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Fruit and Vegetable Crop Weekly

Growing degree days since April 1: 3574 GDD at Springfield (Average (11 year average 3558) (From the Illinois State Water Survey Degree-Day Calculator)
4 inch soil temp:56.3°F (10 am 4-inch soil temperature under bare soil) (From the Illinois State Water Survey Illinois Climate Network)

Attended an excellent webinar this week, Using Cover Crop Mixtures to Achieve Multiple Goals on the Farm. The presenters discussed the use of cover crop "cocktails" or mixtures to achieve multiple goals on the farm, including weed suppression, nitrogen scavenging, nitrogen provisioning, and attracting beneficial insects and pollinators. Results from a study of winter cover crops in a grain and forage research project at the Penn State Rock Springs Research Farm and from several Pennsylvania farms was shown. The presenters also reviewed issues of cover crop timing, termination, and general management to aid in farmer insight and adoption of cover crop mixes. A pdf handout of the slides is available here.

A recording will be available at http://www.extension.org/pages/25242.  Take some time to check out the link to see other excellent webinars that may be of interest, as well as lots of resources (listed on the right side of the page; need to scroll down).

EPA Approves Dow's Enlist Herbicide for GMOs. The Environmental Protection Agency gave final approval on Wednesday to a new herbicide developed by Dow AgroSciences that has faced broad opposition, ordering a series of restrictions to address potential environmental and health hazards. 

Source: University of Illinois at Urbana


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Weekly Forecast - Eric Hunt

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