Todd Gleason Email

This author has written 115 articles

The 2026 University of Illinois Weed Science Field Research Tour

  • June 9, 2026

  • Todd Gleason

Weed Science Field Research Tour, Wednesday, June 24 in Champaign
The weed science program at the University of Illinois invites all weed management practitioners to our annual weed science field tour on Wednesday, June 24, at the Department of Crop Sciences field research location known as the Clem Farm, located at 1114 County Road 1200 East, Champaign. Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. and the tour will start at 9:00 a.m. Preregistration is not required, but please let us know in advance if you will be bringing a large group of participants so we can plan accordingly for meals.…

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WILLAg Radio Week 23 in Review

  • June 6, 2026

  • Todd Gleason

The following is a summary of the WILLAg.org content from the work week ending June 05, 2026. WILLAg.org is a partnership of Illinois Public Media and University of Illinois Extension. Its mission is to distribute regionally, nationally, and internationally information and analysis of commodity markets and agricultural weather.
Agricultural Markets Synthesis
The agricultural grain markets experienced a severe downturn, characterized by corn and soybeans breaking through critical moving averages due to persistent fund liquidations,…

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Jun 05 | Climate Review and Weather Update

  • June 5, 2026

  • Todd Gleason

We wrapped up spring and started meteorological summer with some lovely, if a bit drier, weather. Average temperatures this week ranged from the low 60s in northern Illinois to the mid-70s in southern Illinois, between 1 and 4 degrees above average. Low humidity allowed daytime temperatures to regularly reach into the upper 80s, while nighttime temperatures cooled well into the 50s. Some of the more impressive nighttime lows this week included 44 in Waukegan and 45 in Normal.…

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WILLAg Radio Week 22 in Review

  • May 30, 2026

  • Todd Gleason

The following is a summary of the WILLAg.org content from the work week ending May 29, 2026. WILLAg.org is a partnership of Illinois Public Media and University of Illinois Extension. Its mission is to distribute regionally, nationally, and internationally information and analysis of commodity markets and agricultural weather.
Agricultural Markets Synthesis
Throughout the week, the agricultural commodity markets faced volatility driven by geopolitical developments, fluctuating energy prices, and domestic planting progress. Analysts Naomi Blohm,…

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WILLAg Radio Week 21 in Review

  • May 23, 2026

  • Todd Gleason

The following is a summary of the WILLAg.org content from the work week ending May 22, 2026. WILLAg.org is a partnership of Illinois Public Media and University of Illinois Extension. Its mission is to distribute regionally, nationally, and internationally information and analysis of commodity markets and agricultural weather.
Agricultural Markets Synthesis
The agricultural markets experienced a volatile week marked by risk-on and risk-off trading, heavily influenced by geopolitical news and macroeconomic factors. Curt Kimmel (AgMarket.net) ,…

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May 22 | Climate Review and Weather Update

  • May 22, 2026

  • Todd Gleason

We had milder weather as we turned the corner in May. Average temperatures this week ranged from the low 60s in northern Illinois to the low 70s in southern Illinois, between 2 and 4 degrees above normal. Despite a bit more warmth this week, low humidity allowed nighttime temperatures to regularly drop into the 40s, including lows of 38 degrees in Decatur and 39 in Barrington. May temperatures to date have been 1 to 3 degrees below average statewide.…

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WILLAg Radio Week 20 in Review

  • May 16, 2026

  • Todd Gleason

The following is a summary of the WILLAg.org content from the work week ending May 15, 2026.
Agricultural Markets Weekly Synthesis
Throughout the week, the agricultural markets were heavily influenced by the USDA WASDE report, macroeconomic indicators, geopolitical trade developments, and the shifting positions of commodity funds. Early in the week, Curt Kimmel emphasized the significant influence of commodity funds, which held massive net-long positions, and noted that robust global demand was required to push new crop corn above $5 and soybeans above $12.…

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May 15 | Climate Review and Weather Update

  • May 15, 2026

  • Todd Gleason

by Trent Ford, State Climatologist
ISWS PRI University of Illinois
Spring weather extended yet another week with average temperatures from the low 50s in northern Illinois to low 60s in southern Illinois, between 3 and 8 degrees below normal. While most places stayed above freezing overnight this week, we did wake up to temperatures in the 30s and heavy frost, including lows of 33 degrees in Dixon and in Rockford. The cooler start to May is quite a contrast to what ended up being the warmest April on record statewide last month.…

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WILLAg Business Week Review for May 8, 2026

  • May 10, 2026

  • Todd Gleason

The following is a summary of the WILLAg.org radio broadcast content from the work week ending May 8, 2026.
Agricultural Markets Weekly Synthesis
Throughout the week, agricultural markets experienced significant volatility driven by fluctuating crude oil prices, geopolitical tensions, and the anticipation of upcoming governmental reports and international summits. Early in the week, Curt Kimmel reported that commodity funds aggressively bought contracts, pushing soybeans higher due to a risk premium returning to crude oil amidst Middle East tensions.…

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May 08 | Climate Review and Weather Update

  • May 8, 2026

  • Todd Gleason

by Trent Ford, State Climatologist
ISWS PRI University of Illinois
Average temperatures in this first full week of May were actually a little cool, ranging from the high 40s in northern Illinois to the mid-50s in southern Illinois, between 3 and 8 degrees below normal. This followed an April that was a top five warmest on record statewide and felt like a bit of a bait and switch after a taste of summer-like weather last month.…

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