News Releases

Fruits on Friday
Extension offers Webinar Series about Growing Fruit Top of Form Some of the most common questions received at the University of Illinois Extension office throughout the year are related to growing fruit in the backyard. As many growers are looking to move beyond the vegetable...
January Is National Baking Month
January is National Baking Month, and the University of Illinois Extension & 4-H has a fun opportunity to enhance your baking skills! This project is ideal for families to do together or for any youth with cooking experience. We will be putting together educational cooking kits -...
Growing Food for the Community During COVID19
  Rockford, Illinois – During a year of many unknowns, University of Illinois Extension worked with community partners to grow vegetables for their neighbors.  The “Growing Together Illinois” grant provided funds and resources to address food ...
Livestock managers may complete certification on Extension website
URBANA, Ill – According to the Livestock Management Facilities Act, livestock facilities in Illinois that house more than 300 animal units are required to have at least one certified livestock manager. The certificate is administered by the Illinois Department of Agriculture and is valid for...
Every day is a good day for environmental stewardship
URBANA, Ill. – The environment impacts daily life. From planning for the day's weather to stewarding natural resources, there's a part of everyone to play. Small changes in daily lifestyle choices can have a positive impact on the environment. University of...
Attend every session of 2021 Illinois Specialty Crop Conference
URBANA, Ill. — Adapting to new strategies throughout the pandemic, Illinois' specialty crop producers are pivoting, again. The annual Illinois Specialty Crop Conference will bring Illinois growers together through its new interactive,...
2021 Driftless Region Beef Conference to be held on Jan. 26-28
Lead-off speaker, Dr. Frank Mitloehner, discussing livestock and climate change The upcoming virtual Driftless Region Beef Conference will feature Dr. Frank Mitloehner, a professor and air quality specialist at UC-Davis, as the leadoff speaker. Dr. Mitloehner will discuss greenhouse...
Extension offers Home Energy Checkup Webinar
With winter setting in once again, we all have that feeling of dread when the electric bill arrives each month:  How high will it be this time?  We used how much electricity?  Maybe it is time to gain a better understanding of how you use energy in your home and look at some simple changes to...
Farmdoc Illinois Economic Summit: Farm management guide in difficult times
URBANA, Ill. – The past year has been a year like no other for Illinois agriculture. While the year started optimistically with talks of a surge in agricultural exports resulting from the trade agreement with China, the COVID-19 pandemic rocked the global economy. Most agricultural prices...
Extension offers program about Decorating with Fresh Evergreens - CANCELLED
Evergreens are a traditional decoration for the holidays and that’s for good reason! They smell great, they look great, they last a long time, and they’re available in our own backyards! University of Illinois Extension will be holding a Decorating with Fresh Evergreens program on...
Extension campaign gives tips for reducing diabetes risk
URBANA, Ill. – More than 34 million people in the United States have diabetes; that's one in 10. An additional one in three U.S. adults have prediabetes, and 84% of them do not realize they have it. University of Illinois...
Radon program offered by Extension
We have been hearing about radon in homes for years.  So, is it still an issue?  Why talk about it now? To address these questions, University of Illinois Extension will host “Radon: Why it is still an issue?” at 6 pm on Monday, Nov 30, via Zoom on-line meeting platform. “The short...
Top speakers compete in virtual 4-H state contest
This summer was different than past summers for Jordi Oliver. The 18-year-old Massac County 4-H member would typically fill her summer days with feeding, fitting, and showing cattle. Show mornings would start with hot coffee and walks from the tie-outs. While fewer days started by hitching the...
Falling into the Autumn Vegetable Garden
Whether you are ready to shut down the vegetable garden for the year or still considering extending a couple more weeks of the growing season with your current plants, there are some practices that you can do this fall. University of Illinois Extension Educator, Grant Mc Carty, will discuss...
All Illinois pesticide training, testing moves online
URBANA, Ill. – All University of Illinois Extension’s Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) training and testing will be completed online through spring 2021. The change protects the health of...
Certified Food Protection Manager Class offered in Freeport
The Illinois Department of Public Health requires retail food establishments to have a person-in-charge or a food establishment manager obtain an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) certification. This requirement helps to ensure the...