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. Cottage Food Training Starting a home-based food business? Get a head start on understanding the laws, certifications, processes, and practices required to safely and legally run a cottage food operation in Illinois. Be Wary of Poison Hemlock Poison hemlock is a toxic plant found commonly in roadsides, near railroads, ditches, pastures, and other open areas. Populations in Illinois seem to be on the rise. Learn the risks, how to identify it, and how to manage it. You Can Help the Environment Small changes in your personal live can have positive impacts on the environment. Explore how to manage stormwater, cover crops at home, and climate change effects on Lake Michigan. Your Summer Garden Checklist Summer is a busy time – the garden To Do list is long and there are enough hours in the day. Save time and money with expert advice on everything from weed control to harvesting produce with our summer growing guide. Budget-Friendly Nutrition Tips Make healthier choices for your family on any budget. Find your healthy lifestyle with Eat. Move. Save. Master Gardener Training Gain practical experience and horticulture knowledge straight from Extension educators so you can positively impact your community. 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. COMMUNITY RESOURCES 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. Red Oak Rain Garden welcomes April showers The Red Oak Rain Garden is a 10,000-square-foot demonstration site on the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana campus that is designed to soak up rainwater, provide wildlife habitat, and educate visitors about sustainable landscape design. Farmers, researchers break ground with new guidelines for budding hemp crop By collecting data from more than 180 hemp growers over the past two years, Illinois Extension researchers now have a better understanding of how to produce hemp and are sharing that information directly with growers through the Midwestern Hemp Database. Is there lead in your soil? New Chicago-area map tells you Leftover from paint, gasoline, and other sources, lead lingers in urban environments where it can be a health risk for anyone in contact with the soil - from children playing in mud puddles to backyard gardeners. University researchers worked with communities to identify lead hotspots. Fields of dreams: From 4-H to cut flower grower Illinois cut flower grower uses 4-H background to builds community with his 'more than one person' approach. The spice is right? Researchers explore growing ginger in Illinois Ginger is a tropical plant that may seem out of place in a state known for growing row crops, but its flavorful, golden root could be the solution to a plant disease problem for farmers who grow tomatoes in hoop houses. Central Illinois communities come together to feed families By sharing a little, we can help a lot. Across Central Illinois, families are struggling with food insecurity, unsure where their next meal will come from. Starting in 2019, Illinois Extension staff partnered with local growers to donate more than 64,000 pounds through food pantries. Upcoming Events July 03, 2022 2022 4-H Horse Show | DeWitt, Macon and Piatt Dewitt County 4-H Fairgrounds July 04, 2022 Office Closed - Henderson, Knox, McDonough, and Warren Counties Office Closed - Jo Daviess, Stephenson and Winnebago Counties July 05, 2022 McDonough County 4-H Fair: Livestock ShowsMacomb (McDonough County) McHenry County 4-H Virtual Cooking SPIN Club 7/5/22ZOOM (McHenry County) More Events Recent News July 01, 2022 Produce donation program improves health and nutrition at food pantries June 27, 2022 Feed your community by safely donating homegrown fruits, vegetables June 24, 2022 Guide outlines steps to take when pesticide drift occurs June 24, 2022 Midwestern hemp database applications open until July 24 June 23, 2022 Livestock judging helps youth improve local herds More News Releases