News Releases

Yellow and purple flowers
Register now for Gardener's Pathway and Artisan Market in Sycamore
DEKALB, Ill. - The annual Gardener's Pathway and Artisan Market returns to Sycamore on Feb. 22 at the DeKalb County Farm Bureau, 1350 W Prairie Dr, Sycamore, from 7:30 am to 2:45 pm. The Keynote speaker and presenter is Kerry Ann Mendez, who has over 25 years of professional and...
yellow and blue background; laptop with canning photo
Prepare Now: Yes, You Can! Home Food Preservation Webinars
With a mild winter upon us, many are already dreaming of outdoor adventures and planning their springtime planting. While it's still a few months before we can dig into the dirt and prepare our gardens, why not use this time to learn a new skill?Stay warm this winter, and join us for our...
joys of gardening on green background
Register now for the Annual Joys of Gardening
Mark your calendars for the 27th annual Joys of Gardening program offered by the University of Illinois Extension and the U of I Extension Master Gardeners.  Slated for Saturday, February 22, at the Highland Community College Student Conference Center, 2998 W. Pearl City Road, Freeport,...
Water flooding and rushing through a drainage system in a farm field.
Explore integrated water management with Illinois Extension workshop
URBANA, Ill. — In times of changing environmental conditions, unmanaged drainage water with a lack of soil conservation practices can impact farm profitability and sustainability of agricultural operations. Understanding management options starts with knowing what’s happening out in the fields...
A woman stands in a grassy field holding a long blade of grass
Can one person make a difference on environmental issues?
Global environmental issues like habitat loss and pollution can feel overwhelming. Can one person’s actions make a difference? Natural Resources, Environment, and Energy Educator Erin Garrett believes so. Garrett provides...
Two women standing and smiling.
Extension recognizes local employee excellence, commitment to mission
URBANA, Ill. — Across the state, more than 650 University of Illinois Extension employees work to serve the communities where they live and help tackle local issues with research-based solutions. Illinois Extension honored 11 outstanding individuals whose efforts demonstrate significant public...
rolling corn fields
Corn and Soybean Management discussed at Northwest Illinois Agronomy Summit
The last three seasons have brought various challenges for corn and soybean production, with unique weather situations and a wide range of planting and harvest windows. At the Northwest Illinois Agronomy Summit, Dr. Connor Sible, Research Assistant Professor, Department of Crop Sciences...
work out gear
Finding balance: Weight, emotions, and movement
FREEPORT, ILL.---The new year is fast approaching, and many of us are looking for opportunities to improve our health in the coming year. Whether you are looking to increase your minutes of physical activity, consume more fruits and vegetables, get better quality of sleep, or simply manage the...
rolling farm fields of corn
Biologicals to be Highlighted at Northwest Illinois Agronomy Summit
The rapidly expanding market of biologicals, biostimulants, and biofertilizers will be a topic of discussion at the upcoming Northwest Illinois Agronomy Summit. With numerous companies offering unique bio-based products tailored for farms, it's essential to understand their practical...
youth doing archery
Northern Illinois 4-H Summer Camp registration now open
OREGON, Ill. - Registration for 4-H Camp 2025 is open!  4-H Camp is set for June 8-12, 2025, at Rock River Christian Camp, Polo, IL.  Sign up today to get your child in on all the amazing fun!  4-H Camp is a five-day, four-night residential camping experience that is...
snowflake
WinterFest 2025 set for Jan. 18 in Genoa
GENOA, Ill. - The annual WinterFest, held at the Natural Resources Education Center (NREC) in Russell Woods Forest Preserve, will be Saturday, Jan. 18, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Russell Woods is located 1 mile west of Genoa on state route 72.University of Illinois Extension and DeKalb County...
Driftless Region Beef Conference logo
Driftless Region Beef Conference Offered in Dubuque
University of Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin Extension services are working together to offer the thirteenth annual Driftless Region Beef Conference to be held on January 23 and 24, 2025 at the Grand River Convention Center in Dubuque, IA. The aim of the conference is to provide educational...
A plate filled with a variety of holiday cookies of shapes, colors, and flavors sitting on a wooden table next to evergreen holiday décor.
Sugar and spice make everything nice
URBANA, Ill. — Sugar and spice make everything nice, especially in holiday treats. But do you know where sugar and spice come from?Plants make the sugar glucose during the process of photosynthesis. Certain plants can take excess glucose, create sucrose, and then store it in either the...
A woman and man stand holding a certificate
4-H digital design program wins award for connecting youth with technology
URBANA, Ill. — In a world where technological advances happen daily, digital access and literacy are crucial for future generations to close opportunity gaps. University of Illinois Extension works to connect communities with technology to improve the quality of living through digital education...