University of Illinois Extension's new strategic plan.

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Announcements and Highlights

Lessons for Living 2025

University of Illinois Extension offers the Lessons for Living 2025 webinar series, designed to empower adults of all ages with practical wisdom and actionable insights for leading a vibrant and meaningful life. Learn more about this webinar series and register to attend!

Beginning Forest Landowner

The Beginning Forest Landowner Program is returning in 2024-25 to help more Illinois forest owners learn how to manage their woodlands. Buying and maintaining forested land can be intimidating, but the University of Illinois Extension Forestry team works with landowners to build the skills and confidence they need to maintain healthy forests and achieve their goals.Learn more about the program and register by Oct 1.

White County 4-Her selected as Healthy Living Ambassador

Three Illinois teens stand ready to take on new challenges as they begin their work on the 4-H Healthy Living Ambassador (HLA) team.

Dixon Springs Agricultural Center

The Dixon Springs Agricultural Center was established in 1934 near Simpson in Pope County. It is the largest experiment station of its kind east of the Mississippi River. DSAC links the laboratories and classrooms of University of Illinois and the USDA with the farms in Southern Illinois. Researchers at DSAC coordinate their programs to meet the needs of area farmers.

Learn more about Dixon Springs Ag Center and information about ongoing Ag research in Southern Illinois here: https://extension.illinois.edu/dsac

Dixon Springs Agricultural Center

Events

Farmland Owners Conference

November 25, 2024

From Flour to Ferment: Sourdough Starter Essentials

November 26, 2024

Agriculture Climate Risk Tools Workshop

December 2, 2024

Rise and Shine: Sourdough Bread-Making Essentials

December 6, 2024

More Events

News Releases

A group of people stand at the edge of a farm field

November 4, 2024

Scientists tackle farm nutrient pollution with sustainable, affordable designer biochar pellets
URBANA, Ill. — What if farmers could not only prevent excess phosphorus from polluting downstream waterways, but also recycle that nutrient as a slow-release fertilizer, all without spending a lot of money? In a first-of-its-kind...

October 21, 2024

Study combines woodchips and biochar to clean water of pharmaceuticals, nutrients
URBANA, Ill. — What happens to ibuprofen after it eases your throbbing headache? Like many pharmaceuticals, it can remain in an active form when our bodies flush it out. That’s a problem, because although wastewater treatment plants are good at reducing nutrient pollutants in water,...

Water flooding and rushing through a drainage system in a farm field.

October 18, 2024

Learn the flow of integrated agricultural water management with Illinois Extension workshop
Notes on the Event Schedule ChangeThank you for your interest in the Integrated Water Management for Landowners and Farmers workshop. The workshop is postponed and moving to spring 2025. For questions or to...

yellow native flowers bloom in a garden with a background of people on a bridge

October 15, 2024

Nature-inspired sustainable student art on display at Red Oak Rain Garden
URBANA, Ill. — Nature at the Red Oak Rain Garden celebrates autumn with the bright purples of blooming aster flowers, a mosaic of tree leaves drifting slowly to the ground, and the nighttime chorus of insects and owls as twilight settles in. This October, the “Illuminating Art in Nature”...

A green plant with tiny white flowers growing in the ground.

October 14, 2024

The quest of growing wonderberries
URBANA, Ill. — The quest for a new item to add to the garden this past winter led one horticulture educator, Christina Lueking, to grow a summertime berry that might fill a gap after the strawberry harvest fizzled, and before the raspberries matured. An interesting packet of seeds for a plant...

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Programs We Offer

Local Foods and Small Farms