Christmas tree hitchhikers
URBANA, Ill. – If you have ever purchased or harvested a living or cut Christmas tree, you may have inadvertently brought in some overwintering pests.
Luckily, any concerns about these pests are unwarranted. “Yes, it is true that Christmas trees can harbor dormant pests that become...
Winter seed sowing
URBANA, Ill. – Winter-sowing is a cost-effective and low-maintenance way of starting plants for the garden. Creator of the winter-sowing method, Trudi Davidoff puts it in simple terms: starting plants outdoors, in winter.
“Winter-sowing works with nature to prepare seeds for growth...
Explore and assess your seeds this winter
URBANA, Ill. – While there may still be snow on the ground outside, it is never too early to start planning your garden for the spring. Begin by digging through your old seed packet stashes to find those still viable to plant.
Seeds are considered viable when they are capable of...
Growing holly
URBANA, Ill. – Evergreens such as holly, with its bright green leaves and sparkling red berries, add excitement to an otherwise dull winter landscape. University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator Jennifer Fishburn provides insights on growing the winter favorite. ...
Overwintering tropical plants
URBANA, Ill. – Tropical plants have gained a lot of popularity in recent years as an easy way to add an attractive look to back patios, decks, and containers. Plants such as mandevilla, alocasia (elephant ear), and hibiscus are sold at garden centers in containers and, while they offer great...
Winter protection of woody ornamentals
URBANA, Ill. – As winter arrives, we all wonder at the temperatures we will have to endure throughout the season. Fortunately, ornamental plants begin preparing for winter early through a process called cold acclimation. The process is signaled by cooling temperatures and shorter day lengths....
Private Applicator sessions scheduled in Monmouth and Galesburg
Farmer’s wishing to apply restricted-use pesticides to property that they own or control in the production of an agricultural commodity must be certified as private applicators in the state of Illinois.
A training and test session will be offered on January 8, 2020 at the Lake Storey...
Soil and Water Management training to take place in Monmouth
University of Illinois Extension will be hosting the Soil and Water Management Webinar at the Warren County Extension office on February 20, 2020 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Here in the Midwest, we are blessed with very productive soils. Management plays a big role in keeping those soils...
Local 4-H clubs win state award
Two local 4-H clubs were recognized at the state level for their work in youth development. Rio Livestock of Knox County 4-H won a state award for their work in community service while Cameron Kids of Warren County 4-H won in the area of Project Learning. These two clubs completed award...
2019 Illinois Farm Economics Summit dates scheduled for December
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
URBANA, Ill. – Speakers from University of Illinois Extension and the farmdoc team from the U of I Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics will explore topics such as the 2020 outlook for crop and livestock prices, the next farm bill, farm profitability...
Illinois Extension offers programming for coal-dependent communities
URBANA, Ill. - University of Illinois Extension’s Community and Economic Development team is making statewide outreach efforts in offering two local government education webinars that will focus on communities facing coal plant closures, and their economic, as well as environmental, implications...
"Business Bullpen" Small Business Success event November 7, Galesburg, IL
University of Illinois Extension, in partnership with the Six County Entrepreneurial Support Network invites you to this after-hours networking event on Thursday, November 7th at the Cedar Creek Hall in Galesburg, Illinois. Reservations are $10 and can be made through...
Brain Health & Aging Resources from Illinois Extension
Materials from Illinois Extension's Brain Health & Aging workshop are available
University of Illinois Extension held a workshop on Brain Health & Aging: Strengthening the Brain Through Learning in October. It was done in partnership with the Interdisciplinary...
Raising the Minimum Wage in Illinois Webinar
URBANA, Ill. – Under new legislation, Illinois' minimum wage is set to increase from $8.25 per hour up to $10 by July 1, 2020. Learn about the policy implications of this increase with the Illinois Extension Local Government Education fall webinar Raising the Minimum Wage in...
Counting for Dollars: Census 2020 Free Local Government Education Webinar
University of Illinois Extension will host a free webinar to educate the public on how to ensure an accurate count for the upcoming decennial census, an issue on which billions of dollars of federal funding for everyday government expenditures is hinged.
The U.S. Census Bureau released...