Test field scouting skills with high school Crop Scouting Competition
URBANA, Ill. – A farmer knowing how corn or soybean crops are progressing or being able to identify an insect can mean the difference between a profitable harvest and a bad year. The youth Illinois Crop Scouting Competition puts teams of agriculture students to the test. This hands-on contest in...

Neighborhood trees may protect against high medical costs, poor health
URBANA, Ill. – In neighborhoods lacking tree cover, residents suffer poorer health and incur hundreds of dollars more in medical costs than neighbors on leafier blocks. That’s according to a new ...

Plant Sale and Local Vendor Event at Dixon Springs Agricultural Center
Simpson, Ill. - Longer days and warmer temperatures mean that it is almost time to start planting your backyard garden and flower beds.  University of Illinois Extension invites the public to a plant sale at the Dixon Springs Agricultural Center on April 30, May 6, and May 7 from 9 a.m. to...

Make a big difference on small farms with winter workshops
URBANA, Ill. – Every small farm is different. Direct market farmers sending produce to local restaurants have different needs than homesteaders getting started with livestock for the first time. But small farmers, hobby operations, and backyard growers alike can always trust University of...

Exfoliating bark trees add great appeal
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Put fall leaves to work as compost
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How to pick the perfect pumpkin
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Harvest abundant squash for food, decoration
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Hold on to summer with home hydroponics
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Select the right tree for fall planting in Illinois
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Protect streambanks with erosion-control practices
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Conservation virtual workshop provides best practices for landowners and managers
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Managing harvest-ready cattle during packing plant slow downs
BAYLIS, Ill. - Temporary closures and slow-downs in the meat packing industry have caused many tough decisions for cattle feeders. In the situation where cattle cannot go to market, feeders need to decide what management and nutritional strategies to deploy. Holding fed cattle at a...

Looking for anaplasmosis in beef cattle
By Todd Gleason Researchers at the University of Illinois are working with beef cattle producers in the southern third of the state to determine the prevalence of a disease that causes...