🗓️ Event: 2026 HIS Central Chapter Annual Conference
📍 Location: Hyatt Place Champaign/Urbana
            217 N. Neil Street Champaign, IL 61820
🕒 Date: October 19 - 22, 2026

Conference Details

The Illinois Department of Agriculture is excited to host this year's annual conference in Champaign, IL. Our goal is to bring together colleagues and industry professionals for an opportunity to connect, examine the latest regulatory developments, explore new technological advancements, and strengthen each participant’s knowledge of emerging plant pests, diseases, and nursery trends.

Although Illinois is best known for corn and soybean production, the state’s horticultural diversity is extensive. Throughout Illinois, from urban cities to rural communities, producers grow a wide variety of specialty crops including fruits, vegetables, ornamental plants, nursery stock, and vineyards. At the Illinois Department of Agriculture, our work includes supporting the horticultural industry, conducting phytosanitary inspections on agricultural commodities, and carrying out various pesticide-related job duties, including pesticide misuse investigations. We plan to have presentations that represent all aspects of our work at the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

The conference will provide a collaborative environment to engage in meaningful discussions, share expertise and build valuable connections among our members.

Stay tuned for more information and RSVP details that will follow this email in the near future. Additional updates will be shared via this site, through the NPB email list, and in a formal invitation soon - but for now, please save the date of October 19 - 22, 2026. We look forward to welcoming you to the Land of Lincoln this Fall and offering an engaging and memorable conference experience.

Any questions can be emailed to [email protected].

***More Conference Details Coming Soon!***

Invited Speakers (Tenative)

Dr. Aaron Hager
Professor and Faculty Extension Specialist, Crop Sciences
University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, https://cropsciences.illinois.edu/directory/hager
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Dr. Esther Ngumbi
Assistant Professor, Entomology, School of Integrative Biology
University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, https://sib.illinois.edu/directory/profile/enn
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Dr. Spencer Walse
Associate Adjunct Professor, Department of Environmental Toxicology
UC Davis, https://www.etox.ucdavis.edu/people/spencer-walse
and
Commodity Protection and Quality Research
USDA ARS, https://www.ars.usda.gov/pacific-west-area/parlier/sjvasc/cpq/people/spencer-walse/
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Chris Evans
Forestry Extension and Research Specialist
University of Illinois Extension, https://extension.illinois.edu/forestry/staff/christopher-evans
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Dr. Trent Ford
Illinois State Climatologist
Illinois State Water Survey, https://stateclimatologist.isws.illinois.edu/about/
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Fredric Miller, PhD
Senior Scientist, Entomology
The Morton Arboretum, https://mortonarb.org/science/staff/fredric-miller/



Field Day (Tenative)

Tour of University of Illinois RIPE Greenhouse
1906 South Fourth Street, Champaign, IL 61820
https://ripe.illinois.edu/
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Tour of CABBI Greenhouse
Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation
1902 South Fourth Street, Champaign, IL 61820
https://cabbi.bio/about/mission-vision/
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Tour of University of Illinois Energy Farm
4110 S. Race St. Urbana, IL 61802
https://energyfarm.illinois.edu/
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Tour of Allerton Park and Retreat Center
515 Old Timber Road Monticello, Illinois 61856
https://allerton.illinois.edu/
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