Local Foods & Small Farms

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Featured Resources
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Americans have never been more interested in understanding where their food comes from and how it was grown and prepared. From the use of pesticides during the growing season to the practice of composting food waste, there is a lot of information available through Illinois Extension that provides insight into how fruits, vegetables, and food products move through their life cycle. The Local Foods & Small Farms program provides resources to help consumers and producers better understand their role and responsibilities within the local food movement. 

Featured Resources

man on a tractor with scoop bucket

Composting Central

Resources for the composting of livestock manure, food scraps, and yard waste.
apple hanging on a tree

Small Farms Winter Webinar Series Recorded Trainings

You can watch these YouTube videos and learn from U of I Extension educators on a variety of topics related to small farms.
Paperwork and reading glasses

EZregs

Making sense of agricultural and horticultural regulations in Illinois
Plant being examined by microscope

University of Illinois Plant Clinic

Plant and insect identification, diagnosis of disease, insect, weed and chemical injury, and nematode assays
Machine spraying pesticide

Private Pesticide Applicator Training

Training modules to prepare for the private applicator test
Agricultural equipment

Agricultural Safety and Health

Research-based resources to aid in the prevention of injury and illness in the agricultural industry
Crop advisor talking with farmer

Certified Crop Advisor

Online courses for those working toward the Certified Crop Advisor designation
Doug Gucker

Douglas B. Gucker

Commercial Agriculture Educator
Keywords
Commercial Agriculture
Agricultural Safety
Local Foods and Small Farms
Small Farms
Master Naturalist
Integrated Pest Management
Insect Pests
Certified Crop Advisor
Sustainable Agriculture
Bees
Corn
Environment
Lawn Care
Livestock
Native Plants
Soybeans
Trees
Urban Gardening
Vegetables
Wheat
Beneficial Insects
217-877-6042