Return to work may cause separation anxiety in furry friends
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - As people look forward to returning to full-time work schedules or vacations away from home, four-legged friends may not have the same feeling. The return to “normalcy” will be hard for many household pets who may have gotten used to more time with their owners and experience...
Summer blooms simplify warm-season grass identification
URBANA, Ill. – Most people can identify a few different trees by their leaves or flowers in bloom, but grasses are a different story. Grasses provided food and shelter for wildlife and are key to a healthy ecosystem.
Learn to identify the wide variety of Illinois warm-season grasses in a...
Livestock judging teaches decision-making, adaptability
URBANA, Ill. – Illinois 4-H members were back in the showring for the 2021 State Livestock Judging Contest. Instead of leading animals, these young members were acting as judge, evaluating...
Bridge the digital divide: Strategies to adopt, deploy broadband in your community
URBANA, Ill. – Broadband technology enables residents to conduct business, work from home, attend school, drive innovation, and access remote healthcare services, but some rural and underserved urban Illinois communities with insufficient infrastructure or limited provider choices still find it...
Aphid pests on the move in backyard gardens, agricultural fields
URBANA, Ill. – Ever spy small, yellow dots on the back of plant leaves during the summer months? Those tiny pear-shaped specks are aphids.
Aphids are a common insect pest in the home landscape and for houseplants. There are many species of aphids in Illinois and they feed on a large...
Youth public speaking contest builds self-esteem, leadership skills that last a lifetime
URBANA, Ill. – More than 75% of adults rank public speaking as their number one fear, but not 4-H members. 4-H excels in preparing youth to speak well and confidently, and it is a skill that serves members for a lifetime. Over 100 youth recently came together to put their public speaking...
Pesticide rollback removes hundreds of pesticides from future use
URBANA, Ill. — The Environmental Protection Agency’s most recent evaluation of publically available pesticides resulted in the removal of more than 100 turf, pest, and agricultural products from the approved list.
Every 15 years, the EPA examines registered pesticides to ensure they...
Keep pesticides from drifting into unwanted spaces
URBANA, Ill. – The Illinois Department of Agriculture receives about 120 pesticide complaints each year; 60% of the complaints stem from a pesticide that moves from its intended target to surrounding land or water.
Off-target pesticide movement occurs when a pesticide...
