Creating healthier Illinoisans: SNAP-Ed generates up to $135 million in future benefits
URBANA, Ill. — Illinoisans receive between $5.36 and $9.54 in return for each dollar spent helping Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program participants make healthier choices through the state’s Eat.Move.Save. education programs. The benefits include healthcare cost savings, increased life...
Farm stressors affect mental health of adults and adolescent children
URBANA, Ill. — Agriculture is a stressful occupation, and farmers face substantial mental health challenges. Research indicates they often experience higher levels of anxiety and depression compared to the general population, but less is known about the effects on their families. A...
Brown takes on new role focused on water management
URBANA, Ill. — Not enough rainfall puts plants at risk during dry months; on the other hand, it can be frustrating when a swift rain floods a lawn or washes away landscaping. Research shows that rainfall will come harder and faster and dry periods will be longer with our changing climate, so...
4-H members take aim during Summer Sizzle Shoot
4-H members from seven counties around the state joined for the annual Summer Sizzle Shoot June 3 at the Chillicothe Sportsmen’s Club. Nearly 65 youth participated in the Illinois 4-H shooting sports competition, organized by Marshall-Putnam 4-H Shooting Sports. LaSalle county shooting sports...
Take a break from the summer heat: Enjoy Four Seasons Gardening series
URBANA, Ill. — Summer is a time of growth and exploration. While spring-planted flowers and vegetables are growing, take a break between waterings to learn something new from the vast world of gardening.
Explore the global impact of sunflowers, discover summer-blooming trees, and learn...
Illinois youth focus on outdoor fun in summer tournament
URBANA, Ill. — Youth from across Illinois headed into the great outdoors to participate in the statewide 4-H Hooks Us Together Virtual Fishing Bass Challenge in May.
Youth enter pictures and measurements of their catches as many times as they wish. While competition is the focus,...
Illinois 4-H launches alumni campaign
URBANA, Ill. — Illinois 4-H is calling all 4-H alumni to raise their hands if they are “4-H Grown.” More than 25 million Americans who share this unique bond as former 4-H members.
As part of the “Are You Illinois 4-H Grown?” campaign which runs from June 1 to August 31, alumni who have...
Identify, avoid, and manage troublesome wild parsnip
URBANA, Ill. — Often parsnips, large white carrot-like root vegetables, are substituted for celery in soups and stews. The cultivated parsnip that we eat heralds from the appropriately named wild parsnip, Pastinaca sativa. However, wild parsnip is a plant to avoid. The wild version of cultivated...
Sangamon County resident named national lifetime volunteer award finalist
URBANA, Ill. – Sangamon County resident Jerry Hicks has been named as a finalist for the National 4-H Salute to Excellence Lifetime Volunteer Award and the award winner for the north central region of the country.
Hicks has...
Illinois at increased risk of drought conditions
Parts of northeast, western, and central Illinois have been much drier than normal in the past four to six weeks, causing dry soils and lower streamflow. Perennials, gardens, and young trees in these areas have begun to show some response to the dryness, requiring more frequent watering than...
What’s in a name? The roots of fruit and vegetable names are long and intertwined
URBANA, Ill. – While Ireland is known for potatoes and Italy for its tomato-based sauces, many iconic fruits and vegetables have a tangled global history that has led to what ends up in your garden or on your plate. If someone says aubergine and you say eggplant, or maybe chickpeas and garbanzo...
Marshall-Putnam Youth robotics team excels at 4-H Hydrobot Robotics Competition
Photo: L-R, Marhall-Putnam Senior Team: Gwen Heeley, Samantha Nauman, Lillian Lindstrom, Waylon Lindstrom, Daphne Heeley, Caleb Wiesbrock, Logan Siegmann, and Cooper Hattan.
Youth from 30 teams across Illinois demonstrated their learning, celebrated their accomplishments...
Embryology in the Classroom
Fieldcrest, Henry, Midland, and Putnam County schools participated in an Embryology unit through Marshall-Putnam Ag in the Classroom. Over the course of 21 days, students patiently waited for the chicks to hatch. A huge thank you to Saratoga Homestead for providing the fertilized eggs! Kits were...
Strengthen your farm's resiliency with legal training for Illinois small farms
URBANA, Ill. — Legal risks can be fatal to a farm business and addressing them proactively can keep farms in business. The relief of understanding legal issues can dispel anxiety and help farmers realize their power to control their circumstances....
Automated agricultural machinery requires new approaches to ensure safety
URBANA, Ill. — From self-driving tractors to weeding robots and AI-powered data collection, automated machinery is revolutionizing agricultural production. While these technological advancements can greatly improve productivity, they also raise new questions about safety measures and regulations...
Expand your knowledge of regenerative agriculture at Dudley Smith Farm Field Day
URBANA, Ill. — Whether you are a farmer, producer, or consumer, it is important to stay informed on current and upcoming agricultural practices. The ag industry is fast-paced and filled with technology pushing efficiency forward. Without these advancements, farmers could not continue to feed the...
Adopt an Island and Participate in a Free Native Plant Care Training
Photo: Master Gardeners teaching at Hall High School Conservation Garden project
Spring is here and some of us are still in search of a tropical island. Did you know that you have Islands in your own backyard? These islands are not sand covered. Instead, they are filled with native...
