Educational Opportunities

Farm Bureau

Winnebago-Boone

ELEVATE YOUR EXPECTATIONS WITH RAISED BED GARDENING

URBANA, Ill. — Whether for convenience or accessibility, raised beds are a popular option for growing fruits, vegetables, or ornamental plants. Raised bed structures elevate the soil, and with it comes a variety of advantages for growing plants.

Using raised beds may allow gardening in soils where it may otherwise be difficult to grow plants, such as areas with poor drainage or compaction issues. Because these beds are raised above the ground, compaction shouldn’t be an issue because there won’t be any foot traffic on them.

Raised beds also have better drainage, and the soils warm up earlier in the spring compared to in-ground beds allowing an earlier start to the gardening season. Since they are contained, they also tend to have fewer weed problems, although this can vary depending on the soil used to fill the beds.

Raised beds can also provide those with accessibility concerns, such as individuals who use a wheelchair or have difficulty working at ground level, with gardening opportunities.

While there are many advantages to raised beds, there are also some disadvantages. Raised beds must be constructed, which can come at a cost. While recycled materials can be used, there is still some added work to construct them. Filling raised beds can be expensive, especially when are building large beds. Some crops do not work well in raised beds. Sweet corn requires larger blocks of plants to ensure proper pollination, and large vining crops like pumpkins can overtake a bed. Finally, raised beds tend to dry out faster than in-ground beds, so they will likely need to be watered more frequently.

Raised beds are often constructed with wooden boards. Cedar and cypress wood are commonly used because they are naturally rot-resistant. Alternatives to wood include materials such as cinder blocks, plastic lumber, and metal.

Pressure-treated wood is another option for constructing raised beds. Some people have concerns about using pressure-treated wood when growing food crops. Newer chemicals used in pressure-treating wood, such as micronized copper azole, CA, or alkaline copper quaternary ammonium, ACQ, are less toxic compared to previously used chemicals. Never use railroad ties, which have been treated with creosote, when constructing raised beds.

Raised beds are commonly built to be 6 to 12 inches tall but can be built taller. If constructing a raised bed with wheelchair access, they should be 24 inches tall. Raised beds should be no wider than 4 feet to access the beds from all sides. Otherwise, they should be no wider than 2 feet to ensure one is able to reach everything in the bed without stepping on the soil. When constructing raised beds out of wood, reinforce the corners with corner brackets or pieces of wood.

Fill raised beds with a 1:1 mixture of compost and garden or topsoil. Over time the compost or other organic matter used will decompose, which will cause the bed to settle. Because of this, more soil and compost may need to be added to the bed each year. To learn more about this, click here.

How much soil does a raised bed need? Multiply the length of the bed by the width and height — length x width x height — to get the raised bed’s volume. When calculating, make sure to use the same unit of measure for all parts — feet, inches, etc.

For more information about gardening, visit the following links:

ABOUT ILLINOIS EXTENSION: Illinois Extension leads public outreach for University of Illinois by translating research into action plans that allow Illinois families, businesses, and community leaders to solve problems, make informed decisions, and adapt to changes and opportunities. Illinois Extension is part of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences.

SOURCES/WRITER: Ken Johnson, Horticulture Educator, Illinois Extension, Gardeners Corner Summer 2023

2024-25 Project Grant Applications Now Available for

Boone and Winnebago 4-H and FFA Youth

The Winnebago-Boone Farm Bureau is offering up to $200 per project in project grants for 4-H and FFA Youth to help support projects underway by local FFA chapters and 4-H clubs. The recipients will be able to use the grant to purchase necessary materials and supplies.

The applicant must meet the following requirements:

Must be a member of a 4-H club or FFA chapter in Boone or Winnebago Counties
Must submit a typed application to describe the project
Applicant’s FFA Advisor/ 4-H Leader must sign the application
Applicant’s parent/guardian must sign the application

The recipients will be chosen based on the above requirements, along with a 5 to 10-minute oral presentation on the proposed project at an upcoming Winnebago-Boone Farm Bureau board meeting. Grant funds will be awarded after the recipient submits a summary of the program or project, photos, and detailed receipts.

Grant Overview

Grant Application

New online agriculture course grows skills in identifying corn, soybean field insects

One thing is for sure, if there is a farm field, insects will visit it. Having the skills to identify insects inhabiting crop fields across the Midwest improves one’s ability to identify and effectively manage insect pests while avoiding unnecessary interventions that may negatively affect beneficial insects as well as farmer profitability.

Staff from the Department of Crop Sciences, part of the University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois Extension, and GROWMARK have made it possible for anyone to gain these identification skills through a recently released free online course titled the Identification of Agriculturally Important Insects for Corn and Soybean.

Participants from all aspects of agriculture and beyond can register for the self-paced course at Learn @ Illinois Extension and look forward to starting at the basics. The course provides participants with an understanding of insect morphology or physical form as well as tips for identifying insect pest species commonly found across Midwest corn and soybean fields. The course also includes a section on identifying look-a-like species.

“Being able to properly identify an insect at various corn and soybean growth stages can increase the crop’s chance for survival and overall profitability,” says Nick Seiter, course co-author, ACES assistant professor, and Extension specialist. “Not all insects found in a field will be quantifiable or become harmful to that crop.”

Participants learn through an immersive online experience of 3D model insects that rotate with the hold of a mouse click to explore better angles and specific identifying characteristics. Pop-up annotation cards provide facts and tips, while short quizzes check learning progress along the way. These tools encourage improved understanding and visualization to reflect the experience of seeing the live insect.

“We’re excited to offer this course to increase awareness and build the skills and confidence needed to increase proper integrated pest management techniques across today’s crop fields,” says Talon Becker, Extension commercial agriculture specialist.

The course can be accessed directly at go.illinois.edu/FieldInsectID. A Learn @ Illinois account will be required and can be created by clicking the course name at center screen or the Log In button at the top-right of the page, followed by Create an Account near the middle of the login page.

The course offers continuing education units for Certified Crop Advisers. Those who complete the course will be provided with a QR code to scan with the Certified Crop Adviser app to obtain 3.0 CEUs in pest management. The training is also available in Spanish at go.illinois.edu/IDinsectocampo.

If you have questions or need reasonable accommodation to participate in this program, contact Talon Becker at tbecker2@illinois.edu or by phone at 217-300-0576. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet access needs.