Illinois
Do cicadas destroy crops? What farmers in Illinois need to know
Cicada cakes return to Chicago-area bakery after 17-year hiatus
Bent Fork Bakery in Chicago is bringing back their famous cicada cakes in anticipation of the bugs’ return this summer.
Fox – 32 Chicago
The emergence of two broods of periodical cicadas in Illinois this spring will be an event that has not occurred since 1803 and will not happen again until 2245.
What does this rare event mean for Peoria-area farmers?
Cicadas 2024: What animals eat cicadas?
Do cicadas destroy crops?
The short answer is, not much.
“Periodical cicadas don’t pose a risk to any of the major crops in Illinois,” said Illinois State Entomologist Christopher Dietrich. “They are restricted to areas with mature natural forest, and they don’t move around much so we’ll see few, if any, in areas dominated by row crops.”
The Peoria area’s corn and soybeans are safe from a dual emergence of the Northern Illinois Brood and the Great Southern Brood. But the billions of insects whose song will begin to fill Illinois evenings later this month can still pose an agricultural threat statewide.
Do cicadas destroy trees?
University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator Ken Johnson wrote female cicadas will cut open tree branches, resulting in a scar that can be several inches long. While the damage will not kill mature, healthy trees; it can kill small trees and shrubs.
“Newly-planted small trees and shrubs may have trunk diameters small enough for female cicadas to lay their eggs in,” Johnson wrote. “If this happens, the trees can be killed. These smaller plants also have fewer branches on them, and egg-laying can cause significant damage to the trees.”
What do cicadas eat? Trillions of cicadas loom in the United States. What do cicadas eat above ground?
The female cicada’s affinity for trees means the primary risk is to commercial tree fruit growers. Richard Tanner, the father of Tanner’s Orchard owner Craig Tanner, still helps out at the Speer, Ill., farm, and said 3,000 new trees were planted there last spring. To make up losses from last year, Tanner’s also plans to replant trees this spring.
“Due to the warm and dry conditions of spring 2023, we lost about 15% of the trees and will be replanting them,” Tanner said.
How to protect young trees from cicadas
The Illinois Department of Agriculture said the best way to protect small trees from cicada damage is to surround the trunks with screening, which will curtail egg-laying. IDA said commercially available pesticides don’t work on cicadas and could negatively affect pets and wildlife that feed on them.
University of Illinois Extension assistant professor Kacie Athey wrote late in April that the best protection for vulnerable trees is protective fine-meshed netting. However, for growers with large numbers of fruit trees, there are insecticides available only to commercial fruit producers.
Athey provided a spraying guide for commercial growers, including a list of available insecticides and efficacy ratings for each. Of the eight products listed, five had ratings of “Unknown.” Asana XL and Danitol 2.4EC received scores of “Excellent,” and Athey gave Sevin XLR Plus a rating of “Good.”
Illinois
Yuengling Now Available In IL: 'America's Oldest Brewery' Expands
ILLINOIS — Following last month’s announcement it was expanding to Illinois in early 2025, Pennsylvania-based Yuengling said Monday it is now officially selling its beers on draft throughout the state. Founded in 1829, D.G. Yuengling & Son, Inc. bills itself as “America’s oldest brewery.”
“As we look to further Yuengling’s presence in the Midwest, we are excited to officially begin pouring our iconic beers in Illinois as our next expansion state,” said Wendy Yuengling, chief administrative officer and sixth’generation family member, in a news release.
The brand’s flagship beers include Yuengling Traditional Lager, Light Lager, Golden Pilsner, and Black and Tan.
“I Ling, you Ling, we all Ling for Yuengling….my cleverness knows no bounds….i know. But in all serious we now have Yuengling on tap,” boasted Merichka’s Restaurant in Crest Hill (Joliet). A pint costs $4.75 at Merichka’s.
“We will be one of the FIRST spots in the entire state to pour Yuengling!,” says Player’s Pub and Grill, Prospect Heights.
“The Legendary Yuengling Beer just became available in Illinois as of Friday. We are the first in Illinois to have it on tap!! Come by and try one (or a few)!!,” Magoo’s Bar, located in Bedford Park, said Monday.
With the expansion in Illinois underway, Yuengling is telling customers to “ask for it at your local bar.” The company also has a “Find Our Beer” link on its website.
To celebrate the launch of the brands in Illinois, Yuengling said it will be visiting various locations throughout the state this week to offer consumers sampling opportunities.
Following the draft launch in late-January, Yuengling will become available in cans and bottles across the state at stores, restaurants and bars starting in early March.
Last year, Yuengling expanded into Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma, marking it currently available in 27 states.
Illinois
Daily Public Schedule: Monday, January 27, 2025
What: Governor Pritzker to join Lookingglass Theatre to celebrate reopening.
Where: Lookingglass Theatre – Main Lobby; 163 E Pearson St, Chicago.
When: 10:00 am
Watch: www.illinois.gov/livevideo
Note: Attendees and media should enter the theatre through the main entrance located near the corner of Pearson Street and Michigan Avenue. Media planning to attend should RSVP to gov.press@illinois.gov.
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Illinois
Gamethread/How to watch Northwestern vs. Illinois: TV, radio, betting line, injury report
For the second time this season, Northwestern (12-7, 3-5 B1G) will take on No. 17 Illinois (13-6, 5-4 B1G), this time in Champaign on the road. The Wildcats are still looking for their first Big Ten road win, while the Illini will try to bounce back from an ugly 21-point home loss against Maryland on Sunday. Here’s how to follow along for Sunday’s match:
Broadcast Information
Location: State Farm Arena (Champaign, IL)
Game Time: 2:00 p.m. CST
TV/Streaming: BTN
Radio: WGN 720
Betting Line
Northwestern +7.5, O/U 151 (Odds Shark)
Injury Report
Northwestern:
OUT — None
QUESTIONABLE — none
Illinois:
OUT — Tomislav Ivisic
QUESTIONABLE — none
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