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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

Bulge Hole Ecological Area Hike

January 12, 2025

County

Johnson

Hardin County Junior Gardeners

January 14, 2025

County

Hardin

Thriving Youth Thriving Clubs: 4-H Thriving Model Volunteer Training Series - Belonging Session

January 14, 2025

Take Charge of Your Health

January 16, 2025

County

Knox

More Events

News Releases

A plate filled with a variety of holiday cookies of shapes, colors, and flavors sitting on a wooden table next to evergreen holiday décor.

December 16, 2024

Sugar and spice make everything nice
URBANA, Ill. — Sugar and spice make everything nice, especially in holiday treats. But do you know where sugar and spice come from?Plants make the sugar glucose during the process of photosynthesis. Certain plants can take excess glucose, create sucrose, and then store it in either the...

The top half of a plant terrarium filled with plants but designed to look like a red candy jar.

December 9, 2024

Candy jar terrariums: A nostalgic take on a holiday gift
URBANA, Ill. — Leaves and temperatures are falling. As we prepare landscapes and gardens for winter, look towards indoor plant care to warm the mood. Giving plants for the holidays brings a little sunshine and warmth to those near and dear.Impossible bottles or...

A row of garden tools including a silage fork, stirrup hoe, and broadfork all leaning against a house.

December 2, 2024

Add these garden tools to holiday wish lists
URBANA, Ill. — Gardeners love a fresh pair of pruners or nicely sharpened spade. Using specialized tools helps to lighten the workload, and using the right tool for the job can save a lot of time. Keep these ideas in mind when looking for innovative tools to add to gift lists throughout the...

A group of perennial plants in pots grouped together to overwinter outdoors.

November 27, 2024

Overwintering potted plants
URBANA, Ill. — Perennial plants being overwintered in pots are subjected to much harsher conditions compared to those in the soil. Because of this, they can be damaged and killed. Fortunately, there are some steps to try to get these plants through the winter and enjoy them again come spring....

November 26, 2024

Will agricultural weeds finally claim the upper hand in a changing climate?
URBANA, Ill. — A few years back, a group of weed scientists showed that soil-applied herbicides are less effective against agricultural weeds in the context of our changing climate. Now, the same research...

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Programs We Offer

Local Foods and Small Farms