppliers, and industry partners will also be on site to help inform and answer questions throughout the day. Please join us for a fun and informative on-farm learning experience, speak with other growers and hear what the experts have to say about issues facing our industry going forward!
Advance registration is $30 and includes lunch. To register and find more information, visit www.tickettailor.com/events/ishs. Questions: email Jenna Spychal – Summer Hort Field Day Coordinator at jenna@jonamacorchard.com or call 217-254-5258.
Grape production video series. Over 20 short videos covering all aspects of grape production and management.
Contact us
Commercial specialty crop growers, contact Elizabeth Wahle at wahle@illinois.edu or 217.300.9541.
Home and small farm growers, contact your local Extension office or reach out to an educator from our Horticulture or Local Foods and Small Farms teams.