Learn safe, effective ways to open Illinois restaurants
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COVID creates shortage of PPE for pesticide applicators
The shortage of personal protection equipment (PPE) extends beyond medical staff and first responders. Pesticide applicators are struggling to find the equipment required by law. Sales of respirators, face shields, and N95 face masks are being directed to health care and front-line workers,...

Fill your pantry with home-preserved foods
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Connecting Illinois through statewide broadband access; webinar outlines community solutions
URBANA, Ill. - There's still time to join the discussion of Illinois' broadband expansion efforts. Three sessions remain in the Developing Broadband Leadership webinar series designed...

Know your health insurance options if you lose your job
URBANA, Ill. - With businesses shutting down temporarily or scaling back staff, employees should consider the impact of layoffs on their health insurance coverage before their existing coverage ends to ensure there are no gaps in your coverage. "Health care coverage is critical...

Uncover secrets of the environment
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Produce farms provided COVID-19 disinfecting guidelines
New FDA food safety guidelines require local farmers to review and adapt their current food safety practices. "There has never been a more important time to review food contact surfaces and high touch surface cleaning, sanitization, and disinfection procedures," says Zach Grant,...

COVID-19 data dashboard helping make sense of the crisis
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4-H offers STEM challenges that can be done from home
ST. CHARLES – Put those building bricks, recyclables and other items lying around the house to good use, get techy on your computer or tablet, or explore your backyard or neighborhood with DuPage, Kane and Kendall County 4-H’s free Stay-at-Home STEM Challenges. “These weekly challenges...

Are murder hornets here in Illinois; not likely
URBANA, Ill. - There has been a recent surge of interest in an invasive insect pest, the Asian Giant Hornet (AGH), or Vespa mandarinia. AGHs are the largest hornets in the world and are identifiable by their size and distinct bright yellow or orange heads. While well known for their large...

Resiliency resource for struggling Illinois economies
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Farmers struggle with processing plant closures; What COVID-19 means for your dinner table
URBANA, Ill. – Headlines about dairy farms dumping milk and livestock being euthanized are a sharp contrast to empty meat cases. The novel coronavirus outbreak has disrupted the nation’s food supply chain, resulting in increased prices for panicked shoppers and major losses for Illinois farmers...

Respect electricity’s potential wrath
May is Electrical Safety Month SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Along with National Strawberry Month and National Barbecue Month, May heralds in a more serious observance: Electrical Safety Month. Electricity can be extremely dangerous, yet people rarely spend time considering...

Let's Talk Money webinars encourage financial dialogue
When it comes to talking about money, a lack of financial knowledge and the uneasiness of discussing sensitive issues keeps some people silent and risks the financial health of many families. Let's Talk Money is a free 8-week online series offered by...

Worm digestion helps feed soil
Vermicompost is the nutrient rich by-product of worm digestion and is a super food for our soils. University of Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator Austin Little will demonstrate how to build a...

Change the way you see salad: meals, sides and desserts
Celebrate National Salad Month with Tips from U of I Extension Whether it’s your main entrée, side dish or even dessert, salads can be an easy, nourishing staple in your household’s meal plan. “For many people, salads may not seem exciting or enticing,” says...

Familiar tale: Victims of emerald ash borer and other exotic pests
URBANA, Ill. – The emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) has plagued native ash trees in Illinois since 2006.  This pest was first introduced in 2002 around the Detroit area and rapidly spread across Michigan and Indiana to infect most of Illinois today....

Use native prairie plants in the home landscape
URBANA, Ill. – Illinois is known as the “Prairie State” and has several native prairie plants. These plants are good options to include in the landscape because they evolved with the climate, soils, and pathogens in this habitat for thousands of years.  Native prairie plant species...

Revive your 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! ...

Increase life span of urban trees
URBANA, Ill. – Urban communities responded to an increasing lack of interaction with nature by planting trees. Trees provide environmental benefits, along with their beauty, such as cooling buildings through shade and cleaning the air and water through filtration....