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From Northeastern Illinois (DuPage County): Tornadoes and extreme weather events

July 1, 2026

On the evening of June 11, a tornado touched down in Bartlett and continued southeast bound towards Naperville, Lisle and Northern Indiana. A total of 23 tornadoes were confirmed on June 11 for the Chicago area from the...

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Give us a severe weather break, already!

July 1, 2026

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Weather update and outlook from Illinois State Climatologist, Trent Ford.Following the warmest April on record in Illinois, May cooled us down a bit, with temperatures that were right around 1 degree below average. June temperatures have been a mixed bag of warmer conditions early in the month and...

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person walking through a field holding a canister and a spray wand making a herbicide application

Johanning selected as new Extension Specialist-Commercial Agriculture Specialty Crops

July 1, 2026

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Nathan Johanning has been selected as the new Extension Specialist - Commercial Agriculture in Specialty Crops and will begin his new role on July 1. Nathan will be filling the position held by Elizabeth Wahle prior to her retirement. He is a 13-year veteran of Illinois Extension, where he has...

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Indeterminate tomato variety trial fruit observations from DSAC

July 1, 2026

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Historically, applied fruit and vegetable research conducted at the University of Illinois Dixon Springs Agricultural Center in southern Illinois has always included variety trials, whether in open field production or in high tunnels. For the past 15 years, research projects have been conducted...

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two green peach leaves with raised, crinkled tissue in the center of the leaves that appears red and yellow in color

From Northeastern Illinois (St. Charles): Recognizing and managing peach leaf curl

May 29, 2026

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Over the past month, the DuPage and Kane Counties Extension office has received several calls and emails regarding peach leaf curl. Given the wet spring conditions, it is not surprising that this fungal disease is showing up in orchards this year. However, early symptoms can easily be mistaken for...

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large green leaves on a pumpkin plant in a field

2026 Recommended Pumpkin Spray Schedule

May 29, 2026

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Important ConsiderationsCheck The Cucurbit Downy Mildew Forecast Homepage for development and spread of downy mildew. Spray the field when the disease is in locations near the field with chlorothalonil (i.e., Bravo Weather Stik). Spray...

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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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row of green tomato plants in a high tunnel

Early observations from high tunnel determinate tomato variety trial

May 29, 2026

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

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From Dixon Springs Ag Center: Demonstration and research crops off to good start

May 29, 2026

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

New plastic was finally able to be installed on the middle high tunnel on May 12. Wind conditions were calm and the process of reskinning took 8 of us about 2.5 hours to complete. During the month of May, DSAC has received a total of 3.81 inches of rain with an average maximum temperature of 76 F...

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A field planted with rows of green plants with standing water in the field

From Northeastern Illinois (St. Charles): Spotty frosts and continued rain create flooding and planting delays

May 1, 2026

Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Growers

If you established a cover crop last fall or earlier this spring, the persistent April rainfall likely worked in your favor. Across northern Illinois, April weather was highly variable but ultimately warmer and much wetter than normal, shaping planting conditions throughout the western Chicago...

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Specialty Crops Blogs