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Announcements and Highlights

Annie's Project: Empowering women in agriculture

Annie's Project is a six-week discussion-based workshop bringing women together to learn from experts in production, financial management, human resources, marketing, and the legal field. There's plenty of time for questions, sharing, reacting, and connecting with your presenters and fellow participants. It's a relaxed, fun, and dynamic way to learn, grow, and meet other farm women.

Joint initiatives address food desert in southern Illinois

In a 16-county region of Southern Illinois stifled by a food desert, access to nutritious options was no longer an option but a pressing necessity. The collaboration of the University of Illinois Extension SNAP-Ed and Community Economic Development teams led to the formation of the Southern Illinois Food Access Project to address food insecurity in the state's southernmost region.

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!

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

Online Resources for Land Management Webinar

February 10, 2025

Hardin County Junior Gardeners

February 11, 2025

County

Hardin

2025 Southwestern Illinois Commercial Tree Fruit School

February 11, 2025

4-H Leaders February ZSuite Features Webinar

February 11, 2025

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News Releases

February 10, 2025

New agroforestry maps plot environmental, social, and economic benefits of trees
URBANA, Ill. — There’s a longstanding attitude in many farming communities that trees and agriculture don’t mix. But agroforestry — the intentional integration of trees and shrubs in agricultural systems, such as planting trees as windbreaks, integrating trees on pastures, or growing tree crops...

February 7, 2025

Spring into gardening with tools and tips at upcoming gardening programs
URBANA, Ill. — Spring is near, and your green thumb is ripe for gardening. Whether you are a seasoned gardener or just getting started, growing nutrient-rich vegetables, fresh fruits, and aromatic herbs is more than just a way to fill your plate; it is like a badge of honor. Gardening...

February 6, 2025

Farmers share how to keep valuable soil in fields
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ill. — When it comes to farming, there is no substitute for experience. This March, producers and landowners can connect with local Illinois farmers and learn from others’ hands-on knowledge on preventing soil loss in their fields at the Cultivating Conversations: Preventing Soil...

February 5, 2025

Illinois Extension invites forest landowners to attend tri-state forestry conference
URBANA, Ill. — The Tri-State Forest Stewardship Conference has a 25-plus-year tradition of providing great information and resources to forest landowners in the Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin tri-state area. It has been one of the largest conferences for forest landowners in the Midwest....

invasive glossy buckthorn in bloom in forest

February 4, 2025

Forest landowner motivation to control invasive species depends on land use, study shows
URBANA, Ill. — Many U.S. forests are privately owned, particularly in the Eastern and North Central part of the country. This makes control of invasive plants and pests challenging because efforts must be coordinated across landowners. A...

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Programs We Offer

Local Foods and Small Farms