Address any questions or comments regarding this newsletter to the individual authors listed after each article or to its editors, Nathan Johanning, 618-939-3434, njohann@illinois.edu or Bronwyn Aly 618-695-6060, baly@illinois.edu. The Illinois Fruit and Vegetable News is available on the web at: http://ipm.illinois.edu/ifvn/. To receive or be removed from email notification of new postings of this newsletter, contact Nathan Johanning or Bronwyn Aly at the phone numbers or email addresses above.

In This Issue:

Upcoming Programs (listings for beginning and established growers)

News & Announcements (IDOA Specialty Crop Grants, Corn Earworm trap supplier, Orchard & Vineyard survey sites, 2017 spray guides available)

Regional Reports (north-central, St. Louis metro east, southern Illinois)

Fruit and Vegetable Production and Pest Management (Stewart's Wilt Prediction, Preparing for Corn Earworm, 2017, Superior Oil Applications from Green Tip to Pink, Dormant and Delayed Dormant Sprays of Copper and Lime Sulfur)

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 website at:
http://web.extension.illinois.edu/smallfarm/ and the calendar of events at http://web.extension.illinois.edu/units/calendar.cfm?UnitID=629.   

News & Announcements

IDOA NOW ACCEPTING SPECIALTY CROP GRANT PROPOSALS

Applications for funds are due April 28

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) is now accepting proposals for federal specialty crop grants.  The agency anticipates Illinois will receive roughly $525,000 from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to distribute to state projects; however, the exact dollar amount has yet to be determined.  The funds will come from the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program in the Farm Bill.  They are available for projects beginning in calendar year 2018, and are intended to expand the availability of fresh, locally-grown produce and strengthen the competitiveness of our specialty crop industry.

According to USDA, projects seeking funding should benefit underserved communities and veterans, aim to improve producer capacity with the requirements of the Food Safety Modernization Act, develop adaptation and mitigation strategies for farmers in drought-stricken regions, increase opportunities for new and beginning farmers, develop strong local and regional food systems, protect pollinator habitats and improve pollinator health. 

Projects that benefit a particular commercial product or provide a profit to a single organization, institution or individual are ineligible.  Farmers' markets, roadside stands and community-sponsored agriculture programs should consider submitting proposals to the USDA's Farmers' Market and Local Food Promotion Program.   

"Over the years this grant program has become highly competitive with the number of applications growing each year," said Director Raymond Poe.  "That is a testament to Illinois' agriculture community.  These projects have identified needs in our communities, and are encouraging more and more people to participate in agriculture and healthy lifestyles."

The USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service defines specialty crops as "fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits and horticulture and nursery crops (including floriculture)."

Illinois is the nation's leading producer of pumpkins and horseradish, and ranks in the top ten in acreage of cantaloupes, green peas, lima beans, and sweet corn. Illinois also is home to a flourishing grape and wine market.  Sales of all specialty crops in Illinois, including nursery and greenhouse sales, totaled almost $470 million in 2012.

The IDOA will accept grant proposals until April 28, 2017, at 4pm.  Request for proposal packets and additional information about the program can be found online at the department's website at https://www.agr.state.il.us/speciality-crop-grants/.  For more information call (217) 524-9129.

Supplier of Corn Earworm Traps

For many years we have recommended that sweet corn growers use a wire "Hartstack" trap baited with a pheromone lure to monitor corn earworm flights and make decisions on spray timing.  Bob Poppe of Lexington, Illinois, the long-time go-to manufacturer of these traps passed away last September.  His son, Kevin, will continue to manufacture and ship these Hartstack traps.  His contact information is Kevin Poppe, 309-365-3651, email kdpoppe99@hotmail.com.

Cooperators Wanted for Statewide Orchard & Vineyard Survey

The Illinois CAPS program is currently seeking cooperators to be part of its statewide orchard and vineyard surveys. This summer we will once again be conducting surveys focused on several invasive pests we feel are a threat to the Illinois Specialty Crops Industry. We want to identify 20 vineyards and 20 orchards/fruit growers in Illinois to participate in the surveys. Your involvement requires only permission for us to place traps in areas around your property. These traps will be clearly marked. All activities related to trap placement, monitoring, and removal are the sole responsibility of the trapping program. Biweekly visits to the property to check traps and lures will occur throughout the summer. Traps would remain in place until September.  We are also in search of walnut plantings to place traps for our Thousand Cankers Disease survey. 

For more information or to sign up as a survey location, please contact Kelly Estes, State Survey Coordinator, Illinois Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey Program, University of Illinois at 217-333-1005 or email kcook8@illinois.edu

2017 Midwest Fruit & Vegetable Spray Guides Available

If you are interested in purchasing a copy of the 2017 Midwest Fruit Pest Management Guide, please contact the Jefferson County Extension Office at (618) 242-0780 or the Madison County Extension Office at (618) 344-4230.

If you are interested in purchasing a copy of the 2017 Midwest Vegetable Production Guide for Commercial Growers, please contact the Madison County Extension Office at (618) 344-4230.

Regional Reports

From north-central Illinois... Last week went from over 70 degrees Fahrenheit on Monday to 20 degrees Fahrenheit on Friday evening. Now that the weather has turned closer to average, the high tunnel sides went back down and will likely stay down for the foreseeable week. Despite the cold snap, temperatures are still above normal. I photo document the red maple tree in my backyard each year. On March 2, I noticed the red maple's flowers were fully open. Looking back at my previous photographs, we are about a month ahead of when this tree typically flowers. In 2015, I photographed the red maple's flowers which had just started to open on March 22.

The high tunnel will be living up to why we build these structures. We are expected to have bright sunny days with highs in the 50s and chilly nights with lows just above freezing. Capturing that solar energy during the day is my goal to keep the interior warmer at night. My tunnel leaks enough that it often doesn't need to vent until we get temperatures in the uppers 60s or 70s.

Growers seem to be scrambling to keep up with the weather. One grower is still hoping to get their apples pruned and sprayed. Many farmers are talking about the blooming peach trees in southern Illinois. Whether or not southern Illinois peach trees are actually blooming matters less than the very real early start to the growing season. The peach tree outside my office window in Macomb has shed its outer bud scales but has not yet started to show any pink color. Growers and homeowners may have missed the dormant oil spray. A dormant spray before bud break prevents the disease peach leaf curl. If that is the case, we may see an increase in peach leaf curl questions.

My garlic, was about three-inches tall nearly a month ago. Now the tips of the garlic leaves are brown and wilted, likely a victim of cold damage. Keep strawberries mulched, so they don't start too early. Asparagus can weather a hard frost. Any spears that have emerged will only die back to the ground as if it had been harvested. Freezing temperatures shouldn't affect the overall health of the plant. Most growers have summer vegetable transplants going, but not yet in the ground.

Western Illinois University horticulture students came out and planted the Extension high tunnel last week with cool season crops. After having the high tunnel out of production for the fall and winter, I am looking forward to growing in there once again this spring.

Chris Enroth (309-837-3939; cenroth@illinois.edu)

From the St Louis Metro East... The entire region is preparing for below freezing temperatures predicted four nights in a row beginning Friday, March 10.  Crops most vulnerable to crop loss due to freeze injury at this time are early blooming strawberries and tree fruit.  A few apple cultivars like Jonagold, Granny Smith, Firmgold and Braeburn are reported at ¼" green.  Early blooming peaches like Bounty and Coral Star are beginning to show color.  Pluots and Apricots are in full glorious bloom.  Sweet Charlie strawberries are in full bloom. 

The first step in preparations for a possible strawberry protection event is to know what stage of development the plants are and what the forecasted low is to determine what strategy to use.  Research shows that strawberries are at their most vulnerable during full bloom to temperatures below 30°F, followed by "popcorn" stage at 26.5°F then tight bud at 22°F.  Layered covers have been reported to provide better insulation than a single layer of the same total weight.  In other words, applying two layers of a 1-ounce cover is better than one layer of a 2-ounce cover.  For growers using frost irrigation, keep in mind that below freezing temperatures under windy conditions (advective) makes it increasingly difficult to provide the crop with the necessary conditions of uniform irrigation patterns and continual heat release.  Under optimal conditions, water freezing is a heat releasing process.  The opposite is true when liquid water becomes a gas (evaporative cooling) and this can happen even under freezing temperatures if there are windy conditions.  The table below shows some suggested precipitation rates under varying environmental conditions to ensure uniform ice formation.  In general, as temperature decreases and/or wind speed increases, flow rate must increase to compensate for evaporation.

Irrigation rates (inches/hour) for critical temp of 28°F and relative humidity of about 70%

 

Wind Speed (mph)

Min. Temp.(F)

0-1 mph

2-4 mph

5-8 mph

9-14 mph

27

0.10

0.11

0.14

0.16

26

0.10

0.13

0.16

0.17

25

0.10

0.14

0.18

0.21

22

0.10

0.18

0.24

0.29

20

0.11

0.21

0.28

0.34

18

0.12

0.23

0.31

0.38

15

0.13

0.26

0.35

0.43

Source: Perry, K. 1998. The strawberry grower. Vol. 5 No. 2.

Sincere condolences are offered to the family of Janet Sager on her passing.  Janet and her husband Irvin grew and sold strawberries, peaches and apples in addition to other fruits and vegetables for more than 40 years together at their Kell, IL farm.  After a courageous battle with cancer, Janet died at home, surrounded by family, on February 25, 2017.  To visit Mrs. Sager Life Tribute page, visit http://www.osbornfuneral.com/obituaries/Janet-Sager/

Elizabeth Wahle (618-344-4230; wahle@illinois.edu)

From southern Illinois ... We have still been generally warmer than average for the season thus far.  Highs have been in the 50s and 60s most days.  We have had some rainy/cloudy days, but many bright sunny days in between.  In the last 10 days we have had 2 main fronts that have come through and generally across the area we have received 1-2" of rain across this time.  Last week we also had some severe weather with that system including multiple tornadoes including one that passed through about 5 miles north of my office in Murphysboro.  The rain has brought our soil moisture at least at the surface up to more normal levels for early March.  Generally, our temperatures are supposed to stay fairly moderate; however over the upcoming weekend we have a chance for some wintery precipitation and lows predicted to be somewhere in the 20s, but it is too early to know just how cold it will get.

Our fruit crops generally are about 2 weeks ahead of normal.  Some of the earliest peaches are starting to bloom on down to some of the later varieties that are still swollen with just a small amount of pink if any visible.  Most varieties are heavily loaded with flower buds.  Given the cold snap for the weekend hopefully we will escape any major issues with that good set of fruit buds, and hopefully bloom doesn't progress too much further before then.  Make sure we keep up with dormant or delayed dormant sprays on all of our perennial crops to help reduce any disease potential for the upcoming season.  See the notes later in this issue or the 2017 Midwest Fruit Pest Management Guide for more details.

I have not seen any signs of asparagus emergence as of yet, but as planned I did get a burndown herbicide application applied and it is starting to work.  Growers are getting summer annual plants ready to set in the high tunnels.  Our carrots in our high tunnel are really putting on some size and harvest will be coming fairly soon.  With the warm and wind be scouting for aphids in our high tunnels.  This is a time of year we start seeing them more and with tunnels open to vent they can easily slip in and get established before you know it.  We did have a few aphids come on the carrot tops, but given harvest soon and that the tops are not what we are looking to consume we will probably just live with them for now and make sure to get them out with carrot harvest.

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

Fruit and Vegetable Production and Pest Management

Another Mild Winter Sets the Stage for Corn Flea Beetles and Stewart's Wilt

Average winter temperatures in Illinois for 2016-2017 were very similar to 2015-2016.  Warm temperatures during the months of December, January and February favor increased survivorship of the corn flea beetle and the bacterium it vectors. In a recent press release from the Prairie Research Institute, Jennie Atkins (Illinois State Water Survey's WARM Program manager), reports soils have been steadily warming since early February. Long term, the soil temperatures have been 2.5 degrees above average, but 0.4 degrees lower than last year. The highest soil temperatures were reported in southern Illinois (39.4 degree seasonal average, 2.6 degrees above normal).


Figures 1, 2 and 3. Average winter temperatures of 2014-2015, 2015-2016 and 2016-2017.

Corn flea beetles are the primary vector of Stewart's Wilt. Erwinia stewartii, the bacterium that caused Stewart's wilt, survives the winter in the gut of the corn flea beetle and the survival of the corn flea beetle is dependent on winter temperatures. Warmer winters result in greater survivorship of corn flea beetles, thus increasing the potential for Stewart's wilt. Using the average temperatures of December, January, and February, the potential for Stewart's wilt can be predicted (Table 1).

Table 1. Projected risk of Stewart's wilt based on the average temperatures of December, January, and February.

Average temperature of December, January, & February

Probability of early season wilt

Probability of late season blight

<27°F

Absent

Trace, at most

27-30°F

Light

Light to Moderate

30-33°F

Moderate

Moderate to Severe

>33°F

Severe

Severe

Corn flea beetles become active in the spring when temperatures rise above 65°F, and they feed on and transmit Stewart's wilt bacteria to seedling corn plants. The bacterium can spread systemically throughout the plant. Although most commercial field corn hybrids are resistant to Stewart's wilt, the disease is still a concern for susceptible seed corn inbreds and many sweet corn hybrids.

There are two phases of Stewart's wilt: the seedling wilt phase and the leaf blight phase. The seedling wilt stage occurs when seedlings become infected at or before the V5 stage. The vascular system becomes plugged with bacteria, causing the seedling to wilt, become stunted, and die. Infections of older corn plants usually result in the development of the leaf blight phase of Stewart's wilt. This phase is characterized by long, yellow to chlorotic streaks with wavy margins along the leaves. When the late infection phase or "leaf blight phase" of Stewart's wilt occurs after tasseling, it is generally not a concern in sweet corn because ears are harvested before damage occurs.

Based on the recent winter temperatures from the Midwest Regional Climate Center, estimates of early season Stewart's wilt are shown in Table 2. Remember, however, that these are only predictions; numbers of surviving corn flea beetles are not known.

Table 2. Early season Stewart's wilt predictions, 2017.

Location

Average temperature December 2016-February 2017

Early Season Wilt

Freeport

27°F

Light

DeKalb

28°F

Light

Monmouth

31°F

Moderate

Peoria

33°F

Moderate

Champaign

34°F

Severe

Springfield

36°F

Severe

Belleville

36°F

Severe

Rend Lake

37°F

Severe

Carbondale

40°F

Severe

Dixon Springs

46°F

Severe

Kelly Estes, State Survey Coordinator, Illinois Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (217-333-1005; kcook8@illinois.edu)

Preparing for Corn Earworm - 2017

An updated version of my usual pre-season corn earworm management recommendations ... but does include updates on Bt resistance in corn earworm populations and a condensed version of recommended management practices.

Corn earworms are often the most damaging insects in sweet corn in the Midwest.  They overwinter in the pupal stage in the soil, but their survival rate is very low in most of the region.  This winter has so far been very mild, but even so, the local overwintering survival of corn earworm pupae is not likely to be the cause of heavy moth flights in most parts of the state or region.   Corn earworm manages to be a severe pest every year anyway because it migrates in from southern states on weather fronts every summer.  In much of the region the period of first activity (and the first need to control them) can vary from June through August, depending on the time of their migration and the availability of sweet corn that is silking.  Although control may be necessary in one portion of the region at a particular time, it may be unnecessary in many other locations.  Consequently, it really is essential to establish a monitoring program to determine spray needs.  Unfortunately, scouting for foliar damage or larvae on the surface of plants is not an option.  Corn earworm moths lay their eggs singly on silks, and larvae move down the silk channel immediately after they hatch from the eggs (and hatching can occur in as little as 2 ½ days during hot weather).  On corn, larvae do not feed on any exposed parts of the plant (leaves, husks, etc.), so the only practical way to kill them (short of having planted BT sweet corn, which does not provide 100 percent control) is with a contact insecticide applied to the silks.  Larvae crawl across the residues on the silks, and the insecticide is taken up through the cuticle.


Left: Corn earworm larva. Right: Hartstack trap.


Corn earworm moth (Kansas Department of Agriculture).

Effective monitoring programs depend on the use of pheromone-baited traps that catch male corn earworm moths and are used as indicators that adults of both genders are present and eggs are being laid.  Until about 10 years ago we recommended using either a wire Hartstack trap (pictured above) or a nylon version of the same general design marketed by Scentry and several regional distributors.  We've long known that paper sticky traps are ineffective at monitoring corn earworm moths, and about a decade ago research indicated that the Scentry nylon cone traps do not really work well enough.  Results from monitoring work done in 2006 showed that the nylon traps also may fail to detect light but still significant flights when the wire Hartstack traps do catch moths.  Consequently, I now recommend that all sweet corn and seed corn producers use the wire Hartstack trap.  (Data to support this recommendation came from a regional monitoring effort coordinated by Bill Hutchison of the University of Minnesota and conducted by several entomologists and horticulturists who participate in the Great Lakes Vegetable Workers Group.)  Traps should be baited with Hercon "zealures," and the lures need to be replaced every 2 weeks.  Earworm control is necessary when moth flight is ongoing and fresh silks are present.  If traps are catching more than ~10 moths per trap per night when silking begins, sprays should be applied within 2 days after first silk - insecticide residues must be on the silks to kill larvae immediately after they hatch from eggs and before they enter the silk channel.  If the only silking corn in your area is your field, the threshold for treating should be revised down to 1 moth per trap per night ... in your traps or those operated by your neighbors.

A Midwest supplier of the Hartstack trap for earworms is Kevin Poppe, Lexington, IL ... phone 309-365-3651; email kdpoppe99@hotmail.com.  I suggest that you buy an extra top cylinder for each trap to make handling more efficient.  Lures are available from Great Lakes IPM (10220 Church Road NE, Vestaburg, MI  48891; 989-268-5693; 989-268-5911; 800-235-0285; FAX: 989-268-5311).  The wire Hartstack trap is not cheap ... think in the $300 range plus shipping, and think higher numbers if the traps must be shipped a long way.  But before you let the price tag make you baulk, consider...

Insecticide and "trait" choices for corn earworm control ... and there are some new Bt varieties for 2017

First, insecticides ...

What about Bt sweet corn varieties? 

The abbreviated summary of all of this:

Choose a Pyrethroid + Choose an Alternative

Or use a pre-mix
  • Brigade 2 EC at 3 fl oz/A.  Limit = 12.8 fl oz/A per season, PHI = 1.  REI = 12 h.  (Or generic equivalent.)
  • Mustang Maxx at 3.5 fl oz/A.  Limit = 24 fl oz/A/season, PHI = 3, REI = 12 h.
  • Warrior II at 1.5 fl oz/A. Limit = 30.72 fl oz/A/season, PHI = 1, REI = 24 h. (Or generic equivalent.)
  • Baythroid XL at 2 fl oz/A.  Limit = 28 fl oz/A/season,  PHI = 0, REI = 12 h. (Or generic equivalent.)
  • Lannate LV at 1.5 pints/A,  PHI = 0, REI = 48 h.
  • Coragen 1.67 SC at 4 fl oz/A, PHI = 1 day, REI = 4 h.
  • Radiant SC at 5 fl oz/A.  Limit = 6 applications /season, PHI = 1, REI = 4 h.
  • Besiege at 8 fl oz/A.  Limit = 31 fl oz/A/season, PHI = 1, REI = 24 h. 

Rick Weinzierl, Weinzierl Fruit and Consulting, LLC (217-621-4957; raweinzierl@gmail.com)

Superior Oil Applications from Green Tip to Pink on Perennial Fruit

Superior oil, also called dormant oil, emulsifiable oil, or other terms, may be an "old" product but it still plays a very important role in insect management.   

Application of dormant oils prior to bloom – from green tip to pink – is very effective for killing overwintering eggs of European red mite and rosy apple aphid and overwintering immature San Jose scale on limbs and twigs of perennial fruit crops.  These oils are emulsifiable – they disperse well in water.  When sprays are applied to trees and the water evaporates, a very thin film of oil remains on the limbs and twigs ... and on the eggs and scales of rosy apple aphid, European red mite, and San Jose scale.  That film of oil blocks respiratory openings and results in suffocation of the creatures inside the eggs and scales.  Application of superior oils prior to bloom is relatively inexpensive, very effective, and has little negative impact on natural enemies that help keep various pests in check later in the season.  Many of the superior oils labeled for use on fruit trees are OMRI-approved ... they can be used in certified organic production as well as in conventional production systems.

Emulsifiable oils are applied on a "percent-by-volume" basis ... at green tip to half-inch green they should be used at 2% by volume – 2 gallons per 100 gallons of water in the spray tank.  Thorough coverage is essential for these applications to be effective ... they suffocate only the eggs or scales that are covered by a thin film of oil after the water evaporates.  If oils are used as late as the pink stage, most recommendations call for a lower percentage of oil in the spray mix – ½ to 1 percent by volume – to avoid plant injury.  Other insecticides can be added to the spray tank to increase control of rosy apple aphid or San Jose scale (see page 15 in  2017 Midwest Fruit Pest Management Guide), but oil alone is very effective.  Most references recommend that superior oils not be applied if temperatures are forecast to drop below freezing in the next 48 hours.

Although "summer oils" can be used post-bloom to suppress populations of several pests, applications made after foliage has emerged can damage leaves if Captan or certain other fungicides are used before or with emulsifiable oils.

Bronwyn Aly (618-382-2662; baly@illinois.edu)

Dormant and Delayed Dormant Sprays of Copper and Lime Sulfur on Fruit

With our almost non-existent winter and early spring-like days, dormant and delayed dormant sprays may be needed early, hopefully not already past, for most growers.  Dormant copper sprays are very important in the control of Peach Leaf Curl and may be applied after leaf drop in the fall but before bud swell in the spring (hopefully more southern growers have not missed the window of opportunity yet).  Dormant copper sprays are also listed in the Midwest Fruit Pest Management Guide 2017 as offering some level of control or protection against fireblight in pear, black knot in plum, and bacterial canker in cherry.

Lime sulfur solution sprays at the delayed dormant stage are also an important step in helping to control several diseases of small fruit crops.  The Midwest Fruit Pest Management Guide 2017 recommends lime sulfur sprays in blueberries after bud break for phomopsis cane and twig blight, in grapes thru bud swell for anthracnose, and in raspberries/blackberries when bud tips show green for anthracnose, cane blight, and spur blight (reds only).

Please remember to read your spray guide and product labels thoroughly for specific comments, recommendations, and warnings regarding rate, timing, tank mixing, etc. for all spray applications, not just dormant or delayed dormant sprays. Different crops have different growth habits and tolerances and special care needs to be taken to avoid crop injury.

Bronwyn Aly (618-382-2662; baly@illinois.edu)

Less Seriously...

Top 10 Rejected Model Names for New Cars

10. Pontiac Cyst
9. Dodge Glove
8. Oldsmobile Beiruter
7. Nissan Spleen
6. Chevy Junta
5. Hyundai Accordion
4. Mazda Eczema 500
3. Dodge Johnson
2. Yugo Screw Yourself
1. Ford Gelding

(Source: http://www.mudslide.net/TopTen/lnwdxtra.html#extra44)



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