Boost gut health with a tangy treat: Make sauerkraut at home
URBANA, Ill. – Probiotic-rich foods can enhance digestion and improve overall gut health. All are produced through fermentation, a food preservation method that has been used for thousands of years to naturally reduce the risk of food spoilage and foodborne illness. Common foods include ...

Private Pesticide Applicator Testing Dates Announced
University of Illinois Extension – Bureau, LaSalle, Marshall, Putnam Unit is offering the following Testing-Only sessions and certification program for private pesticide applicators. Certification is required to apply restricted use pesticides. The sessions are in cooperation with the Illinois...

Horse Bowl & Hippology Club
Do you know a child age 8-18 that LOVES horses? Do they try to learn as much as they can about horses? Do they frequently share horse facts? Do they live in Bureau, LaSalle, or Marshall-Putnam Counties?  If you answered “yes” to one or more of these questions, then that child needs to join...

Master Gardener and Master Naturalist Volunteer Service Recognized at Annual Holiday Gathering
Bureau, LaSalle, Marshall and Putnam County Master Gardener and Master Naturalist Volunteers were recognized for their years of service and individual projects at the Annual Holiday Gatherings in Ottawa and Henry.  Volunteers in these four counties have made a great impact on their...

Get the Scoop on Sodium
Join Illinois Extension Nutrition and Wellness Educator, Susan Glassman and “Get the Scoop on Sodium.”  Are you wondering which salt is the best? Or how much salt is needed each day? Salt is salt but can vary depending on several factors like geographical...

Get the dirt on growing healthy plants
URBANA, Ill. – Become a better gardener and find success nurturing plants indoors and out. Learn best practices for home gardening from University of Illinois Extension horticulture educators in the Four Seasons Gardening webinar series that begins...

Give your green thumb a hand, join vegetable gardening workshop
URBANA, Ill. – Dig in with confidence this spring with Growing Great Vegetables, a five-week webinar series that will cover how to grow a vegetable garden from seed to harvest. Whether growers have several acres or a patio with a few containers, now is the time to start planning for a successful...

Committee brings youth voice, perspective on the future of agriculture
URBANA, Ill. –  Four Illinois 4-H members will put their leadership skills into action while they build strong agricultural foundations for the future on the Youth Education in Agriculture (YEA) Committee through the Illinois Farm Bureau.  ...

Beef up your 2023 beef herd management
URBANA, Ill – Producers can improve herd management by learning latest research on cover crop performance, grazing farms, soil health, and drainage practices during the 2023 Dudley Smith Farm Winter Meeting. The meeting begins at 9:30 a.m. Feb. 7 at the...

Burning local firewood this winter can save forests
URBANA, Ill. – Nothing beats the warmth of a crackling fireplace on these coldest days of the year. Each winter, as my family enjoys the cozy warmth of our woodstove room, I’m always thankful for the firewood supply we’ve been fortunate enough to accumulate. Most of the wood we burn...

What is driving the high suicide rate among farmers?
URBANA, Ill. — Josie Rudolphi is a professor of agricultural and biological engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign whose research examined suicide among farmers...

Former communications administrator for ACES and Illinois Extension passes away
William “Bill” Cupps’ contributions to the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) continue to be felt today through scholarships, college programs, and communication activities. Cupps passed away on December 2, 2022, at the age of 88. During an 11-year tenure...

Take small steps to improve, support the environment this winter
URBANA, Ill. – Widespread environmental issues like changing weather patterns and habitat loss can feel overwhelming, but small everyday choices make a difference. Explore sustainable maple syrup harvesting, tornado trends in the U.S., and what research says about how to support pollinators in...

Outstanding Illinois 4-H teens selected as national delegates
ATLANTA, GA -- Ten teens from Illinois attended a five-day national conference in Atlanta, GA designed to expand their skills, engage with other 4-H members, and provide inspiration. Delegates to National 4-H Congress are selected on their...

50 years of 4-H: One volunteer makes it her mission to serve youth and community
VIOLA, Ill. –  When Joyce Smith’s children joined 4-H in the 1970s, little did she know it would be the start of a half century journey. Now, Mercer County 4-H is celebrating the 50th year of this dedicated and passionate volunteer for her work uplifting countless young people, putting them...

Agricultural Experiment Station's NIFA-funded research innovates for Illinois
To celebrate National Illinois Day on December 7, USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture  highlighted the innovative NIFA-funded research conducted by the University of Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station. In the following...

Cover cropping up to 7.2% in U.S. Midwest, boosted by government programs
URBANA, Ill. – Cover crops, with their ability to reduce erosion and promote soil health, are being planted across more Midwestern land than ever. That’s according to new University of Illinois research showing cover crop adoption reached 7.2% in 2021, up from just 1.8% a decade prior. The...

Illinois receives $14.4M to create local food system for underserved populations
URBANA, Ill. - Illinois will use $14.4 million in USDA funding to buy locally-produced food and distribute it to those in need, according to state officials. The two-year program will involve direct purchases from eligible farmers and multiple aggregation sites where goods will be consolidated...

Give someone a green holiday season with the gift of plants
URBANA, Ill. – If picking the perfect holiday gift stresses you out, this year visit your local garden center for a natural gift that keeps on giving. Gardening and growing plants is an experiential gift that is both rewarding and fun. If you are gifting a plant this season, remember to...

Gully erosion prediction tools can lead to better land management
URBANA, Ill. – ­Soil erosion is a significant problem for agricultural production, impacting soil quality and causing pollutants to enter waterways. Among all stages of soil erosion, gully erosion is the most severe phase, where large channels are carved through the field. Once gullies develop,...