News releases

Local Impact: When the buzz comes knocking, Extension is ready with answers
BOURBONNAIS, Ill. — As the Cooperative Extension service across America is poised to celebrate a birthday on May 8th – a day which marks the 111 anniversary of the passing of the Smith-Lever act which established the Extension network – Illinois...

Local Impact: 4-H4All brings the 4-H experience to all
BOURBONNAIS, Ill. — As the Cooperative Extension service across America is poised to celebrate a birthday on May 8th – a day which marks the 111 anniversary of the passing of the Smith-Lever act which established the Extension network – Illinois...

Local Impact: SNAP-Ed programs bring food access and education
BOURBONNAIS, Ill. — As the Cooperative Extension service across America is poised to celebrate a birthday on May 8th – a day which marks the 111 anniversary of the passing of the Smith-Lever act which established the Extension network – Illinois Extension in Grundy, Kankakee, and Will counties...

Illinois research shows benefits of prairie grass for sustainable aviation fuel
Switchgrass has gripped Midwestern soils for millions of years, but soon, the earthbound prairie grass could fly. New studies from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign identify economic and environmental considerations that make switchgrass a candidate...

Meat from Illinois State Fair Sale of Champions donated to Feeding Illinois food banks through new ACES, IDOA partnership
URBANA, Ill. — The...

Keeping outside pests off indoor plants
URBANA, Ill. — Keeping houseplants is a hobby that has recently seen a huge resurgence. Now, nurseries that were all but shuttered for the winter are hosting houseplant parties and other events to help people keep their hands dirty all year.Tending to houseplants is a way to maintain our...

Illinois leads most rigorous agricultural greenhouse gas emissions study to date
URBANA, Ill. — Farmers apply nitrogen fertilizers to crops to boost yields, feeding more people and livestock. But when there’s more fertilizer than the crop can take up, some of the excess can be converted into gaseous forms, including nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas that traps nearly 300 times...

Dust storms in Illinois: Identifying farm solutions
URBANA, Ill. — Dust storms have become an increasing concern in Illinois, prompting investigations into their causes and potential solutions. These weather events have resulted in fatalities, including a 2023...

Immeasurable impact gained through dedication of Illinois Extension volunteers
URBANA, Ill. — They are friends, neighbors, family members, or someone we run into at local community events. More than 5,000 of these individuals are University of Illinois Extension volunteers.These volunteers make a difference in their...

Newly named county director will lead efforts in Clay, Effingham, Fayette, and Jasper counties
EFFINGHAM, Ill. — A dedicated staff member is stepping into a leadership role to further serve the residents and communities of central Illinois. As the newly named Extension county director for Clay, Effingham, Fayette, and Jasper counties...

Illinois Agriculture Legislative Day unites diverse stakeholders to advocate for state's largest industry
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — "Agriculture unites us all" was the resounding message as representatives from University of Illinois Extension, the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences,...

Sprout gardening skills at regional Master Gardener 50th Anniversary Celebrations
URBANA, Ill. — Seek out pollinators in native gardens, dive into the world of aquaponics, and see how cutting-edge technology is transforming garden design at upcoming statewide Golden Garden Day celebrations of the 50-year legacy of University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners. This...

Illinois Extension opens educational camp registrations
Bourbonnais, Ill – With summer approaching, many families are looking for educational summer day camps for their kids to attend.  4-H, University of Illinois Extension's flagship youth development program, just announced six summer programs...

Illinois 4-H youth selected for National Ag Day student leadership program 
Washington D.C. – Matias Habib of Kendall County was selected to represent 4-H as a delegate in the 2025 National Ag Day Student Leadership...

Dust storms in Illinois: Examining roles of weather and farming practices
URBANA, Ill. — Recent dust storms in Illinois have raised the question of the cause of these events. In the last few years, these dust events have caused fatal accidents among traveling motorists. Another public concern is the drop in air quality during these storms.Some of the emerging...

A layered landscape provides space for wildlife all year
URBANA, Ill. — There are many ways to support pollinators and other wildlife in home landscapes, such as providing floral resources throughout the season, planting host plants, and planting native plants. In addition, consider creating a space for them to live out their life cycles by creating...

Illinois Extension 2024 metrics demonstrate the value of land-grant universities
URBANA, Ill. — Illinois residents, businesses, and communities are gaining transformational knowledge and experiencing quantifiable impact through the efforts of University of Illinois Extension, a unit of the ...

High schoolers invited to explore college life in ACES at Illini Summer Academies
High school students are invited to dive into hands-on discovery and explore future careers during Illini Summer Academies, hosted by...

Sold-out conference addresses cross-state forestry challenges, points to solutions
DUBUQUE, Iowa — Forest owners voted with their feet this year, selling out the 26th Tri-State Forest Stewardship Conference weeks before its March 1 event date. More than 300 participants packed the Grand River Conference Center in Dubuque.The rise in attendance makes one thing clear:...

Unmatched field knowledge is gained at Illinois Extension youth crop competition
URBANA, Ill. — For youth looking towards a career in agriculture, specifically within the agronomy sector, the Illinois Youth Crop Scouting Competition with University of...