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Up close view of a brown marmorated stink bug on a green leaf.

New online agriculture course grows skills in identifying corn, soybean field insects

URBANA, Ill. — One thing is for sure, if there is a farm field, insects will visit it. Having the skills to identify insects inhabiting crop fields across the Midwest improves one’s ability to identify and effectively manage insect pests while avoiding unnecessary interventions that may…

Wind farm over a field of soybeans

Illinois clean energy transition excludes key constituents in energy justice equation

URBANA, Ill. — Illinois has made transitioning to clean energy a major priority in recent years with the passage of the Future Energy Jobs Act in 2016 and the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act in 2021. Both pieces of legislation prioritize an equitable transition, aiming to avoid and address…

Overhead view of farmland filled with solar panels.

Attend field day to learn how agrivoltaics boosts energy, resiliency in food production

URBANA, Ill. — Continuing to feed a growing world is the agriculture industry's future, and the demand for sustainability is here. One avenue of exploration includes agrivoltaics or solar energy within production agriculture.

“The relatively recent idea combines solar panels for…

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Mosquito and Tick Season is Upon Us
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE I've been seeing mosquitoes and ticks for several weeks already, and as the weather gets warmer they'll get more numerous. Not only are these critters annoying, many are also capable of transmitting a variety of diseases. There are three main types of...
Promoting Resiliency on Today’s Farm
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Farming is not for most. The long days of hard work lead into even longer nights. The continual starting and stopping according to mother nature’s current demeanor can cause severe anxiety and frustration. Farm life, the backbone of the American economy, is often...
A New Era for Hemp in Illinois
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE On April 30th, the Illinois Department of Agriculture began accepting applications via their website for the cultivation and processing of industrial hemp for the 2019 growing season. Within 48 hours more than 350 farmers sent in applications to grow industrial...
Cottage Food Website Launch
Source: Jenna Smith Extension Educator, Nutritin & Wellness University of Illinois Extension Serving Livingston, McLean and Woodford Counties 309-663-8306 • jesmith6@illinois.edu   ...
Don’t Let Spring Fever Erupt into Mulch Volcanoes
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ST. CHARLES, Ill. – Symptoms of Spring Fever may be heightened thanks to the long winter and the mid-April snow. Many homeowners are itching to get in the yard, and one of the first tasks tackled is mulching. But do we do it properly? “There are many...
Quick Tips for Keeping the Kitchen Safe
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate every year 1 in 6 Americans becomes sick from food. Although the number of people getting sick from foodborne illness may be much higher. Lisa Peterson, Nutrition & Wellness Educator with University of...
Is the Keto Diet for you?
Source: Jenna Smith Extension Educator, Nutrition & Wellness University of Illinois Extension Serving Livingston, McLean and Woodford Counties 309-663-8306 • jesmith6@illinois.edu   ...
Care of fresh-cut flowers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE URBANA, Ill. – Flowers are a great way to celebrate a special occasion, such as a holiday, birthday, anniversary, or a new baby. “Of course, you don’t need a special occasion to enjoy fresh-cut flowers or a flowering potted plant,” says Jennifer Fishburn, a...
Plan your vegetable garden early
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE URBANA, Ill. – If you’re itching for homegrown tomatoes this year, now is the perfect time to plan your vegetable garden. “Growing your own vegetables is a great way to save money at the grocery store, get some exercise, and teach kids where their produce comes...
2019 All-America Selection winners
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE URBANA, Ill. – Fluctuating weather patterns over the past few months have brought snow and rain, warmth and dangerously cold temperatures, ice and now flooding in parts of the state. These weather patterns can have an impact on our mental states, giving us the...
Add beauty to the garden with cool season annuals
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE URBANA, Ill. – Gardeners looking for high-performing cool-season annuals should consider alyssum, nasturtium, Swiss chard, snapdragon, pansies, and ornamental kale, according to Nancy Kreith, a University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator. “These...
Help your peonies shine this spring
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE URBANA, Ill. – Herbaceous peonies are a common sight in many gardens and are some of the most beautiful flowers you will find, says Ken Johnson, a University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator. Herbaceous or garden peonies belong to the genus...
Understanding and reversing winter damage to evergreens
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE URBANA, Ill. – Evergreen plants, which retain their leaves throughout the seasons, are some of the showstoppers of the winter garden, providing some much-needed color in otherwise bleak winter landscapes. Although evergreens do go into dormancy during winter,...
Early spring garden cleanup and fruit tree care
URBANA, Ill. – Weather permitting, early spring can provide the time to begin early garden and yard clean up, says Richard Hentschel, a University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator. "No matter how tidy the yard and garden looked last fall, Mother Nature always leaves behind some...
Add beauty to the garden with cool season annuals
URBANA, Ill. – Gardeners looking for high-performing cool-season annuals should consider alyssum, nasturtium, Swiss chard, snapdragon, pansies, and ornamental kale, according to Nancy Kreith, a University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator. "These annuals bring beauty to a spring...
Care of fresh-cut flowers
URBANA, Ill. – Flowers are a great way to celebrate a special occasion, such as a holiday, birthday, anniversary, or a new baby. "Of course, you don't need a special occasion to enjoy fresh-cut flowers or a flowering potted plant," says Jennifer Fishburn, a University of Illinois horticulture...
Help your peonies shine this spring
URBANA, Ill. – Herbaceous peonies are a common sight in many gardens and are some of the most beautiful flowers you will find, says Ken Johnson, a University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator. Herbaceous or garden peonies belong to the genus Paeonia, which is native to Asia,...

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