News Releases

An ACES alum with a hunger to serve
URBANA, Ill. — When Steve Ericson walked into the Illinois State Fair as a young exhibitor in 1974, he couldn’t have imagined that one day he’d return, not to show livestock, but to help connect Illinois-grown food to families in need. Now, as Executive Director of...

Meat from Illinois State Fair Sale of Champions donated to Feeding Illinois food banks through new ACES, IDOA partnership
URBANA, Ill. — The...

Illinois Extension offers free dial-gauge pressure canner testing for home canners
URBANA, Ill. — With summer gardens gearing up, it’s time to take canning equipment out of storage. Illinois Extension offers free dial-gauge pressure canner testing to ensure the equipment works accurately.A variety of foods can be canned at home through boiling water bath canning and...

From one to many: A beginner's guide to plant propagation
URBANA, Ill. — Many indoor gardeners quickly discover that one houseplant is rarely enough. What begins as an admiration for a charming or unique plant often evolves into a strong desire, or even a need, to fill every corner of a home or office with lush greenery. A simple and cost-effective way...

2025 Illinois Performance Tested Bull Sale prioritizes trusted genetics for herd growth
URBANA, Ill. — Herd knowledge, experience, and the addition of trusted genetics can take a beef cattle herd into new beginnings. Start off the year by attending the annual Illinois Performance...

What to know about avian flu in wild birds, poultry, and pets in Illinois
URBANA, Ill. — The nationwide spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza, HPAI, also known as avian or bird flu, has many in Illinois concerned about livestock, pets, wildlife, food safety, and public health.HPAI is an extremely contagious and frequently deadly respiratory disease for...

Connect with health information experts in the Springtime Science series
URBANA, Ill. — While technology has revolutionized access to health information, the proliferation of inaccurate and potentially dangerous content online presents a significant public health challenge. It is essential to develop collaborative models that bring together researchers, educators,...

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...

Will agricultural weeds finally claim the upper hand in a changing climate?
URBANA, Ill. — A few years back, a group of weed scientists showed that soil-applied herbicides are less effective against agricultural weeds in the context of our changing climate. Now, the same research...

Be cautious; watch for deer on roads in fall
URBANA, Ill. — While accidents can happen at any time of year, most deer-vehicle incidents occur between dusk and dawn during the months of October, November, and December. Drivers should slow down and stay alert to avoid deer-vehicle collisions this fall when traveling after dark.Not all...

Cutting back branches leaves trees with healthier outlook
URBANA, Ill. — To stay healthy, sometimes trees need a little help in the form of a trim. Pruning is an essential maintenance activity to promote tree health, safety, and aesthetics. Since trees are large, long-living plants in our landscape, pruning throughout the life of a tree can have a...

Illinois SNAP-Ed summits bring awareness to hunger, food insecurity
URBANA, Ill. — One in eleven people in Illinois struggle with food insecurity daily, including one in nine children, according to Feeding America. When families are hungry, making a healthy food choice is not always an easy...

Use weed clues to dig up environmental issues like fertility, soil compaction, moisture issues
Winter is a good time to make garden plans, and one constant issue gardeners face every growing season is weeds. While weeds can be frustrating, they can also be saying more about a yard than you think. Weeds can be found in a wide range of locations. Some weedy plants are more likely to...

From snack to science: Innovative grant brings popcorn into the classroom
URBANA, Ill. — In a few years, popcorn could become a standard element in science classrooms across Illinois and the nation. With funding from a new USDA...

Ask questions, get answers for planting season at 2024 Illinois Crop Management Conference
URBANA, Ill. — As the new year begins, crop producers, consultants, and industry professionals already have the year’s crop on their minds. Stay up to date with research updates and opportunities impacting statewide crop production at the 2024 Illinois Crop Management Conference with...

Thriving Communities webinars offered for grant navigation, strategic planning
URBANA, Ill. — Sustainable development in Illinois encounters challenges in balancing resource demand with responsible management. Transitioning to sustainable infrastructure involves substantial investment and planning, including upgrading existing structures for energy efficiency and...

Register for a local 2024 Certified Livestock Manager Training session
URBANA, Ill. — Depending on an operation’s size, livestock manager training certification is required for many Illinois production livestock facilities. Having certified individuals on staff strengthens an operation through shared knowledge and building conversations with individuals responsible...

Shifting USDA plant hardiness map reflects changing climate, changes for plants
URBANA, Ill. — On a cold, blustery January day, it may be hard to remember that 2023 was the hottest year on record. But the newest update to the plant hardiness map, in which half the country shifted to warmer zones, is a stark reminder that the climate is changing and changing fast....

Scaling up urban agriculture: Research team outlines roadmap
URBANA, Ill. — Urban agriculture has the potential to decentralize food supplies, provide environmental benefits like wildlife habitat, and mitigate environmental footprints, but researchers have identified knowledge gaps regarding both the benefits and risks of urban agriculture and the...

Opportunity to learn practical money management strategies
URBANA, Ill. — Navigating financial management can often seem overwhelming and intimidating, particularly for those uncertain about how to begin. Studies have shown that financial stress can have detrimental effects on both physical and emotional well-being. Therefore, having access to practical...