News Releases

group out hiking
Adventures await in Naturalist Core Education program
LEWISTOWN, Ill. - University of Illinois Extension's Naturalist Core Education Training is designed for adults of any age who love to learn about the natural world. The goal of the program is not to teach people everything there is to know about the...
A person holding out a large group of varied flowers and herbs
Add a dash of herbs to spice up floral bouquets
URBANA, Ill. — Cultivating a cut flower garden filled with favorites can be a fun family project that can become budget-friendly gifts for everyone. Adding herbs to a garden and bouquets will create a unique, personal touch to designs. Fresh herbs look and smell amazing and will be long-lasting...
group of 4-H members with instructor
The NRA Foundation Awards $3,800 to the Fulton 4-H Shooting Sports program
LEWISTOWN, Ill.  -- The NRA Foundation has awarded the Fulton County 4-H Shooting Sports program a grant valued at $3,800 to fund shotgun and rifle ammunition, in addition to targets and other supplies. "We are very thankful for the continued support we have received from the NRA," said...
Person driving a tractor without a cab on a rural road.
Level up safety first thinking during the spring planting season
URBANA, Ill. — Current spring weather conditions have a lot of tractors parked for now, but when the weather clears and fields dry, it will be a fast-paced season for planting 2024 statewide. Although another Midwest farming season may seem routine, the agriculture industry is highly...
class room of students wearing virtual goggles
STEM Academy engages youth with virtual reality this year
STEM Academy has done some pretty amazing projects starting with building a secret lock box, calling the International Space Station, and programming autonomous cars. This year is no different with an amazing opportunity for youth to dive into the world of augmented and virtual reality. ...
a group of children stand at a table full of potted plants in a classroom
Plant positivity, learn how to grow a school or community garden
URBANA, Ill. — When green spaces fill schoolyards and neighborhoods with flowers and fresh produce, children and communities thrive. But the journey from the idea of starting a community or school-based garden to planting one that is built to last is long. What funding sources are available?...
Recent quarter-sized holes in the soil made by periodical cicadas
Enjoy the silence. Cicadas are coming
If you haven't heard the buzz, you will soon. Billions of periodical cicadas are coming, and University of Illinois Extension is sharing information to help track their moves before emergence. “Historically speaking, 2024 is a big year for...
girl using a pipette
4-H STEM Career Exploration Camp opens doors for youth
Have you ever wondered what it's like to embark on a journey in the exciting world of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)? The annual 4-H STEM Career Exploration Camp (formerly known as 4G STEM Camp) is back - and this year, it's open to all youth entering 6th-8th grade!...
group of kids with 4-H flag
Mason County 4-H launches new club, Sand Ridge Clovers
The newly named Sand Ridge Clovers 4-H Club held its inaugural meeting and established its United States Department of Agriculture 4H Club Charter on February 15, 2024. Thanks to Mason County 4-H alumnus Bridget Guede of Manito, more youth and their families will be able to enjoy all that 4-H...
pressure canner tested
Get your pressure canner tested for free by Illinois Extension
URBANA, Ill. — Spring is a great time to take inventory of your canning equipment to prepare for the summer canning season. If you have a dial gauge pressure canner, make it a habit to get it tested by Illinois Extension every year. Various...
Row of blooming Callery pear trees
Six replacement trees for invasive Callery pear
URBANA, Ill. — Now considered an invasive species, Callery pear is a widely used ornamental flowering tree with negative effects on native ecosystems. The tree is still bought, sold, and planted because it has not yet made the...
two morel mushrooms growing on the forest floor
Spring brings opportunity to forage wild mushrooms
URBANA, Ill. — Spring is a time of change. Migrating birds return. Ephemeral wildflowers start popping up. And morel mushrooms start appearing prompting enthusiastic mushroom hunters to scour forests across Illinois in search of the elusive and delectable fungi. Determined...
Row of green evergreens and shrubs planted as a windbreak in a yard.
Discover added benefits to planting windbreaks
URBANA, Ill. — Windbreaks are utilized as critical components of agriculture worldwide and have been for centuries. Traditionally, windbreaks are linear plantings layered with trees and shrubs primarily designed to reduce wind speeds. Also known as shelterbelts, windbreaks have the potential to...
Up close view of a calculator laying next to corn kernels and soybeans.
Determining cash rent on Illinois farmland
URBANA, Ill. — One of the most consistently asked questions to University of Illinois Extension offices across the state is, what is the going rate for cash rent for farmland? Cash rent rates are a common yet recurring question that is...
A man at a podium presents to a room full of people
Future forests rely on stewardship, knowledge of private landowners
FREEPORT, Ill. — A forest is many things. Trees provide food and shelter for wildlife. Their leaves clean the air, and their roots filter water, slow floods, and prevent soil erosion. Timber products are crucial to local economies and tourism. Forests and woodlands also once made up more...