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Put research-based knowledge to work for you at home, at work, and in your community. Get inspired, build confidence, and trust Extension’s reliable and relatable information to help you navigate health and resilience in all areas of life.

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Plan your garden.

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Growing your own food brings many rewards. Start planning your garden now to maximize both your garden space and the growing season. Find expert tips on planning, planting, growing, and managing a great garden, and look over resources to help you know when to plant vegetables in each Illinois plant hardiness zone.

 

 

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Explore Illinois Cicadas

2024 is a big year for periodical cicadas in Illinois! Discover how periodical broods differ from Illinois' annual, or dog-day, cicadas.
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Grow Your Food Business

Learn about the laws, certifications, processes, and practices required to run a home-based cottage food operation safely and legally in Illinois.
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Springtime Brings Growth

Kick off the spring season by learning about cicadas, replacements for invasive trees, and steps to take to prepare for days spent outdoors.
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Determining cash rent on Illinois farmland

URBANA, Ill. — One of the most consistently asked questions to University of Illinois Extension offices across the state is, what is the going rate for cash rent for farmland?

Cash rent rates are a common yet recurring question that is continuously researched. Before discussing averages…

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Future forests rely on stewardship, knowledge of private landowners

FREEPORT, Ill. — A forest is many things. Trees provide food and shelter for wildlife. Their leaves clean the air, and their roots filter water, slow floods, and prevent soil erosion. Timber products are crucial to local economies and tourism. Forests and woodlands also once made up more than a…

Scott Irwin

Extension mindset leads ACE professor to earn LinkedIn Top Voice title

URBANA, Ill. — University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign professor Scott Irwin recently became part of a prestigious group of social media users — earning the LinkedIn Top Voice title. The recognition draws attention to the ways Irwin takes his Extension mindset to social media.

The…

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Good Growing

Have you had problems with bagworms in your landscape? Bagworms are troublesome insects that can make evergreens and other plants rather unsightly. Learn about the lifecycle of bagworms and how we can manage them, including how planting flowers can help.

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