Life provides challenges. Trust Extension to help. Families, businesses, communities, and organizations trust Illinois Extension to provide unbiased, research-based solutions to the challenges you face. Read our latest blog Connect. Learn. Grow. Get Winter Ready Illinois winters are no joke. At Illinois Extension, we know that your winter wellbeing matters. Make the most out of the season with our collection of resources that answer your questions. Improve Money Management Discover tools, tips, and techniques for common money management topics that help you prepare for first-time financial decisions such as buying or renting, evaluating job benefits, and making financial plans. Get the Latest Field Updates ake the most informed decisions you can for your farm by getting the latest research updates to improve productivity and output from crop science experts in person or online this winter. Webinars and Digital Training Information you trust is just a click away. Illinois Extension’s high-quality programs are available for free online as live webinars. Miss a program? Check out the recordings. Help the Environment Small changes have positive impacts on the environment. This winter, explore climate, healthy waterways, and the return of big predators Gardening in the Air As the cold weather sets in, it's time to move gardening indoors. Learn how to take care of houseplants, protect wildlife, and prepare for spring gardening trends in the Gardening in the Air webinar series. Master Gardener Training Gain practical experience and horticulture knowledge straight from Extension educators so you can positively impact your community. Budget-Friendly Nutrition Tips Make healthier choices for your family on any budget. Find your healthy lifestyle with Eat. Move. Save. Advocate for the Environment Love nature? The Master Naturalist program works with adult volunteers to support natural spaces and wildlife around Illinois as environmental stewards. Don’t dump Halloween pumpkins, donate or compost them Every year, come November billions of jack-o’-lanterns whose wilting faces are now past their prime need to find a new home. Instead of tossing them into the trash or dumping them in a natural area, compost them! Teen wins national 4-H award for local, global STEM education activism When Dhruv Rebba first visited the Indian village his father grew up in, he saw a community struggling because it didn’t have access to the internet. The Illinois 4-H member knew he had the skills and drive to make a difference and he recently won a national 4-H award for his efforts. The Hunt for Orange October: Master Naturalists track monarchs On their annual 3,000 mile migration to Mexico, monarch butterflies rest in select trees. A group of Illinois Extension volunteers, The Secret Society of Monarch Roost Hunters, scout for these roosts and report their findings as part of a community science research project to help this at-risk species. Master Gardener coordinator wins award for pandemic work Tabitha Elder, Illinois Extension Champaign County horticulture program coordinator, was one of 16 civil service employees recognized for exceptional performance by the University of Illinois with the Chancellor's Distinguished Staff Award. Urban beekeeper's planned expansion pays off during pandemic Oscar Villa graduated the Cook County Master Urban Farmer program in 2018. With a plan in place, he expanded from a hobby to a business. Non-native invasive species major threat to ecosystem May is Invasive Species Awareness Month. The estimated price tag of managing the damages caused by invasive species such as the emerald ash borer or Asian carp is $120 billion annually in the U.S. COMMUNITY RESOURCES Response resources for COVID-19 The spread and mitigation of coronavirus (COVID-19) is an evolving concern for Illinois. This library of resources can help families, businesses, community leaders, and ag producers cope. Find Local Food Resources Find all food assistance sites closest to your Illinois zip code, including food pantries, school meal sites, and grocery stores and farmers markets that accept WIC/SNAP. Economic and Functional Value A new report finds that Extension provides more than $600 million annual benefit to Illinois, ten times its budget. Read the report. En Espanol La Extensión de la Universidad de Illinois es el principal alcance emblemático de la Universidad de Illinois en Urbana-Champaign, que ofrece programas educativos a los residentes de los 102 condados de Illinois, y mucho más. Upcoming Events December 18, 2021 Edwards County Tag-A- Long Christmas Ornament WorkshopEdwards County Extension Office (Edwards County) December 20, 2021 Lee County 4-H Needle Felting WorkshopLee County Extension Office 4-H Gift Wrapping WorkshopMacomb (McDonough County) December 20, 2021 - December 31, 2021 January 4-H in a Bag-Mystery Message Virtual (Wayne County) December 21, 2021 DIY Code and BuildMonmouth (Warren County) More Events Recent News December 18, 2021 Extension efforts add 64,000 pounds of fresh produce to central Illinois families' tables December 18, 2021 Plant a tree; help the planet: Illinois 4-H tackles global issues locally December 13, 2021 Cook County 4-H expands metro youth outreach with two new leaders December 13, 2021 Make a big difference on small farms with winter workshops December 13, 2021 Poinsettias add a rainbow of color options to holiday décor More News Releases