January 22, 2021
URBANA, Ill. – When downstate peach growers need a new cold-hardy variety, or when pumpkin fields are threatened by pests, growers rely on the experts at University of Illinois Extension.
Extension educators have hosted in-person specialty crop schools in Southern Illinois for decades, offering regionally-focused updates and practical tools that small-scale and commercial specialty growers can use in the field.
“Extension is still the primary source of research-based information in the specialty crop industry,” says Elizabeth Wahle, an Extension commercial agriculture educator based in Collinsville. “There aren’t certified crop advisors for specialty crop production; we are it.”
Now, new and experienced tree fruit, small fruit, and vegetable producers will have access to information about pest updates and control options, cultivar recommendations, and other production details through a virtual conference on Feb.10.
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For southern Illinois, 2020 was a wet year, and Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford says the extra rainfall lasted well into spring.
“January and February and March, and April and May, were all wetter than average statewide. In some cases like January and May, much above average.” class wysiwyg-break drupal-content src /sites/all/modules/contrib/wysiwyg/plugins/break/images/spacer.gif title break
Ford adds most months were warmer than average.
“Some were very very warm, we think back to November for example, it was the seventh warmest November on record statewide.” class wysiwyg-break drupal-content src /sites/all/modules/contrib/wysiwyg/plugins/break/images/spacer.gif title break Ford says statewide total rainfall was almost 42 inches for 2020, which is 4.37 inches above average. Last year’s statewide average temperature was 53.3 degrees making it the 21st warmest since record-keeping began in 1895.
Sierra Club presents climatologist Jan. 12
Dec. 30, 2020
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Ford
GLEN CARBON Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford will be the featured speaker at 6 p.m. Jan. 12 for the Piasa Palisades Group, Sierra Club, Virtual Speakers Series.
Ford will discuss Climate Change in Illinois with a focus on how the last century of climate change in Illinois has had considerable environmental and economic impacts. He also will discuss how model projections suggest future changes will continue to impact Illinois.
Ford has been the Illinois State Climatologist since 2019. He and his team provide information online, through traditional and social media, and by speaking to interested groups across the state.