Extension to hold pressure canner dial gauge testing clinics
Canning season is fast approaching! Are you ready? Have you had your pressure canner gauge tested lately? Did you know the dial gauges need to be tested yearly to ensure accuracy?
Pressure canners are the only safe home food preservation method for canning low-acid foods. This is because...
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...
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...
4-H youth honored for leadership, career achievements
Urbana, Ill. – 4-H youth across the state have been honored for their career achievements in the 4-H program.
The State 4-H Experience Award offers recognition for members who took part in activities and events in the categories of Participation, Community Service, Leadership, and...
National leadership super summit gives teens new pathways
Washington, D.C.. – Eighteen teen leaders from across Illinois were chosen to represent Illinois 4-H at the Ignite by 4-H Summit to be held Mar. 13-17 in Washington D.C.
Teens experienced four days of inspiring and engaging panels, respected speakers, workshop sessions, entertainment and...
4-H youth leader takes the stage as part of Agriculture Legislative Day
Springfield, Ill. – Members of the Youth Leadership Team represented Illinois 4-H at the Agriculture Legislative Day held in Springfield Mar. 13.
Agriculture Legislative Day allows farm and agricultural commodity organizations and others with an agricultural interest to meet with...
Illinois youth attend first 4-H post-high school success conference
URBANA, Ill. — Over 140 eighth through 12th graders from across Illinois headed to the Illini Union on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus for a 4-H College and Career Road Trip. This dynamic conference was aimed at preparing Illinois youth for the journey into higher education...
Become a Certified Food Protection Manager—Course held in May in Rockford
Do you currently have a position handling food, or are you looking for a job in the food industry?
If so, consider becoming a Certified Food Protection Manager. The Illinois Department of Public Health requires retail food establishment managers to obtain an American National...
Spice-Healthcare: Dietary assessments for culturally diverse older adults
URBANA, Ill. — A cross-campus team of researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, led by Kinesiology and Community Health Assistant Professor Mina Raj, has received two grants to test an online platform designed to help dietitians, clinicians and food service personnel make...
Serve It Safely: Food Handlers Course to be held in Rockford on May 9
Selling and serving food remains a popular fundraising activity for many community groups. If you belong to a service club, church group, youth group, special interest club, or any non-profit organization, chances are good that you sell food. Any time your group sells food, it is essential to...
Master the art of water bath and pressure canning
Home food preservation continues to be extremely popular, whether due to increased food costs, the desire to know what is going into your food, or because it benefits the environment by reducing one’s carbon footprint. There are many ways to preserve food at home, including freezing, drying,...
Illinois study: Systematic review of agricultural injuries can help inform safety measures
URBANA, Ill. — Agricultural occupations are hazardous with one of the highest rates of workplace injuries and fatalities in the U.S. The manual and often strenuous nature of the work, combined with the use of machinery and exposure to environmental hazards create a challenging work...
Cicadas 2024 - a once in a lifetime experience
ROCKFORD, Ill. — Join Illinois Extension and Nicholas Conservatory on Wednesday, April 10 at 5:30 p.m. at Nicholas Conservatory for a lively program: Cicadas 2024 — A Once in a Lifetime Experience. Learn more about the upcoming May and June appearances of Broods XIII and XIX,...
Local Extension office to host upcoming events
OREGON, Ill. - The local University of Illinois Extension office in Ogle County released upcoming free April events. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in these programs, call 815-632-3611 by April 1.
Don't Go It Alone: Improving Your Social...
4-H Carnival winners announced
OREGON, Ill. - The Ogle County 4-H Federation hosted its annual 4-H Penny Carnival at the Blackhawk Center in Oregon on March 2. Penny Carnival is much like a fun fair but features games dreamed up and designed by the 4-H clubs in the county. All twelve of the county's clubs...
Consumers across political spectrum share food pricing frustrations
URBANA, Ill. — In his State of the Union address last week, President Biden touched on a topic close to the hearts of U.S. consumers: food prices. In this election year, we can expect high food costs to come up repeatedly, with candidates from both parties invoking price gouging, shrinkflation,...
Spring into composting by reviving a compost pile after winter
URBANA, Ill. — If you haven’t touched your compost bin or pile all winter, don’t worry, you are not alone. It could be filled with kitchen scraps to the top or left untouched since the fall. Getting a compost pile going again after the long, cold winter can be intimidating, but it is...
