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A sunset with a pale pink sky against a prairie lake

Next Generation Stewardship: Illinois Leads the Way

Hosted by Wild Ones Lake-to-Prairie Chapter
County: Lake
 Illinois led the nation in developing a system for protecting nature when it created the Illinois Nature Preserves System. Join Amy Doll, Director of Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves, as…
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Fox Sedge (Carex vulpinoidea)

A Primer for Understanding Grasses and Sedges

Hosted by Wild Ones Lake-to-Prairie Chapter
County: Lake

Native grasses and sedges are foundational pillars that anchor resilient landscapes, stabilize soils, and sustain local wildlife. While grasses and sedges have many similarities, there are also…

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The Great Seed and Soil Event

The Great Seed (and soil!) Event 2027

McHenry County
County: McHenry

The Great Seed and Soil Event is back for its fourth year, brought to you by the Center for Agrarian Learning at MCC and the University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners! This popular annual…

Register to Receive Updates and Reminders

2027 Seed Expo surrounded by watercolor vegetables

2027 Extension Master Gardener Seed Expo

County: Lake
Save the Date for the 2027 Seed Expo!Grow. Learn. Connect.

Join us for a vibrant celebration of gardening, community, and the joy of growing something new. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or…

Save the Date!

News Releases

A field of crops, the Morrow Plot, on the U of I campus
Defining the modern ‘land-grant mission’ at ACES
The College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign often cites its land-grant legacy, but the land-grant university system is not a well-known...
Woman showing gardeners a pollinator garden.
Grow healthier ecosystems at home this pollinator month
URBANA, Ill. — Planting native flowers in a backyard, patio container, or community garden can provide critical food and habitat for butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. This June, in recognition of National Pollinator Month, University of Illinois Extension encourages community members to...
a group of people stand in a wetland
Study: 72% of Illinois wetlands no longer protected by federal Clean Water Act
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois once harbored more than 8 million acres of wetlands. By the 1980s, all but 1.2 million wetland acres had been lost, filled in for development or drained to make way for agriculture. Now, thanks to a 2023 Supreme Court decision, roughly 72% of the remaining 981,000...
A woodland with blue flowering plants
A century of data reveals declining forest diversity
URBANA, Ill. — Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have analyzed 96 years of forest census data to better understand ecological changes and inform management practices. Their study...
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 woman stands in a grassy field holding a long blade of grass
Can one person make a difference on environmental issues?
Global environmental issues like habitat loss and pollution can feel overwhelming. Can one person’s actions make a difference? Natural Resources, Environment, and Energy Educator Erin Garrett believes so. Garrett provides programs for southern Illinois in...
Associate Dean and Director of Extension Shelly Nickols-Richardson
Why does the state need Illinois Extension?
The University of Illinois Extension just released a 10-year strategic plan that commits to serving the state by focusing on food and agriculture as well as the...