Local youth are invited to bring their bikes to Bike Safety Day
ALBION, Ill. – What’s more fun than a bike ride on a nice day? Ensuring bike rides are fun and safe is the goal of Bike Safety Day, hosted by the Edwards County 4-H clubs and the Edwards County Soil and Water Conservation District. The event will provide free bike inspections, a bike safety...
Illinois Extension expands with new SNAP-Education Educator
ALBION, Ill. – University of Illinois Extension is expanding the reach of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education by adding a local SNAP-Ed Educator. Alizah Harper will serve as the SNAP-Ed Educator for the five-county unit, including Edwards, Lawrence, Richland, Wabash, and...
Explore invasive plant, animal, insect research updates at Illinois Invasive Species Symposium
URBANA, Ill. — When it comes to invasive species, what we don’t know, can hurt us. From insects that kill trees to plants that may increase tick populations, invasive species are a serious threat to Illinois natural areas, waterways, and farm fields because once they take hold, removing them is...
Available prairie seed mixes may fall short for pollinators
URBANA, Ill. — As populations of bees and butterflies decline in the Midwest, native prairie restoration becomes crucial. A new Prairie Research Institute study found, however, that many commercial seed mixes used to conserve and restore prairies may not have enough diversity or spring flowering...
Root awakening: spring tree tips
URBANA, Ill. — As winter fades and the first signs of spring emerge, it's time to give trees the care they need to thrive. Trees, like all living things, require attention and maintenance, especially as they transition from dormancy to the growing season. Help trees recover from winter damage,...
Hunters Feeding Illinois provides 97,000 meals to Illinois families
URBANA, Ill. — In the 2024-25 hunting season, Hunters Feeding Illinois distributed 25,794 pounds of frozen, ground venison to 54 food pantries across east-central and southern Illinois. This provided an estimated 97,000 meals, reaching nearly 49,800 families.Formerly the Illinois Deer...
Extension bridges gap between environmental research and real-world solutions
Strong natural systems and the resources they provide, from water filtration to renewable energy sources, are a vital part of healthy, robust communities. One of the core University of Illinois Extension program areas – natural resources, environment, and energy – connects communities across the...
Explore 2025 All-America Selection plant, flower award winners
URBANA, Ill. — Another Illinois winter comes closer to a close, depending on which region of the state you live in. Cold and snowy days may have drug on, but the promise of spring and garden catalogs ease the time before March planting. Whatever the plan is for 2025 gardens, leave room for those...
Study: ‘Sustainable intensification’ on the farm reduces soil nitrate losses, maintains crop yields
URBANA, Ill. — A nine-year study comparing a typical two-year corn and soybean rotation with a more intensive three-year rotation involving corn, cereal rye, soybean and winter wheat found that the three-year system can dramatically reduce nitrogen — an important crop nutrient — in farm runoff...
Richland County 4-H members place in state 4-H meat judging contest
Four Richland County 4-H members participated in the Illinois State 4-H Meat Judging and Identification Contest on February 28 at the University of Illinois. Owen Kocher, Kylie Kocher, Blair Grove, and Emma Hefferman placed fifth out of 12 teams, and Owen Kocher placed seventh individually....
ACES experts provide testimony in support of USDA funding, Farm Bill
URBANA, Ill. — Yesterday, faculty from the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign spoke as invited witnesses to an Illinois House Agriculture and...
Youth photography contest captures skills for the future
Champaign, Ill. – The Moments That Matter Photography Contest has announced its statewide winners, highlighting 4-H youth who used photography to tell powerful stories and showcase real-world...
Get a jump start on spring by starting seeds at home
URBANA — As spring creeps closer and closer, gardeners start to get the itch to go outside and start digging in the dirt. While it may still be too early to do that, seed starting is a popular way to kick off the gardening season. Benefits of Starting SeedsSeeds started...
Illinois Extension to train new wave of community compost leaders
URBANA, Ill. — From reducing waste to enriching soil, composting plays a vital role in creating sustainable communities. This spring, learn to be a composting leader with University of Illinois Extension's Compost Ambassador program.The five-week training program, which began in Cook,...
Local 4-H members impress at public speaking contest
As they say, practice makes perfect, and what better example of such than public speaking? Local 4-H members gathered the courage to present at the first unit-wide 4-H Public Speaking Contest hosted by Illinois Extension serving Edwards, Lawrence, Richland, Wabash, and Wayne counties on Monday,...
Tap into Illinois water resources, actions to take at home with Everyday Environment
URBANA, Ill. — With the quick twist of a handle, water is easily available whenever we need it for drinking, cooking, bathing, washing, and yard work. But do you know where your water comes from?Water is a vital resource that affects everyone. This spring, learn more about how water works...
Annie's Project upskills women in agriculture
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ill. – If you’re a woman in agriculture looking to further your professional development and advance your skill sets, the Annie’s Project program was designed for you! Classes will be held at The Armory/Community Center located at 1522 Porter Avenue, Lawrenceville, IL, 62439....
Online weight loss program is effective way to reach rural populations, study shows
URBANA, Ill. — People living in rural areas are at greater risk for obesity than the general population, and they often have limited access to healthy, affordable food, physical activity facilities, public transportation, and healthcare institutions. Weight loss interventions are more successful...
