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A group of community leaders during a food pantry grand opening pose with a cut ribbon. A sign in front of them reads "Food Pantry Enter"

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Tick concerns are growing: What Illinois residents need to know

URBANA, Ill. — For some residents, a walk through a park or an afternoon in the backyard brings a new level of anxiety thanks to growing concerns about ticks and the diseases they carry. This fear can lead people to limit outdoor activity out of concern...

 Four people hold up a ribbon inside a food pantry room

“You do not have to face hardship alone”: New food pantry opens in Kankakee

KANKAKEE, Ill. — Community leaders gathered outside the Kankakee Area YMCA Child Care Center on Saturday morning for a ribbon-cutting ceremony as shelves inside the new pantry stood filled with food and household...

 A family smile at the camera

Illinois Extension highlights practical ways to support youth mental health

URBANA, Ill. — Many adults feel unprepared to navigate conversations around mental health with the young people in their care. During Mental Health Awareness Month and beyond...

News Releases

Prairie plants
Illinois plant ecologists fight to restore Midwest biodiversity
URBANA, Ill. — Imagine a prairie. How many plant species do you see? Maybe you’re picturing yellow coneflowers, some little bluestem, perhaps a few asters. But plant ecologists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign say these ecosystems are much more...
A tree grows next to a street with exposed and damaged girdling roots
Don’t be stumped by tree problems
URBANA, Ill. — In urban settings like parks and yards, numerous challenges threaten tree health and longevity. Environmental or abiotic stressors are often the culprit, and as a tree’s health declines, it will become more susceptible to living or biotic organisms like pests or disease....
A person washing lettuce
Learn practical strategies to minimize contamination, improve produce safety
URBANA, Ill. — Contamination in wash and pack areas remains one of the leading causes of foodborne illness outbreaks in fresh produce. Without proper handling and sanitation practices, even the most carefully grown crops can pose a serious health risk to consumers and a financial risk to...
High team winners pose.
Youth showcase poultry knowledge and skills at state contest 
Urbana, Ill. -- Illinois 4-H members headed to the showring for the 2025 Illinois 4-H Poultry Judging Contest held at the University of Illinois campus on Jun. 25. This state contest provides youth with hands-on experience in evaluating...
A group of Holstein dairy cattle walking through a flooded barn area
Include Farm Animals in Disaster Preparedness Plan
URBANA — When tornado sirens become frequent and sudden storms appear out of thin air, it becomes apparent there is a need for a disaster preparedness plan for farmers and large animal owners alike. What happens when disaster strikes and a herd of cattle are grazing pasture?Dr. Yvette...
Sun rise with electrical towers in front
Reduce energy consumption and stay safe during summer heat waves
URBANA, Ill. — The first heat wave of the summer hit the Midwest earlier than usual this week, with a heat index forecast of up to 105 degrees, pushing many indoors to stay cool. All those air conditioning units running almost nonstop put pressure...
New board member headshots.
New leadership joins Illinois 4-H Foundation Board
Champaign, Ill. – The Illinois 4-H Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of three new members to its Board of Directors. The 4-H Foundation Board of Directors is committed to advancing the Illinois 4-H program by fostering partnerships, securing resources, and...
Participants pose with a thank you sponsor sign.
Youth culinary event builds confidence, teamwork
Decatur, Ill. --  The Illinois 4-H Food Challenge hosted its second culminating statewide event on June 14, bringing together talented young chefs from across the state to showcase their culinary skills. This program is designed to help youth develop expertise in...
Pink and orange blooming zinnia flowers speckled with white powdery mildew on leaves
Prevent, protect zinnias from powdery mildew
URBANA, Ill. — The summer is always a little brighter in the garden when brightly colored zinnias are among the various plants. Zinnias are heat and drought-tolerant plants that attract a variety of summer pollinators. This flower thrives early in the season, but as summer temperatures rise and...
A woman plants in a garden
At Extension, water resources work when we work with them
Sometimes water is only a drizzle or a trickle, while other times it pours and floods, but it is always there in the background, a steady and vital resource for all our lives. A core University of Illinois Extension program area — natural resources,...
Tiny aphid insects crawling along plant leaves and stems.
Managing pests in the garden
URBANA, Ill. — Warm weather has arrived, and plants are starting to green up and bloom. That also means weeds, insects, and diseases are starting to become active too. As the saying goes, the only things guaranteed in life are death and taxes, and for gardeners, pests are also included in the...
Fishing winners pose with winning catches.
Illinois youth reel in early wins in statewide 4-H fishing tournament
Champaign, Ill.– The Illinois 4-H Hooks Us Together Statewide Fishing Tournament is off to a strong start and continues through July 31, 2025. Youth from across the state are casting their lines and competing in this fun, summer-long challenge that celebrates outdoor...
Growing figs on a plant stem
Go figure, figs are a great addition to home gardens
URBANA, Ill. — Sometimes growers just want to try something new in their garden. How about an ancient fruit with edible leaves? How about figs? For many years, growing figs was relegated to warmer regions, but with the combination of the warming climate and the development of cold-hardy fig...
Yellow to green ombre background with Four Seasons Gardening text overlay
Add two new Four Seasons Gardening webinars to summer plans
URBANA, Ill. — Take a break from summer garden care and watering for a conversation about native bees and crop rotation. Two new sessions from the Four Seasons Gardening series will have attendees exploring more about native bees and ways to...
A tree hedgerow growing tall and over crops in a farm field
Getting dust to settle, stay on Illinois farmland
URBANA, Ill. — As another large dust storm impacted Illinois in May, the conversation and questions continue about why and how to get the dust to settle and stay in the field rather than across roadways....

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