Weather, disease challenge Illinois’ strawberry growers

Farm employees pick strawberries in southern Illinois. Weather conditions and disease have created challenges for Illinois strawberry producers, including a late start to the picking season and reduced yields. Courtesy of Flamm Orchards

Weather conditions and disease have created hurdles for Illinois strawberry producers this season.

Austin Flamm with Flamm Orchards in Union County said their struggles began early when a disease called Neopestalotiopsis infected greenhouses in Canada where the Flamms purchase their plugs.

“Of the 100,000 plants for our early variety, we only planted 35,000 of them and of those 35,000, I’d say there was less than 5,000 that survived,” Flamm told FarmWeek, noting a late start to the picking season due to poor stands.

He said frequent rains and disease