Local Youth Place in Livestock Quiz Bowl
PINCKNEYVILLE, Ill. — Local 4-H youth from Perry, Jackson, Franklin, Randolph and Williamson Counties recently competed in the Livestock Quiz Bowl.  The day was filled with fun activities as youth were tested on their knowledge of feed, species, equipment and cuts of meat. This...

Program Helps Child Care Centers Promote Healthy Environments
CARTERVILLE, Ill.— Children in our community are getting a healthy start thanks to a local program provided to six early child care sites throughout Jackson County. An early learning collaborative has been meeting for the last ten months to support child care centers implement best...

Local Foods and Small Farms Educator Joins Extension
Murphysboro, Ill. — Katie Bell has joined University of Illinois Extension as local foods and small farms educator serving Franklin, Jackson, Perry, Randolph and Williamson Counties. Bell is a native of Neoga, Illinois and two-time alum from Southern Illinois University. She received her...

Local Growers Learn More about Industrial Hemp
MURPHYSBORO, Ill.— Nearly 50 residents gathered at the Jackson County U of I Extension office to learn more about the cultivation, distribution and processing of hemp for fiber, grain and cannabidiol (CBD). Commercial Agriculture Extension Educator Phillip Alberti, who works...

Training the Next Generation of Shooting Sports Enthusiasts
MARION, Ill.— Illinois 4-H is seeking adult volunteers to train local youth interested in learning about shooting sports.  More than 3,600 4-H members participate in one of the five 4-H shooting sports disciplines, and projects teach the responsible and safe handling of firearms.  ...

Home Landscape Design Series Offered in Late February
CARBONDALE, Ill.— Need a little help with your home landscape? Horticulture Educator Austin Little will inspire you to create a beautiful outdoor space through an upcoming landscape design course. The three-part series will take place the last week of February on the campus of SIU....

Local Youth Learn about Bees and Candle Making
SPARTA, Ill.- Local youth learned about the importance of bees during a recent beeswax candle making workshop. Beeswax candles, which are slow burning and have a pleasant, natural aroma, have been around for hundreds of years. Unlike paraffin wax candles, beeswax candles produce very little...

Local Government Education Webinars: Legislative Updates
Illinois Extension's Community and Economic Development team will host a webinar that highlights new or upcoming legislative changes with a focus on those elements which will directly impact local governments across Illinois....

Farm Life is Uncontrollable, Know the Warning Signs of Stress
DECATUR, Ill. – On a farm, most pressures are constant and uncontrollable. Machinery breaks, weather delays work and commodity prices fluctuate. The work is isolating and stressful, which puts farmers at risk for severe and ongoing anxiety. Suicide rates are higher for farmers than any other...

Conferences Set for Fruit and Vegetable Growers Feb. 4 & 5
Growers from across the region will gather for the 2020 Southwestern Illinois Commercial Tree Fruit School on Tuesday, February 4 in Hardin and the 2020 Southern Illinois Fruit and Vegetable School on Wednesday, February 5 in Mt. Vernon. These programs, sponsored by University of Illinois...

Four Seasons Gardening Winter Webinar Series Underway
The Four Seasons Gardening Webinar Series is one of the most popular horticulture programs offered by the Illinois Extension Horticulture Team. Each season, the team hosts three live webinars participants can take from their own computers delivered via Zoom. The programs are free, but...

Free Extension Webinars for Small Farmers
DECATUR, Ill. — During winters, farmers may not be out in their fields, but that doesn’t mean they are taking a break. Starting in January, University of Illinois Extension is providing a weekly educational webinar series for the small farm community. This online series will provide small farm...

Southern Illinois Food Pantry Network Awards Six Mini-Grants
CARBONDALE, Ill.— In Illinois, nearly 1.4 million people struggle with hunger. Among them: 453,260 children. Fortunately, nearly 100 food pantries throughout the southernmost 16 counties collaborate to address this need. Together, they form the Southern Illinois Food Pantry Network. ...

Extension to Host Beekeeping Workshops
MURPHYSBORO, Ill.- Local residents can learn to “bee prepared” during a free, two-part series as they discover the world of bees and beekeeping. Whether you own bees as a hobby or as a source of extra income, the most important part of beekeeping is keeping your bees happy and healthy! ...

Jackson County 4-H to Host Leather Workshop for Youth
MURPHYSBORO, Ill.- Jackson County 4-H will host a Visual Arts Leather Workshop for local youth on Tuesday, Jan. 7 from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. at the Jackson County Extension Office located at 402 Ava Rd, Murphysboro, IL. Led by the Oak Street Art Group, participants will learn more about...

Identification of Invasive Species During the Winter
MAKANDA, Ill.- Even during the dormant winter season, invasive plants species are major threats to the forests and grasslands of southern Illinois. They can outcompete native species, decrease wildlife habitat, increase management costs and limit tree growth and regeneration. Many...

2020 Illinois Crop Management Conference Dates Announced
URBANA, Ill.– What do you need to know for the 2020 growing season? The University of Illinois will address several key topics at four regional conferences around the state in January and February. The meetings will provide a forum for discussion and interaction between participants, University...

Illinois Extension Develops Industrial Hemp Resources
Illinois producers did you grow hemp in 2019? Are you interested in giving it a shot in 2020? With the end of the growing season here, there are many hemp growers who will be looking to find processors and end buyers for their product. As this is an emerging industry without a developed supply...

Extension to Host Industrial Hemp Workshops throughout Southern Illinois
MURPHYSBORO, Ill.- During the first week of February, University of Illinois Extension will host three separate workshops throughout southern Illinois to share information on industrial hemp production. The signing of the Illinois hemp bill has provided opportunities for the cultivation...

Extension to Host Beekeeping Workshops
MURPHYSBORO, Ill.- Local residents can learn to “bee prepared” during a free, two-part series to discover the world of bees and beekeeping! Whether you own bees as a hobby or as a source of extra income, the most important part of beekeeping is keeping your bees happy and healthy! Led by...