Local Foods and Small Farms

Illinois state climatologist, Trent Ford, shared this updated freeze risk alert for next week. After a warm March and first week of April, unseasonably cold air is going to move into the Midwest and bring a risk of widespread freeze across Illinois. The updated forecasts from the GFS (American) and...

Don’t expect it for the 2025 season in Illinois but look for a new apple and pear thinner from ADAMA under the trade name Brevis SG possibly in 2026.  The company’s U.S.  launch will start with Washington state this year, then expand in 2026.  The active ingredient, metamitron works...

Norovirus is the number one cause of foodborne disease outbreaks in the United States. The number of Norovirus cases reported to the...

This past week, after much preparation and study, I bench-grafted 24 semi-dwarf apple trees with a grafting-knowledgeable friend on Thursday the 13th in Bloomington. Grafting method used was the whip-and-tongue graft. With daytime temperatures topping out at 68F, and a light breeze, we couldn’t...

It is starting to feel like spring.  Our area has actually been very dry for March until this past weekend when we got 1.23” of rain Saturday morning.  Prior to that the soil was exceptionally dry, having missed multiple other storm systems. Other than 0.35” of rainfall on March 5,...

Apple and peach growers, it is that time of year again to order your pheromone traps for insect pest monitoring. These traps should be used through harvest to monitor for pests. Traps are useful for monitoring many insects of fruit crops, and the most important pests for Illinois growers are listed...

Sprayers are up and running for the 2025 season.  Plasticulture strawberries are uncovered, and the first round of fungicide has been applied, as well as the first dose of fertilizer.  So far, no signs of ...

Vegetable transplants are growing well in the greenhouse and should be ready for planting within our high tunnels in the next 2 to 3 weeks. Peaches are in bloom and the summer apple variety in my front yard was at tight cluster. In partnership with our local high school FFA clubs, we hosted another...

During the 2025 Southern Illinois Fruit and Vegetable School recently held in Mt. Vernon, a short survey was created to go along with discussion in the Small Fruit Q & A session. The survey asked participants basic questions regarding crops raised, pricing, varieties, etc. These questions...

With the worst of the winter cold hopefully behind us, pruning of tree fruit and small fruit should be kicking into high gear.  Based on grower feedback, both the apple and peach crop have sustained little to no cold damage and hopes are high for a full crop. Pictured is a high density peach...