Specialty Crops

green strawberry plants growing in rows on black plastic mulch

Strawberry plasticulture field observations from southern Illinois

November 27, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

As strawberry plasticulture growers are closing in on the end of the fall growing season for the annual production system, the impact of the relatively new strawberry fungal disease, Neopestalotiopsis, is starting to be seen. Even with diligent spray programs, plant death and decline has still been...

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insect pests on clover plant

Winter insect pest control

November 27, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

As winter is upon us, there are things that growers can do to deal with winter pests. Of course, this is particularly important in winter production and here in Illinois, this is primarily done in high tunnels and greenhouses. In high tunnels, no pest is worse in winter production than aphids (...

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green broccoli head and orange cauliflower head

From Southwestern Illinois (Waterloo): Excellent performance of fall crops

November 27, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

After a warm dry spell of weather in October, we are more wet and have more typical temperatures. We made up for lost time in precipitation having 8.03 inches of rain for the month of November (as of 11/26). Most of this came on 11/4 and 11/5 when we got 6.37 inches of rain. This...

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a few green plants growing in rows inside high tunnel

From Dixon Springs Ag Center: Cover crop establishment in high tunnel

November 27, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

The cover crops seeded in the “treatment” high tunnel are growing, although not as evenly as hoped. The crimson clover stand is almost non-existent, and the annual ryegrass stand is much better in plots at the back of the tunnel (photo to right, B. Aly, Illinois Extension 2024). The working theory...

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row of apple trees in an orchard

From Northern Illinois (Rockford): Season highlights

November 27, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

For Northern Illinois orchards, the 2024 season has concluded. Between Halloween and Thanksgiving, some of the orchards have limited hours with pre-picked apples as they begin to shut down for the season. One of the final cultivars in October is 'Evercrisp' a 'Honeycrisp x Fuji' MAIA apple...

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green head of broccoli still on the plant

From Southwestern Illinois (Waterloo): Fall crops performing well

October 30, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

We are dry in the area, having received little rainfall in the month of October with only 0.06”. We did get almost 6” of rain in the last half of September which went a long way to helping fall crops in the field. Temperatures have overall been fairly warm with highs bouncing between the...

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seeds starting to sprout in a raised bed

From Dixon Springs Ag Center: Fall cover crops seeded

October 30, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

The two-year specialty crop block grant, “Strategies for Improving Biological Control of Insect Pests for Vegetable Growers Utilizing High Tunnels” officially finished data collection in September. During the month of October, tomato, pepper and cut flower plants, stakes, posts, and string have...

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person sitting in front of a computer

USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service seeking grower input

October 30, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Hello everyone! We are students in the College of ACES who are part of the JBT program. The Jonathan Baldwin Turner (JBT) Scholar program is a renewable, merit-based scholarship program that provides financial support and professional development experiences to create leaders in the field of...

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yellow apples in a pile

From St. Louis Metro East: Cool dry weather perfect for fall agritourism activities

October 30, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Hurricane Francine might have put a damper on the first “official” pumpkin weekend this season, but the following weekends have been near perfect for drawing crowds to fall agritourism activities. The pumpkin crop is overall good to excellent, and demand is high. Apple harvest,...

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Webinar offering: financial tool to adopt biological control

September 30, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

A research team, led by Dr. Ariana Torres, from Horticulture Economics at Purdue University, is developing an online tool designed to assist farmers in evaluating the economic impact of adopting integrated pest management strategies. This tool uses a TurboTax Q&A format to ask farmers for...

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lots of red apples hanging on limbs of tree

From Northern Illinois (Rockford): Heavy apple crop this year might cause biennial fruiting of some varieties

September 27, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

We’re about 3-4 weeks into apple season up here with new varieties being harvested each week. For the week of 9/20/2024, this includes ‘Gala’, ‘Honeycrisp’, ‘Early Fuji’, ‘Golden Delicious’, ‘Jonagold’, ‘Cortland’, ‘Pixie Crunch’, ‘Crimson Crisp’, ‘Senshu’, and many, many others. This can vary from...

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person talking and holding a microphone

Dry weather as we transition from summer to fall

September 27, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Weather update by Trent Ford, Illinois State Climatologist.Climatological summer encompasses June, July, and August, and the season often brings more than its fair share of intense weather. This past season was on the mild side, temperature-wise. June started the season with warmer than normal...

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picture of weeding tools with words over the top

Mechanical weed control field days

September 27, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Food Works Southern Illinois Farming Alliance is hosting a Mechanical Weed Control Field Day on two dates from two different locations in the southern Illinois region. Each of these is a full day workshop with lunch included. Tuesday, October 8, Beet Root Farm, Carbondale, IL with be hosting the...

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strawberry plants planted in rows on black plastic mulch

From St. Louis Metro East: The four big weekends leading up to Halloween

September 27, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Operations with agritourism opportunities have really geared up for the fall season and everyone is hoping for great weather these next four weekends leading up to Halloween. The last weekend of September brought welcomed rain to the St Louis Metro East, breaking a moderate drought before it became...

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person holding a new strawberry plant growing in a soil plug

Neopestalotiopsis in strawberry

September 27, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

It’s here and now we have to deal with it. Neopestalotiopsis fruit rot and leaf spot of strawberry, caused by a previously unknown, more aggressive Neopestalotiopsis ...

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Legal training for Illinois small farms: business structure basics

September 27, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Choosing the right business structure for a farm or ranch business shouldn’t be hard. In this webinar, producers will learn how to apply straightforward decision-making factors to your situation. We’ll walk through the tax advantages and business practices that make the most of your choice. A focus...

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tomato plants with red and green fruit inside a high tunnel

From Dixon Springs Ag Center: High tunnel tomato and pepper crops winding down for the season

September 27, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

In our current research project, “Strategies for Improving Biological Control of Insect Pests for Vegetable Growers Utilizing High Tunnels”, tomato harvest has ramped back up now that the raccoon situation is under control. Overall fruit size is smaller while flavor and white core has...

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Squash bug and cucurbit yellow vine decline research proposals

September 27, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Recently, Iowa and Illinois have confirmed the presence of cucurbit yellow vine decline (CYVD), a disease that causes yellowing, wilting, and potential death of infected pumpkin and squash. Although it has been detected in several states, the distribution and frequency of disease is unknown across...

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man's hand next to purple broccolini floret

A resilient broccoli alternative: Broccolini

September 23, 2024

Over the Garden Fence

Hot summer days may be slowly coming to an end, but that doesn’t mean the growing season has to! Fall crops are a staple in the Midwest, which helps farmers and gardeners prolong the short growing season in Northern Illinois. Cool season crops like broccoli are commonly grown in the Spring and Fall...

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man's hand next to purple broccolini floret

A resilient broccoli alternative: Broccolini

September 23, 2024

Over the Garden Fence

Hot summer days may be slowly coming to an end, but that doesn’t mean the growing season has to! Fall crops are a staple in the Midwest, which helps farmers and gardeners prolong the short growing season in Northern Illinois. Cool season crops like broccoli are commonly grown in the Spring and Fall...

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A row of recently transplanted broccoli plants growing for a variety trial.

From Southwestern Illinois (Waterloo): Fall crops and more pumpkins

August 28, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

August, so far, has given us a break from the excess moisture that July brought to the region. We have only gotten 1.29” of rain this month to date. Some crops are showing a little moisture stress, but overall, things look very good. Temperatures have been highly variable, with the earlier part of...

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Looking over a field of rows of cover crop variety trials marked with signage.

Cover crop update: Plan now for fall planting

August 28, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Now is the time when we need to think about what cover crops we are going to put out to help protect fields this winter. Here are a few thoughts to inspire you and help make those decisions.You can find cover crops to plant from now through November, but the earlier, the more options you have. If...

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rows of green strawberry plants in a field

EPA issues emergency order to stop all use of the pesticide Dacthal

August 26, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Due to the adverse health effects associated with exposure to dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA), commonly known as Dacthal, the U.S. Environmental...

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Young apple tree trunk with rough patches and human hand beside for size comparison.

Burr knot tendency is an undesirable apple characteristic

August 26, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

The level or tendency to form burr knots is usually a noted characteristic for each of the different apple rootstocks, but what is burr knot and why is it a concern? Burr knot can be described as an apple disorder that results in adventitious (formed accidentally or in an unusual anatomical...

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small tiny light green leaves growing out of white flower

From Northern Illinois (Rockford): Seasonal environmental stresses showing up in various crops

August 26, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

The main challenge we have experienced from the end of July and into mid-August is that we entered a period without rain in some parts of our region and temperatures being too hot (above 90 F) for some days. This has resulted in a lot of challenges in the final ripening on tomatoes and other crops...

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squash bugs on green pumpkin vine

Squash bugs spread deadly disease: A new challenge for cucurbit growers

August 26, 2024

Farmers growing pumpkins and other cucurbit crops, like melons, might soon face a new challenge. A disease called Cucurbit Yellow Vine Decline (CYVD) was first detected in the late 1980s in Texas and Oklahoma. Since then, it has spread to the Southeast, Northeast, and Midwest regions of the United...

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many red apples on tree

From St. Louis Metro East: 'Honeycrisp' apple showing unusually good color development for southern Illinois

August 26, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

‘Honeycrisp’ is usually known not to color well in the warm climes of southern Illinois, but not this year! Across the board, red-colored apples are putting on a show this year. Early apple cultivars like ‘Sweet Maia’, ‘Blondee’, ‘Buckeye Gala’, and ‘Grand Gala’ have already been...

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red, green and yellow peppers with browing gray net pattern around stem

From Dixon Springs Ag Center: Insect and disease pressure picking up as harvest is winding down

August 26, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

In our current research project, “Strategies for Improving Biological Control of Insect Pests for Vegetable Growers Utilizing High Tunnels”, tomato harvest has slowed down significantly, due in part to a severe raccoon problem. We have trapped almost 20 raccoons in the past three...

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field of pumpkin plants in rows with grass weeds

From Southwestern Illinois (Waterloo): Everything is thriving including the weeds

July 30, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Out in the field everything is thriving with lots of moisture including the weeds! I think we had all forgotten how much rainfall drives weed pressure after two fairly droughty summers the past two years. All summer vegetables are in harvest and doing well. The rain has increased...

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two persons working with a computer and a robot inside a high tunnel with tomatoes

From Dixon Springs Ag Center: Field day demonstrates possibilities with farm robotics

July 29, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

On July 16, we hosted the High Tunnel Production Field Day. This was the second year for this meeting and we plan to make it an annual event. Last year, USDA NRCS and FSA staff talked about programs that each agency offers to support high tunnel production and specialty crop growers. To build on...

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Person talking with a microphone

Summer cools down but stays stormy

July 26, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Monthly report by Trent Ford, Illinois State ClimatologistIllinois experienced a top 20 warmest June on record statewide, but much of that heat came in the first two-thirds of...

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young apple fruits growing on tree

From Northern Illinois (Rockford): Growers preparing for the upcoming u-pick apple season

July 26, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

During the weekend of July 12 to 14 and the week of July 15, we had some farms that received quite a lot of rain and severe winds. Some farms reported receiving 7-8 inches of rain while others, like in the Freeport area, had about 3-4 inches. This was combined with very warm temperatures (above 90...

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young tree trunk in a hole

From St. Louis Metro East: Field corrections needed in some locations after heavy rains

July 26, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

June’s hot, dry conditions were conducive to spider mite flareups, particularly in tomatoes. Ever wonder why? Spider mites are reported to be susceptible to a pathogenic fungus that, when present, is capable of controlling spider mite populations. But for the fungi to survive and do their...

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Rows of apple washing in a large-scale set-up.

Why you should not wash fresh produce with contaminated water

June 24, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Washing fresh produce after harvest has several benefits including removing soil and cooling produce. The Produce Safety Rule...

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row of apple trees in an orchard

From Northern Illinois (Rockford): Apple crop developing as expected

June 24, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

It was great to see many of you at the start of June at the Summer Hort Field Day up north at Jonamac Orchards. One of the takeaways I always enjoy from this event is the growers report, highlighting some of the challenges that growers have faced this winter and spring and the differences that we...

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tomato plants with red and green fruit

From Dixon Springs Ag Center: Tomato and pepper harvest well underway

June 24, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

In our current research project, “Strategies for Improving Biological Control of Insect Pests for Vegetable Growers Utilizing High Tunnels”, cut flower, pepper, and tomato harvest has started. The cut flowers have been harvested for the past three weeks, since the first of June, while...

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Stormy clouds moving across a windmill in a Midwest pasture.

Warm spring and a hot and active start to summer

June 24, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

This month's weather information from Trent Ford, Illinois State Climatologist, 217-244-1330, twford@illinois.edu.A mild May wrapped up the 4th warmest spring on record in Illinois and the warmest since 2012. The warm spring added to a very mild winter...

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red and green strawberries on plant resting on black plastic mulch

From St. Louis Metro East: One of the longest strawberry seasons

June 24, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Who ever heard of plasticulture strawberry season and peach season overlapping but it did this year. Combined with at least a two week early start to the season and cultivars like ‘Ruby June’ strawberry that just keeps producing, this year’s strawberry harvest lasted a good solid seven...

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green stem with tiny tan slots

Assessing periodical cicada damage to fruit

June 24, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

For some, the emergence of the two periodical cicada broods across Illinois went by without a single sighting or rise in decibels. But for others, it was a mass emergence of movement, scent, and sound like no other.Dr. Kacie Athey’s lab is now requesting fruit growers report any sustained damage to...

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green tomato leaves with pale yellow splotches

Leaf mold observed early in growing season for high tunnel tomatoes in Southern Illinois

June 24, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Over the last few years of growing tomatoes in the high tunnels in southern Illinois at the Dixon Springs Agricultural Center, leaf mold has been observed late in the growing season, typically towards the end of August. At that time of year almost all of the tomato fruit has been harvested and...

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small green pumpkin plants planted in a row

From Southwestern Illinois (Waterloo): No-till pumpkins transplanted for Pumpkin Field Day

June 24, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

The summer growing season is here and it feels like it. We are in the midst of a stretch of heat with continued highs in the 90s. We overall have had modest humidity and a breeze most days which makes it tolerable for us, but plants are really showing stress. There is some soil...

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tomatoes and flowers growing in raised beds inside high tunnel

From Dixon Springs Ag Center: Crop development looking good in high tunnels

May 30, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

In our current research project, “Strategies for Improving Biological Control of Insect Pests for Vegetable Growers Utilizing High Tunnels”, the second treatment or strategy besides establishing and overwintering cover crops is growing a row of cut flowers within the same high tunnel as...

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tomato plants growing inside a high tunnel

From Central Illinois (Decatur): Grafted tomato observations

May 30, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

I stopped by a large produce grower in my area, Maddox Sweet Corn Farm, and Ted showed me their grafted versus non-grafted heirloom tomato trial. In the photo (photo credit: D. Gucker Illinois Extension 2024), the row of tomatoes on the left and the row on the right are the same tomato variety. The...

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small green bug on a leaf

Potato leafhoppers are moving into Illinois

May 30, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

It is starting to be potato leafhopper season in Illinois. Potato leafhoppers are pests on a variety of crops (fruit, vegetable, ornamental) and they do not overwinter here, so they migrate in from the south as the weather warms up. Potato leafhoppers feed by inserting their needle-like mouthparts...

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two periodical cicadas on an apple tree limb

From Southwestern Illinois (Waterloo): Example of periodical cicada damage on apple trees

May 30, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Out in the field, most crops have been off to a good start. There was a week or two of some downtime on planting due to the wet weather, but some of that is starting to resume. Harvest of peas, greens, and other spring vegetables is underway. Asparagus harvest is nearing the end with an early start...

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green peppers transplanted into brown dead cereal rye mulch

Cover Crop Update: Shifting to summer

May 30, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Spring cover crops are mainly now reaching their end. Many have been incorporated or terminated and either planted into or getting ready too. This is year 2 of my no-till/cover crop tomatoes and peppers in a small garden type area. This is an extension of a research project from...

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large insects on a tree branch

Management recommendations of periodical cicadas for commercial tree fruit growers

April 29, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

As you have probably heard, very soon our state will be host to two broods of periodical cicadas. Here in Illinois, we actually have five broods of periodical cicadas and so every couple of years some part of the state will be host to periodical cicadas. 2024 is special because it is uncommon for...

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People using a tractor and tree planter to plant peach tree samplings in a field

St. Louis Metro East Update: 2024 season is running well ahead of average

April 29, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Throughout the St Louis Metro East, the season is running roughly three weeks ahead of schedule, with asparagus in its third week of harvest and plasticulture strawberries in their first week of harvest. Apples are up to 5mm fruit size and thinning of fruitlets is in progress. Prior to “traditional...

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peach trees is an orchard with green leaves

Suggested spray schedule for peach trees without fruit

April 29, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Based on observations and considering results from peach brown rot research in the past three years, the following information is in regards to a spray schedule for peach trees without fruit: The important diseases: Leaf curl: A serious leaf disease, regardless of fruit crop....

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people in a high tunnel with plants in rows

Dixon Springs update: Crops planted in high tunnels

April 29, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Crops are responding to warm spring temperatures and increased daylength. The crimson clover cover crop began flowering on March 29 and by April 3 was in full flower and ready to be terminated. In our current research project, “Strategies for Improving Biological Control of Insect Pests for...

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weed seeds germinating in bare area of field

Weed Management Strategies for Vegetable Farms

April 29, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Weed Management is almost always a challenge on vegetable farms. Even if you do have a manageable weed pest, management practices come at some kind of cost, from herbicide cost to labor for hand or mechanical weeding. Dr. Stephen Meyers and Jeanine Arana just released a really nice...

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pink peach blossoms on tree

Assessing Freeze Damage on Peaches

March 26, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Our warm overall winter and above normal February temperatures signaled plants to break dormancy early, putting many of our crops, especially peaches, at risk of freeze damage. The potential for frost/freeze events from mid-March through mid to late April is typically high, putting peaches in...

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pink stage of apple flower development

St. Louis Metro East Update: New Apogee recommendation available

March 26, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Based on research by Wallis and Cox with Cornell University and with support from BASF, an Apogee Sec. 2(ee) Recommendation for Illinois apple growers is now...

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rapeseed and crimson clover cover crops growing in a field

Cover Crop Update

March 26, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Fall Cover Crop Mixtures With spring weather pushing growth, our cover crops are also taking off as well. I had some early fall planted spring oats, crimson clover, and rapeseed (25/6/2 lb/A, respectively) in a few areas including some planted after potato harvest last year...

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green asparagus spear growing from ground

Southwestern Illinois (Waterloo) Update: Spring is Abound

March 26, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

We have been on the typical March roller coaster for weather lately. We have generally been fairly mild but have gone from a few days around 80°F to some morning lows in the upper 20s. We have still been relatively dry for the month of March with only 1.54” of rain to date (as of 3/25/...

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February and Winter 2024 IWCS Update from Trent Ford

March 26, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Weather/Climate Information: Report provided by Trent Ford, Illinois State Climatologist The following description of temperatures, precipitation, severe weather, and drought comes from data compiled by networks that report to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric...

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vegetable transplants growing inside a black netted hoop house

Dixon Springs Update: Cool season crops growing in the caterpillar

March 26, 2024

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Early season cole crops have been planted in the caterpillar tunnel set up over the winter at DSAC. Instead of covering this smaller tunnel with clear plastic, a 30% shade cloth has been attached. Broccoli, cauliflower, kale, cabbage, and swiss chard transplants were planted on March 21. Compost...

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hydroponic strawberries growing in high tunnel

Hydroponic day-neutral strawberry production observations

October 27, 2023

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Hydroponic production allows for different configurations or growing systems that can include gutters, rails, troughs, buckets, slabs, and bags, as well as different substrates or growing media including perlite, coconut coir, rockwool, and more. Couple production system versatility with controlled...

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evercrisp apples

St. Louis Metro East Update: Time for 'EverCrisp' apples

October 27, 2023

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Apples are in the ‘EverCrisp’ window, and the pumpkin crop looks great. The corn and soybean harvest has been in full swing since the third full week of September, and most of those days have been rain free. According to the US drought monitor, the St Louis Metro east is running...

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organic vegetables

Missouri webinar helps specialty crop growers with organic production

August 25, 2023

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

University of Missouri Extension is offering a nine-part webinar series on organic production of specialty crops. The series, which runs Sept. 26 to Nov. 28, begins with an overview of the organic certification process. Other topics include soil and fertility and management of weeds, insects and...

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pumpkin on vine

Southwestern Illinois Update: Pumpkin fruit accelerate growth

August 25, 2023

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Pumpkins are doing well. I gave my pumpkins a side dress application of nitrogen the first week of August and they have really taken off we have fruit starting to size nicely. I have not seen any signs of powdery mildew yet but have started spraying preventative fungicides, especially given the...

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people walking though pumpkin field

Dixon Springs Update: Hydroponic vegetables continue producing

August 25, 2023

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

We had a break from the summer heat last week, but this week the heat dome has moved back over our region creating very hot, humid conditions. With 95-100° temperatures and heat indexes ranging from 105-120°, much of the field work in our high tunnels is completed before noon with lots of water and...

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