Fruit and Vegetable Crop Weekly update

Jul 16, 2014

Growing degree days since April 1: 1838 GDD at Springfield (Average (11 year average 1669) (From the Illinois State Water Survey Degree-Day Calculator)

4 inch soil temp: 75.8°F (10 am 4-inch soil temperature under bare soil) (From the Illinois State Water Survey Illinois Climate Network)\

The absence of the Fruit and Vegetable Crop Weekly for the past several weeks was due to the fact that I was traveling in Spain and Europe. I wanted to share a photo of the landscape in Southern Spain - OLIVES, as far as the eye can see. A benefit of all of these olives is that both fresh olives and olive oil (with delicious bread) was served at all of our lunch and dinner meals. Here's a link to information about olive farming in Spain.

Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD) have been captured consistently in Illinois as of the first of this month. Small fruit growers should be on the lookout for this pest. The difference between SWD and the common fruit fly is that the pest will attack immature fruit thereby causing crop loss much sooner. If you have questions regarding this pest, please contact me at cvnghgrn@illinois.edu.
Mark Your Calendars for the Vegetable Crop Field Day Monday, August 4th at the U of I Monmouth Research Farm.

Source: University of Illinois at Urbana

Video: Dr. Emerson Nafziger: Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates for Corn

The Crop Science Podcast Show, Dr. Emerson Nafziger from the University of Illinois breaks down decades of nitrogen research. From the evolution of N rate guidelines to how soil health and hybrid genetics influence nitrogen use efficiency, this conversation unpacks the science behind smarter fertilization. Improving how we set nitrogen fertilizer rates for rainfed corn is a key focus. Discover why the MRTN model matters more than ever, and how shifting mindsets and better data can boost yields and environmental outcomes. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"The nitrogen that comes from soil mineralization is the first nitrogen the plant sees, and its role is underestimated."

Meet the guest:

Dr. Emerson Nafziger is Professor Emeritus of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with degrees in agronomy from Ohio State, Purdue, and Illinois. His research has focused on nitrogen rate strategies and crop productivity. He co-developed the Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN) model, which is widely used across the Midwest. His research spans N response trials, hybrid interactions, crop rotation effects, and yield stability.