Bring birds close to home by gardening for feathered friends
URBANA, Ill. — People plant gardens for food, flowers, and function, but planting for the birds can be beautiful and beneficial to the environment. What if instead of storebought bird seed in a feeder, gardens could include a buffet of different foods for birds while also being a beautiful...
Birdwatchers are preparing for an exciting day at the 2024 Fall Migration Mini-Sit
Murphysboro, Ill. – Fall is a wonderful time to explore local nature, especially for birdwatching enthusiasts. Birdwatchers of all levels are invited to join the University of Illinois Extension for the seventh annual Fall Migration “Mini Sit” at the Cache River Wetlands Center on September 14,...
New online agriculture course grows skills in identifying corn, soybean field insects
URBANA, Ill. — One thing is for sure, if there is a farm field, insects will visit it. Having the skills to identify insects inhabiting crop fields across the Midwest improves one’s ability to identify and effectively manage insect pests while avoiding unnecessary interventions that may...
Illinois clean energy transition excludes key constituents in energy justice equation
URBANA, Ill. — Illinois has made transitioning to clean energy a major priority in recent years with the passage of the Future Energy Jobs Act in 2016 and the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act in 2021. Both pieces of legislation prioritize an equitable transition, aiming to avoid and address...
Youth fishing competition delivers fun for young anglers
Urbana, IL – Youth from across Illinois headed into the great outdoors to participate in the statewide 4-H Hooks Us Together Virtual Fishing Channel Catfish Challenge in June. This event was the culminating event for the spring contest.Youth took pictures of the measurements of their...
Attend field day to learn how agrivoltaics boosts energy, resiliency in food production
URBANA, Ill. — Continuing to feed a growing world is the agriculture industry's future, and the demand for sustainability is here. One avenue of exploration includes agrivoltaics or solar energy within production agriculture.“The relatively recent idea combines solar panels for...
Head Start staff invited to learn about BMI measurement, communication best practices
URBANA, Ill. — Every year, Head Start programs collect children’s body mass index data and communicate results to families to address childhood obesity in enrolled children. In a recently published research article, Head Start staff across the country shared that there is a lack of guidance on...
Tips for getting landscape plants through summer
URBANA, Ill. — While much of the work done in the garden happens in the spring, that doesn’t mean growers can coast through summer. Supplemental watering, weeding, and managing pests will go a long way to keep landscapes growing through the summer.WaterAs the...
Take steps to reduce exposure to PFAS chemicals
URBANA, Ill. — PFAS are chemicals commonly found in consumer goods that are making their way into drinking water supplies where they are a risk to human health, but there are steps people can take to protect themselves.PFAS, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of more than 15...
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...
