"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 (lots of listings for beginning and established growers)

Regional Reports (from southern and western Illinois)

Fruit Production and Pest Management (survey on format and use of the Midwest Tree Fruit and Small Fruit Spray Guides)

Vegetable Production and Pest Management (fall weed control)

Local Foods Issues (chemical use survey from NASS, NRCS EQIP cut-off dates of November 21, 2014, and January 16, 2015)

University of Illinois Extension educators and specialists in fruit and vegetable production and pest management

Upcoming Programs

Check the Illinois SARE calendar for a full list of programs and links for registration.
http://illinoissare.org/ and http://illinoissare.org/calendar.php
Also see the University of Illinois Extension Local Food Systems and Small Farms Team's web site at:
http://web.extension.illinois.edu/smallfarm/ and their calendar of events at http://web.extension.illinois.edu/units/calendar.cfm?UnitID=629.

Illinois Specialty Crops, Agritourism, and Organics Conference, January 7-9, 2015, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel and Convention Center, Springfield, IL.  See http://www.specialtygrowers.org/iscaoc-conference.html for the program ... scroll down to and click on the link that reads,
"Download 2015 Pre-Conference Program and Registration Form."

Regional Reports

From Southern Illinois ...  Despite some warm temperatures in the 80s early in the week, things seem to be more fall-like with highs in the 60s and the forecast of low temperatures in around freezing by late this week into the weekend.  To date (October 29) we have not had any wide-spread frosts, however, at the family farm in Monroe County we have had enough frost to defoliate pumpkins in a low lying area and leave some injury on remaining pumpkin fruit, especially white varieties and many of those in the winter squash family with tender skins.  Generally the soil has been dry until some rain (around 0.7" in Murphysboro) early Tuesday morning.

Most farmers' markets are finished for the season or are finishing soon.  With the lack of widespread frost, greens are still very plentiful.  Apple harvest is winding down, with most of the harvest completed.  Overall it was an average apple crop yield, but quality was very good.  This year's pumpkin crop was also very good.  However, due to the cool temperatures this summer, many long-season varieties such as 'Fairytale' struggled to mature.  Despite the slow growth, the fruit size I have seen on this variety has been exceptional with some fruits weighing close to 40 lbs!

Cover crops have also benefited from our modest temperatures and rainfall.  Most plantings have established very well.    It is too late for crops such as oilseed radishes and oats, as they winter-kill and while they will germinate, they will not have enough time to grow to give any benefit.   It is also too late for many of the clovers.  Crimson clover will germinate  and survive for a while but typically, if planted this late, it does not have a strong enough root system to prevent frost heaving and subsequent desiccation of the plant.  By this time of the year, cereal rye and some of the other cereal grains are the best options.  Cereal rye is probably the best option as it will tolerate the cold and can often be successfully planted in southern Illinois even into early or mid-November.

Nathan Johanning (618-939-3434; njohann@illinois.edu)

From western Illinois ...  What a beautiful fall for pumpkins!  And what a crop!  I don't know that we've ever had the numbers of pumpkins that we have this year. And the size was excellent as well.  I don't know of too many pumpkin growers complaining about this years' crop.

We're expecting our first killing frost this weekend, so most of the summer vegetables will cease then.  Although with the decreased hours of sunshine and cooler temperatures, production was very poor anyway.  The cool season crops are loving the moisture and weather of late.  Cole crops, kale, greens and others are plodding along, although I think some of the cloudy and foggy weather of the past month may be reducing growth somewhat.

Our plasticulture berries that were planted August 23 still have quite a bit of growth to achieve before dormancy.  The plants are huge and we've cut numerous runners.  Occasionally a branch crown can be found, but it's not very common. We'll place light-weight row covers on this week to attempt to keep some heat and allow for more crowns to form.  We've always had issues in getting sufficient branch crown numbers to allow for a single year crop here.

If you plan on seeding any cover crops at this late date, about the only one to recommend would be cereal rye.  We've been using cereal rye to plant pumpkins into for a number of years now, and often don't plant the rye until November 1. It may or may not emerge this year, but it has always survived and produced ample growth the following spring.

Greens in the high tunnel are thriving.  The first romaine and head lettuce harvest is occurring on those crops.  Spinach is still 10-14 days from harvest.  There are still other crops in tunnels (tomatoes, peppers, etc.) that although harvest has slowed considerably, are still producing.  Remember that sanitizing the interior of the tunnel as well as all tools, equipment, stakes, etc. can help reduce disease pressure next season.

Mike Roegge (217-223-8380; roeggem@illinois.edu)

Fruit Production and Pest Management

Midwest Tree Fruit Spray Guide and Midwest Small Fruit and Grape Spray Guide Survey of Usage and Value

Fruit growers in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, West Virginia, and Wisconsin are asked to participate in an online survey to determine the usage and value of the Midwest Tree Fruit Spray Guide and the Midwest Small Fruit and Grape Spray Guide.  Please use this link to access and complete the survey:  https://jfe.qualtrics.com/form/SV_b7Nenj3QQE4aqZ7.  This survey is completely voluntary and anonymous and should take about 15 minutes. You may skip questions you are not comfortable answering.  Your responses will not be linked to you by name; all data will be combined and used in summary form only. Results of the survey will be used to quantify the value of the spray guides and determine the best way to deliver this information in the future. 

If you have questions, please contact Nicole Ward Gauthier, a plant pathologist who contributes content to these publications every year, at the University of Kentucky ... 859-323-1961 or nicole.ward@uky. 

I strongly encourage Illinois fruit growers to complete this survey ... continued publication of these spray guides depends on information about their use by growers.

Rick Weinzierl (217-244-2126; weinzier@illinois.edu)

Vegetable Production and Pest Management

Fall Weed Control

Fall is the perfect time for growers to control several problematic weeds.  During this time growers can apply moderate rates of herbicides to ensure good weed control before spring planting.  In general, anytime between October and the first week of December could be a good time for fall herbicide applications.  Probably some growers are still busy with harvest, but now is still a good time to think about options for the next spring.

For systemic herbicides, moderately warm conditions are best to facilitate the herbicide movement into plants.  Late December applications with very cold weather are less effective than fall applications to control weeds such as dandelion or thistle.  Fall applications can help growers to eliminate weeds that can overwinter and have a harmful effect during the emergence of your crop in spring.  Poor or no weed control during fall may lead to serious problems in spring, especially with winter annuals such as marestail or chickweed.

At this time of the year the main goal is efficient control of all emerged weeds. Effective fall weed control should improve your seedbed in spring when burn-down herbicides and other practices can be used to kill the small weeds emerged prior to planting.  It has been suggested that this winter may be colder than usual again, so we don't recommend soil-residual herbicides for this fall.  Under cold weather conditions, herbicide soil persistence can be longer than the usual, affecting the proper emergence or injuring your following crop.

Information on fall-applied herbicides (focused mainly on field crops, but still relevant for vegetable growers) is available at http://bulletin.ipm.illinois.edu/?p=2813

Connie Echaiz (847-223-8627; cechaiz@illinois.edu)

Local Foods Issues

USDA Collecting Chemical Use Data

Throughout the fall and early winter, corn and vegetable growers in the United States will be asked to provide first-hand information on their production practices by participating in the Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS) and the Vegetable Chemical Use Survey, conducted by USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).  These surveys will give corn and vegetable producers the opportunity to explain how they use fertilizers, agricultural chemicals, and manage pests.  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) periodically conducts a review of tolerance levels for re-registration of pesticide products, and part of the review includes evaluating USDA's estimates on agricultural chemical use.  Growers' responses help ensure that data used to determine environmental policies accurately reflect pesticide and fertilizer usage.

In Illinois, data will be collected for field corn, fresh market sweet corn, pumpkins, and snap beans for processing. Between October 1 and January 10, NASS representatives will be conducting in-person interviews with growers to gather information on their fertilizer and chemical use and pest management practices.  As with all NASS surveys, information provided by respondents is confidential by law.  NASS safeguards the confidentiality of all responses and publishes only state- and national-level data, ensuring that no individual producer or operation is identified.

The results of the Vegetable Chemical Use Survey will be released on NASS's website at www.nass.usda.gov/results on August 5, 2015.  The results of the ARMS will be released on NASS's website on May 13, 2015.  Please participate in these surveys if you are contacted.

Mark Schleusener, Illinois State Statistician, USDA-NASS (217-524-9606; mark.schleusener@nass.usda.gov)

EQIP Application Deadlines (for high tunnel and other assistance)

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a voluntary program that provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers through contracts.  These contracts provide financial assistance for producers to address soil, water, and related natural resource concerns on private agricultural land and non-industrial private forestland.  In addition, a purpose of EQIP is to help producers meet Federal, State, Tribal and local environmental regulations.  Throughout Illinois, producers have received assistance to implement conservation practices that include, but are not limited to, nutrient management, cover crops, terraces, grassed waterways, manure management facilities, and pasture management. For fruit and vegetable growers, high tunnel programs and pollinator habitat programs may be especially relevant.  Applications for EQIP are accepted on a continuous basis; however Illinois NRCS has established two application cutoff dates:  November 21, 2014, and January 16, 2015. See http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/il/programs/financial/eqip/?cid=nrcs141p2_030467.

Mary Hosier (217-333-7512; mhosier@illinois.edu)



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

baly@illinois.edu

Katie Bell, Franklin, Jackson, Perry, Randolph, & Williamson counties

618-687-1727

klbell@illinois.edu

Sarah Farley, Lake & McHenry counties

847-223-8627

sfarley@illinois.edu

Nick Frillman, Woodford, Livingston, & McLean counties

309-663-8306

frillma2@illinois.edu

Laurie George, Bond, Clinton, Jefferson, Marion, & Washington counties

618-548-1446

ljgeorge@illinois.edu

Zachary Grant, Cook County

708-679-6889

zgrant2@illinois.edu

Doug Gucker, DeWitt, Macon, and Piatt counties

217-877-6042

dgucker@illinois.edu

Erin Harper, Champaign, Ford, Iroquois, and Vermillion counties

217-333-7672

harper7@illinois.edu

Grace Margherio, Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center, St. Clair County

217-244-3547

gracem@illinois.edu

Grant McCarty, Jo Daviess, Stephenson, and Winnebago counties

815-235-4125

gmccarty@illinois.edu

Katie Parker, Adams, Brown, Hancock, Pike and Schuyler counties

217-223-8380

keparkr2@illinois.edu

Kathryn Pereira, Cook County

773-233-2900

kpereira@illinois.edu

James Theuri, Grundy, Kankakee, and Will counties

815-933-8337

jtheu50@illinois.edu

Extension Educators – Horticulture

Chris Enroth, Henderson, Knox, McDonough, and Warren counties

309-837-3939

cenroth@illinois.edu

Richard Hentschel, DuPage, Kane, and Kendall counties

630-584-6166

hentschel@illinois.edu

Andrew Holsinger, Christian, Jersey, Macoupin, & Montgomery counties

217-532-3941

aholsing@illinois.edu

Extension Educators - Commercial Agriculture

Elizabeth Wahle, Fruit & Vegetable Production

618-344-4230

wahle@illinois.edu

Nathan Johanning, Madison, Monroe & St. Clair counties

618-939-3434

njohann@illinois.edu

Campus-based  Extension Specialists

Kacie Athey, Entomology

217-244-9916

kathey@illinois.edu

Mohammad Babadoost, Plant Pathology

217-333-1523

babadoos@illinois.edu