Growing degree days since April 1: 990 GDD at Springfield (Average (11 year average 814) (From the Illinois State Water Survey Degree-Day Calculator)
4 inch soil temp: 67.4°F (10 am 4-inch soil temperature under bare soil) (From the Illinois State Water Survey Illinois Climate Network)
Corn earworm.We started operating our corn earworm traps at Urbana on May 19 and have caught corn earworm moths most nights since then (as many as 25 per night on a couple of occasions). I encourage sweet corn growers and high-tunnel tomato growers to set up and use traps as soon as corn is silking or tomatoes are setting fruit – which has been going on for a several days now. Until corn fields in your area begin to silk, corn earworm moths will be especially attracted to tomatoes. Several insecticides are effective against corn earworm and labeled on tomatoes ... see the 2014 Midwest Vegetable Production Guide for an extensive listing. (Dr. Rick Weinzierl, UofI)
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Sugar Grove Family Farms Tour - June 29. Slow Food Springfield in partnership with the University of Illinois Extension announces the first farm tour of the year to Sugar Grove Family Farms, a fourth generation family farm raising 100% grass-fed and grass-finished beef, heritage pork, and pastured chicken. The free tour will take place on Sunday, June 29 at 1:00pm.
Source: University of Illinois at Urbana