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tiny green seedlings growing in a raised bed with two black tubes running down the bed

From Dixon Springs Ag Center: Fall cover crops up and growing

October 29, 2026

October is nearly gone, and we have yet to experience a frost event in our area. Our lowest temperatures arrived in mid-October, bottomed out at 37 F, and have been consistently in the mid to lower 50s most nights. Daytime temperatures in the 70s and low humidity have made for excellent days to be...

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apples displayed in trays on a table for sale at a roadside market

Washington state study tour on commercial specialty crops

October 29, 2026

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

While in Mount Vernon, Washington attending a specialty crop academy with colleagues from other states, we had the opportunity to tour some commercial specialty crop operations in the Skagit Valley. It was interesting talking to commercial small fruit, tree fruit, and cut flower growers about the...

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a field with strawberry plants set out in rows of black plastic mulch

From Dixon Springs Ag Center: Summer harvest might be slowing but your irrigation needs to stay steady

August 31, 2026

The determinate tomato crop from the high tunnels at DSAC was picked out by the second week of August, which is a bit earlier than normal. A few late season fruits have set on the very tops of the plants, but I doubt they will amount to much of a harvest. The indeterminate tomato plants were...

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black and red raspberry fruits on a plant

From Southwestern Illinois (Waterloo): Small fruit harvest ramping up but so is fireblight

May 29, 2026

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

May has been a very busy month out in the field. The weather has been variable but has given growers multiple opportunities for field work and spring planting. Rainfall has gone in waves with a total of 2.91” for the month so far at Waterloo. Areas to the north got hammered with a 3.5”...

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A close-up of a blueberry on the cover of a midwest fruit pest management guide publication

2026-2027 Midwest Fruit Pest Management Guide now available

May 1, 2026

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

The 2026-2027 Midwest Fruit Pest Guide has been updated and the PDF files are available for download. New this year, the spray guide has been divided up into separate sections by fruit family and you can download specific sections, making it...

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person's hand holding a small apple still on the tree surrounded by leaves with orange spots

From Northern Illinois (Rockford): Apple fruit quality looks great this season

July 30, 2025

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

WeatherJuly was wet, stormy and hot. End of story. But really, some farms received excessive amounts of rain all at once that left them with temporary flooding conditions that was then combined with days of heat. Between July 10-11, parts of northern Illinois received 3-5 inches of rain. Some...

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person holding a quarter next to a small reddish apple fruit for size comparison

From Northern Illinois (Rockford): Apple fruit development looks excellent this season

June 30, 2025

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

WeatherJune began with much-needed rainfall, with most areas receiving 1-3 inches over three days. Temperatures remained consistent at the start of the month, ranging from 70-80°F during the day and dropping to the 50s at night, accompanied by periodic showers and storms across the region. However...

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A close up of ripe blueberries on a plant

From Southwestern Illinois (Waterloo): In the field, this has been a berry lovers time

June 30, 2025

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

There was a point where you could find strawberries, red and black raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries all in harvest. Strawberries are mostly done now, and the raspberries are also nearing the end of harvest. Blackberries and blueberries are in mid-harvest now. Early peaches are...

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A hand holding a quarter with three purple blue oval shaped fruit each smaller than the coin

Recap on the haskap

May 30, 2025

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Since 2016, the Rockford Illinois Extension office has been home to a small planting of honeyberry (also known as haskap) bushes. Originally supported by a Specialty Crops Block Grant, the project explored the potential of honeyberries—and goji berries—for Northern Illinois growers. (Spoiler: goji...

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peach tree branch with small leaves and busted part of bark from hail

From St. Louis Metro East: Fruit crop looking good

April 30, 2025

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

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,...

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