New Illinois Extension educator returns home to support local food growers
ST. CHARLES, Ill. — From raising animals and bees to fruit and vegetable production, University of Illinois Extension strives to help small farms thrive. This summer, a new Extension educator joins the team to specifically support local food production in Kane, DuPage, and Kendall counties....
Jackson County 4-H Youth Place in 2024 General Show
MURPHYSBORO, Ill. – Creativity and skills were recently on display as Jackson County members shared their annual projects at the 4-H general show. Youth were judged in visual arts, photography, food and nutrition, floriculture, and more.4-H members that...
Illinois 4-H teams shine at National 4-H Shooting Sports Championships
Grand Island, Neb – The National 4-H Shooting Sports Championships, held from June 23-28, 2024, saw over 700 4-H teenage youth from more than 40 states gather to compete in various shooting sports disciplines, including shotgun, archery, rifle, and pistol, in an Olympic-...
First of its kind study shines light on LGBTQ+ farmer mental health
URBANA, Ill. — LGBTQ+ people involved in farm work are over three times more likely to experience depression and suicidal intent and about two and a half times more likely to experience anxiety than the general population. That’s according to a...
Jackson and Williamson County 4-H Youth Place in Small Pets and Horse Show
MURPHYSBORO, Ill. – At the beginning of June, 4-H members participated in a 4-H Small Pets Show, where they shared their knowledge of cats, dogs, lizards, and rabbits with local judges. Many local youth also participated in the 4-H horse show, which took place in mid-June. Both...
To survive the summer heat, choose plants built for the sizzle
URBANA, Ill. — Summer can be a scorcher, but by selecting the right plants, a landscape can still look sultry all summer long.Both trialed and native plants can tolerate the heat. Trial plants are evaluated throughout the season for heat tolerance and can be planted in the ground or...
College of ACES celebrates Funk Farm's bicentennial
URBANA, Ill. — The College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign will take part in the 200th-anniversary celebration of Funk Farms, one of the oldest and most...
Randolph County 4-H youth place in 2024 livestock and animal shows
SPARTA, Ill. – Local youth have been working hard and were excited to get in the show ring at the Perry County Fairgrounds to exhibit their beef, swine, sheep, and goats during the annual 4-H Livestock Show. A few days prior, many 4-H members also participated in a 4-H Small Pets...
Randolph County 4-H youth place in 2024 general show
SPARTA, Ill. –Randolph County 4-H members showed off their creativity and skills through their projects at the annual general show. Members were judged in visual arts, photography, food and nutrition, floriculture, and more. Youth that received state...
Youth master essential skills through livestock judging competition
Urbana, Ill. -- Illinois 4-H members headed to the showring for the 2024 State Livestock Judging Contest held at the University of Illinois campus Jun. 17. Instead of leading animals, these young members were acting as judge, evaluating groupings of cattle, hogs, and sheep against a...
AgrAbility provides more resources, expands chronic disease webinar series through summer
URBANA, Ill. — Experiencing symptoms from chronic disease is a daily and often private occurrence for many. Illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, depression, liver disease, bipolar disorder, or other chronic long-term conditions can cause symptoms such as fatigue, sleeplessness, anxiety,...
Take care of your trees with summer Forestry Stewardship Series
URBANA, Ill. — Illinois has 4.8 million acres of tree-covered land. From shading homes and feeding wildlife to producing oxygen and filtering water, trees do a lot of heavy lifting. Give them a hand by discovering innovative, research-based management options in the summer Forestry...
Perry County youth place in 2024 general show and foods show
PINCKNEYVILLE, Ill. – Local 4-H members have been busy and were eager to share their hard work and creativity at the annual general show during the Perry County Fair. The following week, they took to the kitchen baking or cooking tasty and beautifully decorated items to display at...
Perry County 4-H youth place in 2024 livestock and animal shows
PINCKNEYVILLE, Ill. – Local youth were excited to gather in the show barn at the Perry County Fairgrounds to exhibit beef, swine, sheep, and goats during the annual 4-H Livestock Show during the Perry County Fair. A few days prior, many 4-H members also participated in a 4-H Small...
Emerald ash borer continues spread through Illinois; Extension can help manage
URBANA, Ill. — While much of Illinois has been focused on the emergence of periodical cicadas in the summer of 2024, another insect is buzzing about that is more than a nuisance; it’s a threat to ash trees everywhere. In June, the...
Provide resources to pollinators in any space with container gardens
URBANA, Ill. — Supporting pollinators has become increasingly important as concerns over pollinator population decline are more evident. The good news is that even small spaces can provide resources for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Container gardens are one solution for...
Specialist and migratory birds at greater risk under climate change
URBANA, Ill. — Following decades of decline, even fewer birds will darken North American skies by the end of the century, according to a new analysis by scientists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Their...
Gardening for a hummingbird's travels
URBANA, Ill. — Hummingbirds are unlike any other bird. Spanning the Americas with over 330 species, hummingbirds belong to Trochilidae, the second-largest bird family in the world. However, only the ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) inhabits the Midwest....
