News releases

Follow safe food production practices: COVID-19 facts for farms, markets, and gardens
URBANA, Ill. - The current health issue has disrupted normal daily activities. There are many questions for growers and producers, as well as managers of farmers markets.  Trust this researched advice from reliable sources. “Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses which may...

farmdocDAILY launches webinar series to explore COVID-19 impact on Midwestern agriculture
  URBANA, Ill. – University of Illinois agricultural economists will host a webinar series discussing the impact of the coronavirus on agriculture in the Midwest. The webinar...

Gov Pritzker Launches Coronavirus.illinois.gov with Resources for Illinois Residents and Small Businesses
Governor, Office of the Murphysboro, Ill. — Following an earlier stop at the St. Clair County Health Department in Belleville this morning, Governor JB Pritzker held his administration's daily COVID-19 press briefing in Jackson County today and announced the launch of a...

Preparing Youth for Community Disaster
Fueled in part by the public’s recent interest in the coronavirus (COVID-19), disaster preparedness is a topic that is top-of-mind for many people these days. As communities grapple with questions about how to prepare for and respond to a public health crisis, many leaders and decisionmakers are...

What's the Best Diet/ Plant-Based Eating Trend Grows
  DECATUR, Ill. — Whether it’s due to health concerns, ethics or sustainability, American diets are changing. While only 6% of Americans are vegetarian and 3% vegan, almost 40% are shifting toward eating more plant-based foods according to a ...

Why Does the Census Matter? And What are the Challenges This Time?
Millions of American households this month will receive a mailed invitation from the U.S. Census Bureau to participate in the every-10-years effort to count everyone in the country. Julie Dowling has been...

ACES NEWS: Illinois Study Shows Universally Positive Effects of Cover Crops on Soil Microbiome
Agriculture and Consumer Education Science NEWS: Ryegrass cover crop between rows of corn stubble. Photo by Maria Villamil URBANA, Ill. – Only a fraction of conventional row crop farmers grow cover crops after...

What Are the Novel Corona Virus Health Risks?
  Editor’s note: The novel coronavirus that first broke out in Wuhan, China in late 2019 has now spread to 48 countries, and the first case of possible community spread has been reported in the United States. The ...

Shutting Down the Energy "Thieves" in Your Home
On the hunt for another $100.00 (per year) to stretch your budget? One study found a surprising number of “Always On” electrical devices in our homes:  Coffee makers and other small appliances with built-in clocks  Cable/satellite, game and other TV connecting...

Extension Offers Additional Webinars about Connect Illinois Broadband Grant Program
URBANA, Ill. - The Illinois Office of Broadband recently opened the application window for the first $50 million in funding through the country’s largest competitive matching grant program, Connect Illinois, which will funnel a total of $420 million to extend critical high-speed internet access...

llinois Extension to provide important webinar on fiscal sustainability for local government officials
Local Government Education Webinar: Using a “Stress Testing” Approach to Measuring the Fiscal Sustainability of Local Governments will air at Noon CST on Thursday, February 20.  ...

Illinois Extension CED and DCEO offer webinars to help communities access funding for broadband infrastructure
  On Thursday, Feb, 13, at Noon CST, Illinois Extension will host Matt Schmit, Deputy Director for Broadband, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Illinois Office of Broadband, for the first of three webinars, ...

Training the Next Generation of Shooting Sports Enthusiasts
February 04, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Marion, Ill--Illinois 4-H is seeking adult volunteers to train local youth interested in learning about shooting sports.  More than 3,600 4-H members participate in one of the five 4-H shooting sports disciplines, and projects teach...

Take Steps to Prevent Farm Grain Bin Accidents this Spring
Take Steps to Prevent Farm Grain Bin Accidents this Spring DECATUR, Ill. – Grain bin accidents happen quickly. In a matter of seconds, a grown man can be buried by moving grain and suffocate. Farming is one of the most dangerous occupations, according to the National Safety Council....

Fuel Strong Hearts with Healthy Food Choices
Fuel Strong Hearts with Healthy Food Choices   DECATUR, Ill. — Send your heart extra love this February during American Heart Month with the dietary trifecta of fat, fiber and sugar. Nearly half of all U.S. adults have some form of cardiovascular disease,...

Local Government Education Webinars: Legislative Updates
Illinois Extension's Community and Economic Development team will host a webinar that highlights new or upcoming legislative changes with a focus on those elements which will directly impact local governments across Illinois. ...

Raspberry: The Herb of the Year Homeowners Learn All About Growing Raspberries at Information-Packed Workshop
Homeowners anxious for spring and the sweet taste of home grown raspberries attended the University of Illinois Extension, Kankakee County Growing Raspberries program in Bourbonnais on Tuesday, January 21, 2020.  Enthusiastic participants learned all about the best practices for selecting,...

Farm Life is Uncontrollable, Know the Warning Signs of Stress
DECATUR, Ill. – On a farm, most pressures are constant and uncontrollable. Machinery breaks, weather delays work and commodity prices fluctuate. The work is isolating and stressful, which puts farmers at risk for severe and ongoing anxiety. Suicide rates are higher for farmers than any other...

Conferences Set for Fruit and Vegetable Growers Feb. 4 & 5
Growers from across the region will gather for the 2020 Southwestern Illinois Commercial Tree Fruit School on Tuesday, February 4 in Hardin and the 2020 Southern Illinois Fruit and Vegetable School on Wednesday, February 5 in Mt. Vernon. These programs, sponsored by University of Illinois...

Four Seasons Gardening Winter Webinar Series Underway
The Four Seasons Gardening Webinar Series is one of the most popular horticulture programs offered by the Illinois Extension Horticulture Team. Each season, the team hosts three live webinars participants can take from their own computers delivered via Zoom. The programs are free, but...