Illinois Fruit and Vegetable News:

A Newsletter for Commercial Growers of Fruit and Vegetable Crops
A Publication of University of Illinois Extension and the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences

Vol. 17, No. 13, September 19, 2011

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"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@uiuc.edu. To receive email notification of new postings of this newsletter, call or write the same number or address.

In This Issue:

Upcoming Programs

Regional Updates (Maurice Ogutu)

Notes from Chris Doll (rainfall, harvest progress, deer season, and fruit theft)

Fruit Production and Pest Management (Brown marmorated stink bug; aronia)

Vegetable Production and Pest Management (squash bug and cucumber beetles on pumpkins)

University of Illinois Extension Specialists in Fruit & Vegetable Production & Pest Management

Upcoming Programs

• Farmer Grant Writing Workshop, September 21, 2011. 6:30-8:30 pm (registration starting at 6:00 pm). University of Illinois Sangamon County Extension Office, 2501 North 8th Street, State Fairgrounds #30, Springfield, IL. Information will be provided on the basics of grant writing as well as specifics on grants available through the NCR SARE Farmer Rancher Grant Program and the Illinois Department of Agriculture AgriFIRST Specialty Crop Grant Program and the C-2000 Sustainable Agriculture Grant Program). For more information and to register, see http://www.cisfn.org or contact Deborah Cavanaugh-Grant at cvnghgrn@illinois.edu, 217-782-4617.
• Sustainable and Organic Farmers Network Potluck, September 26, 2011. Beginning at 5:00 p.m., Anderson Farm, 2190 N. 45th Road, Leland, IL. Crops include lettuce, potatoes, turnips, rutabagas, sweet corn, peppers, pumpkins, melons and strawberries. Although there is no registration fee, attendees should bring a dish to share at the potluck and register online at http://web.extension.illinois.edu/units/event.cfm?EventID=55196&UnitID=463 . For more information, contact University of Illinois Extension Local Foods and Small Farms Extension Educator Ellen Phillips at 815-732-2191 or ephillps@illinois.edu.
• Sangamon Area Farm to School Summit, November 5, 2011 at the Trutter Center, Lincoln Land Community College, 5250 Shepherd Road, Springfield, IL. Farm to School connects schools (K-12) and local farms with the objectives of serving healthy meals in school cafeterias, improving student nutrition, providing agriculture, health and nutrition education opportunities, and supporting local and regional farmers. Topics will include sourcing locally produced food, starting school gardens; incorporating food and nutrition into curricula, and implement a farm-to-school program. Organized by the Springfield Area Local Food Task Force. Contact Deborah Cavanaugh-Grant at cvnghgrn@illinois.edu or (217) 782-4617 for more information.
• Living on the Land - 10 Weeks of Tips and Tricks for Small-acreage Landowners, September 28 – November 30, 2011. Topics range from stewardship practices to income opportunities; Wednesdays from 6 to 9 p.m. The purpose of this course is to help people sustainably manage smaller acreage properties from about 1 acre to 50 acres. Session topics include inventorying of resources, managing soil, living with streams and ponds, managing well and septic systems, managing pastures and lawns, controlling weeds, beginning a business using small acreages, and much more. Four of the classes will be held at U of I Extension offices, including the Will Unit in Joliet, the Boone Unit in Belvidere, the Stephenson Unit in Freeport and the Sangamon Unit in Springfield. The remaining five classes will be taught through online webinars (the Sangamon Unit is offering a face-to-face option for all sessions). The tour will be determined by each county. To register or get a brochure click on the above Unit Office links.
• Organic Gardening Day, November 5, 2011, at the Holiday Inn Hotel and Conference Center, Urbana, IL, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Advance registration of $60 includes an organic lunch and must be received by October 28. On-site registration on Nov. 5 begins at 8:00 a.m. and will continue as long as space allows. On-site registration does not include lunch. For more information and to register, contact Linda Harvey at 217-244-1693 lharvey@illinois.edu.
• Illinois/Iowa Fruit and Vegetable Symposium, November 18, 2011, at the Scott County Extension Office, Bettendorf, IA. Details to come
• Illinois Specialty Crops, Agritourism, and Organic Conference, January 11-13, 2012, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfield, IL. Details to come.

Regional Updates

In northern Illinois, cooler temperatures prevailed in early September, with highs in the 60s and 70s and lows in the low 30s to low 50s, with some frost on September 15. Apple harvest is underway for Honey Crisp, Jonathan, Cortland, Empire, and a few other varieties, and harvest of fall-bearing raspberries also continues. Sooty blotch and flyspeck are present in some apple orchards, and bacterial spot is evident on the region's few peach trees.

Harvesting of sweet corn, peppers, tomatoes, melons, cucumbers, squash, and other vegetables continues throughout the region, and pumpkin harvest has begun on some farms for the wholesale market. Powdery mildew and bacterial leaf spot are concerns in pumpkins as are squash bugs and cucumber beetles feeding on pumpkin fruits.

Maurice Ogutu (815-235-4125; ogutu@illinois.edu)

Notes from Chris Doll

(September 13) A great day, with 1.5 inches of a slow rain since last midnight ... after 10 weeks without measurable rainfall here, it was not like Texas or other points to the southwest, but it has been tough on plant life as well as humans. Since the last letter, some sweet cherry trees and blueberry plants have passed on, and the quality of harvested fruits have not increased much. Only a few Encore peaches (50% on the ground) are left of the peach crop. On many apples, color is lacking, but should increase with the next cold front. A couple of early Fuji varieties are maturing with a pale pink skin this year. These early varieties seem to hang as tight as the full-season clones. Many other varieties need to be watched for dropping.

The fruit from the Back-40 is consigned to a marketing friend, and it is interesting to see the demand for tree and vine ripened fruit. Apples and peaches have been the primary fruits, but some good-tasting pears and American grapes were quickly sold out in the last couple of weeks. The fireblight control programs now available can help make growing and selling pears a viable effort, and there are quite a few customers that desire the Concord and other American grapes as well.

Harvest season is ongoing, and it is easy to see feeding by deer, and maybe deer hunting season can't come fast enough. Other than fencing, I don't see a magic control for them. But growers might be observant for vole (mouse) populations in the coming months. They did not drown in the spring months nor over the summer, so watch for signs that indicate areas to be treated.

A recent note in Michigan's Fruit Alerts mentioned theft of fruit from the field or orchard. I have not heard of any losses locally this year, but there are usually stories at the winter meetings. Different control measures are required for this problem that most of you will have to work out individually or with group action.

Chris Doll

Fruit Production and Pest Management

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

It's time to remind everyone to continue to be on the lookout for brown marmorated stink bugs in apple orchards and late-season vegetables. The characteristics that distinguish this stink bug from several other brown stink bugs are (1) white bands on the antennae, (2) a smooth margin at the front of the prothorax or "shoulder," and (3) the alternating black and white pattern on the exposed part of the abdomen. Despite several rumors of brown marmorated stink bug infestations of orchards and fields in Illinois, none have been confirmed. If you think you have this insect, collect specimens and send them to me in a crush-proof container ... Rick Weinzierl, Department of Crop Sciences, 1102 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801. Do not simply spray your orchard or field and then tell me that you controlled them ... we need to see specimens and confirm your suspicions if we are to identify sites for control trials and help you develop a management plan.

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

Aronia

Aronia berries are new to US producers and consumers. They contain high levels of antioxidants but are tart and generally must be processed before they're eaten. John and Mildred Pilcher decided to grow aronia on 9 acres in Momence (about 65 miles southwest of Chicago) – the largest production site for aronia in Illinois – and they have a contract to supply fruit to a winery. Insects (Japanese beetle) and diseases (fungal leaf spots) did not cause any yield loss in 2011, but weed control has been an issue. John anticipates that each bush can yield 2 pounds of fruit, so with 770 plants per acre, yields are tentatively and conservatively estimated to exceed 1,500 pounds per acre. The Pilchers used a mechanical harvester, but it had a shortcoming – the young bushes could not be harvested below a height of six inches above the ground. That should be less of a problem in the future when the plants are larger. Depending on the market, aronia berries can sell for $2 to $3 per pound.

Aronia berries

James Theuri (815-933-8337; jtheu50@illinois.edu)

Vegetable Production and Pest Management

Squash Bug and Cucumber Beetle Control on Pumpkins

Maurice Ogutu mentioned that squash bugs and cucumber beetles are feeding on pumpkins (and other cucurbits). They feed directly on fruits, and the wounds they leave allow entry of soft-rot pathogens that can cause fruits to rot in the field or after harvest. Among the insecticides registered for use on pumpkins, Brigade (bifenthrin) is particularly effective against squash bug and also controls cucumber beetles. Other pyrethroids that are effective against squash bugs and cucumber beetles include Warrior (lambda cyhalothrin) and Mustang Max (zeta cypermethrin). Preharvest intervals for these insecticides are: 3 days for Brigade, 5 days for Warrior, and 1 day for Mustang Max. All are restricted-use pesticides (a pesticide applicator's license is required to purchase and use them). Where cucumber beetles alone are the problem, Sevin XLR Plus is effective; it is not a restricted-use pesticide. There really are no OMRI-approved insecticides that are effective for control of squash bugs in organic production; Pyganic or other natural pyrethrins give some control of cucumber beetles.

Left: squash bugs on a pumpkin (Gerald Brust, University of Maryland). Right: striped cucumber beetles on a pumpkin (OMAFRA).

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

University of Illinois Extension Specialists in Fruit and Vegetable Production & Pest Management

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