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An ACES alum with a hunger to serve

March 4, 2026

URBANA, Ill. — When Steve Ericson walked into the Illinois State Fair as a young exhibitor in 1974, he couldn’t have imagined that one day he’d return, not to show livestock, but to help connect Illinois-grown food to families in need. Now, as Executive Director of Feeding Illinois, Ericson…

Microwave frying can help lower oil content for healthier French fries

March 4, 2026

URBANA, Ill. — Fried foods are popular with consumers, but their high fat content can contribute to health challenges like obesity and hypertension. If the food industry can offer lower-fat options of similar quality, people can more easily make health-conscious food choices.

Researchers…

See safety in action at Stand Up 4 Grain Safety Week Kickoff event in Urbana

March 2, 2026

URBANA, Ill. — What began as an idea from agricultural industry groups to help ensure safety in the workplace has now become a nationwide movement. Stand Up 4 Grain Safety Week takes place March 30 through April 6, and the 2026 Illinois kickoff event is on-site and livestreamed from the…

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May 14, 2025

Stay informed on the latest agricultural research at Dudley Smith Farm Field Day
PANA, Ill. — For farmers, producers, and consumers, it is important to stay informed on current and upcoming agricultural practices. The ag industry is fast-paced and filled with technology pushing efficiency forward. Without these advancements, farmers could not continue to feed the growing...

A person stands in the middle of a crop field.

May 12, 2025

University of Illinois Agronomy Days series returns to ACES
URBANA, Ill. — Summer is back, which means the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign will return with its Agronomy Days series, where Illinois growers can learn more about the latest productivity,...

May 1, 2025

Illinois research shows benefits of prairie grass for sustainable aviation fuel
Switchgrass has gripped Midwestern soils for millions of years, but soon, the earthbound prairie grass could fly. New studies from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign identify economic and environmental considerations that make switchgrass a candidate...

April 30, 2025

Meat from Illinois State Fair Sale of Champions donated to Feeding Illinois food banks through new ACES, IDOA partnership
URBANA, Ill. — The...

April 29, 2025

Illinois Extension offers free dial-gauge pressure canner testing for home canners
URBANA, Ill. — With summer gardens gearing up, it’s time to take canning equipment out of storage. Illinois Extension offers free dial-gauge pressure canner testing to ensure the equipment works accurately.A variety of foods can be canned at home through boiling water bath canning and...

White fuzzy appearing specs that are mealybugs on a houseplant stem.

April 28, 2025

Keeping outside pests off indoor plants
URBANA, Ill. — Keeping houseplants is a hobby that has recently seen a huge resurgence. Now, nurseries that were all but shuttered for the winter are hosting houseplant parties and other events to help people keep their hands dirty all year.Tending to houseplants is a way to maintain our...

A corn field with a sunset showing in the background.

April 28, 2025

Summer Twilight Series continues the tradition of learning and connection with local growers
SIMPSON, Ill. - For a decade, the Summer Twilight Series has been a beloved tradition in southern Illinois, bringing farmers, educators, and community members together to explore the diversity and innovation of local agriculture. Now in its tenth year, Illinois Extension is proud to continue...

A gas analyzer measures carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide from fields.

April 25, 2025

Illinois leads most rigorous agricultural greenhouse gas emissions study to date
URBANA, Ill. — Farmers apply nitrogen fertilizers to crops to boost yields, feeding more people and livestock. But when there’s more fertilizer than the crop can take up, some of the excess can be converted into gaseous forms, including nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas that traps nearly 300 times...

A large agriculture-related dust cloud over a farm field

April 22, 2025

Dust storms in Illinois: Identifying farm solutions
URBANA, Ill. — Dust storms have become an increasing concern in Illinois, prompting investigations into their causes and potential solutions. These weather events have resulted in fatalities, including a 2023...

A group of Extension staff and volunteers visiting and conversing at an outdoor event

April 22, 2025

Immeasurable impact gained through dedication of Illinois Extension volunteers
URBANA, Ill. — They are friends, neighbors, family members, or someone we run into at local community events. More than 5,000 of these individuals are University of Illinois Extension volunteers.These volunteers make a difference in their...

April 21, 2025

Newly named county director will lead efforts in Clay, Effingham, Fayette, and Jasper counties
EFFINGHAM, Ill. — A dedicated staff member is stepping into a leadership role to further serve the residents and communities of central Illinois. As the newly named Extension county director for Clay, Effingham, Fayette, and Jasper counties...

Janella Neary addresses audience at Illinois Agriculture Legislative Day

April 21, 2025

Illinois Agriculture Legislative Day unites diverse stakeholders to advocate for state's largest industry
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — "Agriculture unites us all" was the resounding message as representatives from University of Illinois Extension, the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences,...

April 18, 2025

Sprout gardening skills at regional Master Gardener 50th Anniversary Celebrations
URBANA, Ill. — Seek out pollinators in native gardens, dive into the world of aquaponics, and see how cutting-edge technology is transforming garden design at upcoming statewide Golden Garden Day celebrations of the 50-year legacy of University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners. This...

A tractor pulling equipment tilling across a farm field causing dust

April 16, 2025

Dust storms in Illinois: Examining roles of weather and farming practices
URBANA, Ill. — Recent dust storms in Illinois have raised the question of the cause of these events. In the last few years, these dust events have caused fatal accidents among traveling motorists. Another public concern is the drop in air quality during these storms.Some of the emerging...

View of a layered landscape all green in bloom with flowers, trees, and shrubs in the woods.

April 14, 2025

A layered landscape provides space for wildlife all year
URBANA, Ill. — There are many ways to support pollinators and other wildlife in home landscapes, such as providing floral resources throughout the season, planting host plants, and planting native plants. In addition, consider creating a space for them to live out their life cycles by creating...

a person gives a box of food items to another person

April 11, 2025

Illinois Extension 2024 metrics demonstrate the value of land-grant universities
URBANA, Ill. — Illinois residents, businesses, and communities are gaining transformational knowledge and experiencing quantifiable impact through the efforts of University of Illinois Extension, a unit of the ...

a speaker address the audience at forestry conference

April 2, 2025

Sold-out conference addresses cross-state forestry challenges, points to solutions
DUBUQUE, Iowa — Forest owners voted with their feet this year, selling out the 26th Tri-State Forest Stewardship Conference weeks before its March 1 event date. More than 300 participants packed the Grand River Conference Center in Dubuque.The rise in attendance makes one thing clear:...

A university professor conversing with students while standing in a soybean field.

April 1, 2025

Unmatched field knowledge is gained at Illinois Extension youth crop competition
URBANA, Ill. — For youth looking towards a career in agriculture, specifically within the agronomy sector, the Illinois Youth Crop Scouting Competition with University of...

Two black and white dairy cows in a farm lot

March 28, 2025

Illinois study: Extreme heat impacts dairy production, small farms most vulnerable
URBANA, Ill. — Livestock agriculture is bearing the cost of extreme weather events. A new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign explores how heat stress affects U.S. dairy production, finding that high heat and humidity lead to a 1% decline in...

March 27, 2025

Explore invasive plant, animal, insect research updates at Illinois Invasive Species Symposium
URBANA, Ill. — When it comes to invasive species, what we don’t know, can hurt us. From insects that kill trees to plants that may increase tick populations, invasive species are a serious threat to Illinois natural areas, waterways, and farm fields because once they take hold, removing them is...

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An ACES alum with a hunger to serve

Microwave frying can help lower oil content for healthier French fries

See safety in action at Stand Up 4 Grain Safety Week Kickoff event in Urbana

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