Ogle County 4-H plants trees
OREGON, Ill. - Illinois was once home to 14 million acres of trees, which included a unique ecosystem called an oak savannah. Now, the oak savannah is considered by the Illinois Forest Action Plan to be the most threatened plant community in the Midwest. A savannah is a plant community with...
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...
Pollinators
Join Jo Daviess County Master Gardener Madelynn Wilharm for a presentation on “Pollinators” on Tuesday, May 20 at 1:30 p.m. at the Jo Daviess County Extension Office, 204 N. Vine Street, Elizabeth, IL. There will be a $5 fee to attend and pre-registration is requested. To register or for more...
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 traffic accident that took the lives of eight...
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...
Extension celebrates program volunteers
OREGON, Ill. - The Boone, DeKalb, and Ogle County Master Gardener and Master Naturalist volunteers are comprised of trained and dedicated individuals. These individuals come back year after year because they are devoted to giving back to the community, helping and teaching others, making a...
Volunteers' passion helps to grow the next generation of leaders
OREGON, Ill. – Volunteers play a vital role in supporting 4-H youth clubs and programming. University of Illinois Extension’s 4-H youth development program in Ogle County honors over 100 volunteers during National Volunteer Week, April 20-26.National Volunteer Week is an opportunity...
Ogle County 4-H seeks food donations
OREGON, Ill. — Food insecurity is an official term from the USDA, and it's when people don't have enough to eat and don't know where their next meal will come from. It's a big problem in the United States, where 47 million people, including 14 million children, experience food insecurity...
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...
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...
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...
Fourth annual NatureFest to take place April 26
DEKALB, Ill. - Join us again for a day in the woods. University of Illinois Extension, DeKalb County Forest Preserve, DeKalb County Soil and Water Conservation District, and DeKalb County Health Department have planned the fourth annual NatureFest. Join us on Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to...
Homegrown Healthy: A horticultural journey from garden to table
OREGON, Ill. - As the warmth of summer approaches, the Flagg-Rochelle Public Library, Sauk Valley Community College, and Morrison Community Hospital, along with University of Illinois Extension, are proud to announce a unique educational initiative designed to cultivate healthier lifestyles...
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:...
4-H Day of Dabbling was a hit in Ogle County
OREGON, Ill. - More than 40 youth participated in the 2025 4-H Day of Dabbling on March 22. This was an opportunity for them to explore numerous areas of 4-H project work hands-on.Eighteen workshops were offered; each participant chose three. Project areas included visual arts, food...
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...
