Local Foods and Small Farms

Muskmelons are considered a high value crop in Northern Illinois and continue to be a popular choice at farmers markets. Certain specialty melons like cantaloupe and honeydew are often too big to enjoy in one sitting, which can negatively affect fruit quality in just 1-2 days. However, muskmelons...

Animals of all kinds, whether they are wildlife, domesticated animals, work animals, pets, or pests, are all potential sources of contamination to fresh produce and water sources on the farm. Animals can track their feces containing harmful microorganisms from one place to another so their presence...

Overall, the last month has featured typical spring conditions in Central Illinois, with moderate temperatures and average precipitation. However, there were multiple severe weather events on April 2 and April 20 in the area during this period, including one confirmed tornado in Tazewell County,...

Since the last newsletter, several cold fronts have come through the region; not enough to take the fruit crop, but enough to slow development and do some damage to blackberry canes in the northern part of the region. Several reported hail damage to buildings and fruit trees after severe weather,...

A growing concern observed last year was the lack of lateral branches—or “feathers”—on young apple trees, especially in high-density training systems like tall spindle. This can lead to "blind wood"—sections of trunk without productive branches—which can limit yield and canopy development.One...

Handwashing is one of the key hygienic practices that can reduce the spread of diseases and foodborne illnesses along the farm to fork continuum. We use hands to complete several tasks throughout the day and in so doing, we touch many different surfaces, some of which may contain organisms that may...

Tomato and pepper transplants have been planted in all three high tunnels at DSAC. The control tunnel, no cover crop or cut flower treatments in last 4 years, was planted with tomatoes on April 9 and peppers on April 18. The treatment tunnel, cover crop and cut flower plots established the past 4...

Our area has been a little on the wet side lately.  We have had over 9” of rain for the Month of April (as of 4/29) and more rain chances in the forecast before the month is over.  Temperatures have been about average and we have only had a handful of days this year over 80°. We endured...

From Trent Ford, Illinois State Climatologist. Spring temperatures have been very typically variable so far across the Midwest. Average temperatures since mid-March have been 1 to 3 degrees above normal statewide (Figure 1). Despite the warmer conditions, we had a few frost and freeze events in the...

I am sharing some observational results from 5 lettuce varieties I grew this spring.  Five lettuce varieties were set out as transplants 2/28/2025 at my home near Waterloo, IL.  Since I don’t have a high tunnel but I wanted to afford some protection for the plants, they were covered with...