"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." --Aristotle
Address any questions or comments regarding this newsletter to the individual authors listed after each article or to its editor, Rick Weinzierl, 217-333-6651, weinzier@illinois.edu. To receive e-mail notification of new postings of this newsletter, call or write the same number or address.
In This Issue:
Upcoming Programs (the list includes dates for most of our 2013 programs for January-February)
Regional Updates (from Mike Roegge in western IL)
Notes from Chris Doll (fall sprays for peach leaf curl, urea on apples, late apple varieties)
Fruit Production and Pest Management (spotted wing Drosophila again -- briefly)
Vegetable Production and Pest Management (kale harvests; brown marmorated stink bug)
Local Foods Issues (2013 Small Farms Webinar series; "My Connections" on MarketMaker)
Upcoming Programs
Two upcoming winter programs of broad interest to Illinois commercial fruit and vegetable growers in December and January are the Great Lakes EXPO, December 4-6, and the Illinois Specialty Crops, Agritourism, and Organics Conference, January 9-11, 2013. These programs are listed first, below, followed by several other local and regional programs.
- Great Lakes EXPO, December 4-6, 2012. Grand Rapids, MI. A comprehensive program that covers production and marketing of a broad range of fruit and vegetable crops and farm marketing, including tracks for organic and greenhouse growers as well as conventional outdoor production. For more information, see http://www.glexpo.com/.
- Illinois Specialty Crops, Agritourism, and Organics Conference, January 9-11, 2013. Crowne Plaza Hotel and Conference Center, Springfield, IL. More details to come, but mark your calendars. Workshops on January 9 will cover high-tunnel production systems, cover crops, basics of orchard establishment and management, and sweet corn production and pest management. Concurrent tracks on January 10-11 include fruits, vegetables, herbs, agritourism, organic production systems, and emerging issues and challenges in specialty crop production and marketing. The 2013 program flyer with the complete meeting agenda is available online by following links at the Illinois Specialty Growers Association page at http://www.specialtygrowers.org/ (directly by clicking http://jhawkins54.typepad.com/files/pre-conference-flyer-2013.pdf .
- Training and testing for a Private Pesticide Applicator license is offered at multiple locations in the next few months. A Private Applicator’s License is required for the purchase and use of Restricted-Use pesticides. These training programs are very strongly oriented to field crop agriculture (corn, soybeans, wheat, and alfalfa) because most of the state’s private applicators (farmers) grow these crops, but there is only one test for private applicators, regardless of the crops you grow. Use http://web.extension.illinois.edu/psep/ to learn the dates and locations for programs for Private Applicators (not Commercial Applicators).
- Sangamon Area Farm to School Summit, November 2-3, 2012, at the Workforce Careers Center on the Lincoln Land Community College campus, Springfield, IL. Focuses on improving child nutrition, supporting local agriculture, and integrating school gardens into curricula. For information and registration, see http://web.extension.illinois.edu/lms/.
- 20th National Small Farm Trade Show & Conference, November 1-3, 2012, Central Missouri Event Center, Columbia, MO. Features dozens of SARE grant recipients plus staff from the USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program. For more information, see http://www.smallfarmtoday.com/trade-show.html.
- GAPs – Good Agricultural Practices for safer fresh produce – Workshop, November 9, 2012, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. University of Illinois Extension, Sangamon County Office, 700 S. Airport Drive, Springfield. For more information and to register, https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/registration/?RegistrationID=6413.
- Building the Base of Your CSA: Best Practices, Including Member, Volunteer, and Intern Agreements Webinar, December 10, 2013. 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. Covers potential legal risks of running a CSA and strategies for crafting a CSA member agreement to improve customer satisfaction and retention. For more information and to register, see http://web.extension.illinois.edu/units/event.cfm?UnitID=483&EventID=59583 .
- Transplant Success Webinar, December 12, 2013. 1:30-3:00 p.m. Covers transplant production, including media, crop planning, dealing with environmental factors, and planting out successful transplants. 1:30-3:00 p.m. For information and to register, see https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/registration/?RegistrationID=7337 .
- 2013 Small Farm Webinar Series ... see the schedule below under the Local Foods Issues heading.
- Southern and Southwestern Illinois Tree Fruit Schools, February 5 and 6, 2013. Programs will be held at Mt. Vernon and Hardin. More information to come.
- Stateline (IL-WI) Fruit and Vegetable Conference, February 11, 2013. Midway Village Museum, Rockford, IL. More information to come.
- A combined vegetable and small fruits program (production, pest management, marketing), February 12-13, 2013, will be held in Mt. Vernon ... more details to come.
- Kankakee-area Vegetable Growers School, February 26, 2013 ... more details to come.
Regional Updates
In western Illinois, since the remnants of Hurricane Isaac come through on Sept. 1, our immediate area has received 10 inches of rain (some have had much more and some less). This was more rainfall than we received during the entire growing season (April 1-Aug. 31). Needless to say, soil moisture levels have increased dramatically. However, most streams are still not running nor are tile lines. Unfortunately, for many producers these rains came much too late to salvage their crops. For vegetable growers, irrigation was the difference this year between having and not having a crop.
Apple growers have a decent crop this year, as most varieties survived the April frost and the drought and produced a varying degree of crop. Irrigation of trees in some orchards helped retain fruit to maturity, although some varieties didn't hold crop very well at all. Some growers have noted a slight amount of limb decline and death.
The fall squash and pumpkin crop, both irrigated and non-irrigated, has been yielding well. The amount of fruit on non-irrigated soils is remarkable considering the lack of vine growth prior to the September 1st rains. Those rains brought on many fruits, and the size was impressive. Unfortunately the frost that occurred in late September brought an end to vine growth, leaving many very large green fruits.
The area had frost occur up to 4 times since the third week in September, and summer vegetable crops have pretty well ended. Fall crops are still producing as are summer crops in high tunnels. Primocane blackberry and raspberry crops are still flowering. Asparagus ferns are starting to decline with the cooler weather, and cercospora blight has appeared since the September 1st rains in some plantings.
Fall cole crops look good where irrigation has been used. Lepidopteran insects (caterpillars) are still abundant on some of these plantings. It appears that some of the high tunnel crops (lettuce, greens, etc.) are slower to mature than in previous years. This may be due to cooler temperatures in late September and October, or perhaps less sunlight.
Mike Roegge (217-223-8380; roeggem@illinois.edu)
Notes from Chris Doll
November is near, which will bring to a close all of the irritating political announcements and advertisements. It also means that deer hunting season is not far away, and according to deer sightings in this area, some population control could be needed by orchardists and motorists.
Late October has brought an earlier leaf drop than usual, especially for peach trees. The defoliation levels vary from block to block and between varieties, but drop is well under way, which means that peach leaf curl sprays can be made at most any time. Apple leaves are still tight except in drought-damaged areas. Since apple scab showed up in some orchards this year, urea sprays at 40 pounds per 100 gallons pre or post leaf drop might help induce more rapid breakdown of infected leaves. This is also a method of getting some nitrogen added to the tree and soil at a good time.
Our moisture situation has improved with about three inches this month from six rain events that have really helped newly seeded ground covers. Whether Ridomil treatments are needed for collar rot control this year depends in the soil and orchard history.
In the Back-40, I have Fuji and Cripps Pink apples awaiting harvest for full color and flavor. They might hang until a hard freeze happens.
Chris Doll
Fruit Production and Pest Management
Spotted Wing Drosophila Again -- briefly
A final note for 2012 on the distribution of spotted wing Drosophila in Illinois ... the map below shows counties from which confirmed identifications of adult specimens have been recorded. McLean, Woodford, and Livingston counties were added in mid-October based on trapping efforts coordinated by Chris Konieczka and Kelly Allsup. It is likely that this insect is present in most if not all counties in Illinois. Previous issues of this newsletter have included reports on the damage it causes and its control ... see http://ipm.illinois.edu/ifvn/contents.php?id=11#fruit and http://ipm.illinois.edu/ifvn/contents.php?id=13#fruit. Continue to be watchful for this insect and manage it as needed in
high-tunnel raspberries and strawberries. Michigan State University's web site on SWD includes directions on how to construct traps to monitor for it ... see http://www.ipm.msu.edu/SWD/SWD-monitor.htm.
Spotted wing Drosophila occurrence in IL, based on adult specimens.
Vegetable Production and Pest Management
Plenty of Kale This Fall
It seems ironic to be talking about a bumper crop in a drought year, but if there is a crop this year that qualifies, it is kale. Harvesting kale can be accomplished in a manner similar to how one might harvest collards or romaine lettuce - one leaf at a time. If done this way, the kale will keep coming on for many weeks. Kale is ready to harvest anytime you have six or eight leaves on the plant. Kale harvested after a frost becomes sweeter, and you can harvest kale well into the winter. The technique for harvesting is to cut the stems a few inches from the main stalk, and be sure to leave about 4 to 6 leaves on the plant so it can continue to thrive. New stems and leaves will sprout from the center of the main stalk.
Kale is traditionally sold in bunches. It will stay in prime condition for about twenty-four hours and should be refrigerated as soon as possible after harvest.
As far as production goes, kale is a hardy crop that is a consistent producer throughout the growing season and well into winter. Most of the growers I work with have kale as a staple for their CSA deliveries as well as fall farmer's markets. A trick I learned from my growers is to introduce kale to customers by making them "kale chip" samples. If you like potato chips (and who doesn't?) kale chips baked in the oven with olive oil and sea salt will "hook" your customers!
Kyle Cecil (309-342-5108; cecil@illinois.edu)
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
I received specimens of adult brown marmorated stink bugs collected last week in Carroll County in northwestern Illinois. They were crawling on the door and window of a house ... this insect aggregates in buildings to pass the winter, just as multicolored Asian lady beetles do. This collection suggests that a population / infestation probably existed somewhere nearby and that the species is established there. We will learn more about its presence in Illinois over the next few weeks as fall aggregation continues.
Adult brown marmorated stink bug (photos by David Shetlar at http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/pdf/FS_3824_08.pdf). Adults are characterized by white bands on the antennae, alternating light and dark areas on the exposed sides of the abdomen, and very pale coloring on the underside of the body.
Brown marmorated stink bug is a serious invasive pest of vegetables, fruits, field crops, and many other plants. See Penn State University's fact on this insect at http://ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/brown-marmorated-stink-bug. If you see an insect that you think is brown marmorated stink bug, collect the specimen, wrap it in tissue paper, put in into a pill bottle or similar container, and place it into a freezer for 3-5 days. Then send the pill bottle in a small box or padded envelope to me -- Rick Weinzierl, University of Illinois Department of Cop Sciences, 1102 S. Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801.
Rick Weinzierl (217-244-2126; weinzier@illinois.edu)
Local Foods Issues
Mark your calendars for the 2013 Small Farm Webinar Series
The Small Farm Webinar Series is a weekly educational series for the small farm community and provides practical knowledge on emerging topics which advance local food production in Illinois. This series of online events is aimed at providing small farm producers with a look at how leading practices in production, management, and marketing enable operations to improve predictability and sustainability.
The dates and topics ...
January 10, 2013 | Raising Broiler Turkeys on Small Farms |
January 17, 2013 | Strawberry Production |
January 24, 2013 | Water Sanitation For Small Farms |
January 31, 2013 | Wildlife Damage Control |
February 7, 2013 | Basics of Fruit Insect Management |
February 14, 2013 | Farm Financial Management |
February 21, 2013 | Seed Saving |
February 28, 2013 | Crop Rotations in High Tunnels |
March 7, 2013 | Farm to School Sales - What's involved? |
March 14, 2013 | Beneficial Insects |
March 21, 2013 | Weed control in pastures |
March 28, 2013 | Crop Budgeting Resources |
All programs are offered on-line. They will also be available via the small farm webinar archive site. More information regarding registration will be forthcoming Any questions regarding the series can be sent to Kyle Cecil, Small Farm Educator, University of Illinois at cecil@illinois.edu or by contacting any of the Small Farm Educators listed at the end of this newsletter.
Kyle Cecil (309-342-5108; cecil@illinois.edu)
MarketMaker
"My Connections" on MarketMaker understands that food-related businesses need each other and we want to help them connect. "My Connections" offers an easy way to link -- profile to profile -- with all the people you do business with. Producers can connect with farmers markets, processors, wholesalers, chefs, restaurants, grocery stores, and they, in turn, can connect with producers. You'll be one click away from each other!
Connecting is as easy as 1-2-3...
- Log in with your username and password.
- Go to "Member's Area" and click on "My Connections".
- Enter the name of the business you want to link up with and connect their profile to yours.
Don't have a MarketMaker profile? Just go to http://www.marketmaker.uiuc.edu and register. It's free of charge!
If you need assistance, contact the MarketMaker Team at marketmaker@extension.uiuc.edu or call 309-757-9077.
New Curriculum to Educate Youth on Value-Added Agriculture Opportunities Uses MarketMaker
The Agricultural Marketing Resource Center (AgMRC) offers a free, new curriculum to educate youth on opportunities for rural development through value-added agriculture. The curriculum, located at www.agmrc.org, provides instructors with full lesson plans on agritourism, aquaculture, livestock, biomass and renewable energy. Information for the curriculum is drawn directly from the website, www.agmrc.org.
MarketMaker is currently included in the curriculum as a source of finding examples of Agritourism both statewide and region-wide and will continue to be embedded in the curriculum as more lessons are added. AgMRC, located at Iowa State University Extension, is an electronic, national resource for producers interested in value-added agriculture. Users can browse commodities and products, investigate market and industry trends, study business creation and operation, read research results, and locate value-added resources. Vocational agriculture instructors can use lesson plans to engage students in a natural vs. organic debate, the creation of posters, interviews of value-added businesses within their community, and a case study analysis of their own value-added ag enterprise.
Lori Dalfonso (309-792-2577; dalfonso@illinois.edu)
Less Seriously ...
From the joke board at the gym ...
I told my wife the truth ... I'm seeing a psychiatrist. She told me the truth too ... she's also seeing a psychiatrist ... and a plumber, a car salesman, and a bartender.
Funny how all your bad habits disappear when you live alone.
University of Illinois Extension Specialists in Fruit and Vegetable Production & Pest Management
Extension Educators – Local Food Systems and Small Farms |
||
Bronwyn Aly, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Pope, Saline, and White counties |
618-382-2662 |
|
Katie Bell, Franklin, Jackson, Perry, Randolph, & Williamson counties |
618-687-1727 |
|
Sarah Farley, Lake & McHenry counties |
847-223-8627 |
|
Nick Frillman, Woodford, Livingston, & McLean counties |
309-663-8306 |
|
Laurie George, Bond, Clinton, Jefferson, Marion, & Washington counties |
618-548-1446 |
|
Zachary Grant, Cook County | 708-679-6889 | |
Doug Gucker, DeWitt, Macon, and Piatt counties |
217-877-6042 |
|
Erin Harper, Champaign, Ford, Iroquois, and Vermillion counties |
217-333-7672 |
|
Grace Margherio, Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center, St. Clair County |
217-244-3547 |
|
Grant McCarty, Jo Daviess, Stephenson, and Winnebago counties |
815-235-4125 |
|
Katie Parker, Adams, Brown, Hancock, Pike and Schuyler counties |
217-223-8380 |
|
Kathryn Pereira, Cook County |
773-233-2900 |
|
James Theuri, Grundy, Kankakee, and Will counties |
815-933-8337 |
|
Extension Educators – Horticulture |
||
Chris Enroth, Henderson, Knox, McDonough, and Warren counties |
309-837-3939 |
|
Richard Hentschel, DuPage, Kane, and Kendall counties |
630-584-6166 |
|
Andrew Holsinger, Christian, Jersey, Macoupin, & Montgomery counties |
217-532-3941 |
|
Extension Educators - Commercial Agriculture |
||
Elizabeth Wahle, Fruit & Vegetable Production |
618-344-4230 |
|
Nathan Johanning, Madison, Monroe & St. Clair counties |
618-939-3434 |
|
Campus-based Extension Specialists |
||
Kacie Athey, Entomology |
217-244-9916 |
|
Mohammad Babadoost, Plant Pathology |
217-333-1523 |
|