News Releases

Exploring Current Diet Trends: The Good, the Bad, and the Hard to Maintain
  An estimated 45 million Americans go on a diet each year. Yet, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, almost 72% of adults aged 20 years and older are either overweight or obese. So how is it possible with so many people going on a diet each year that the rate...
Illinois Extension to Offer Get Growing Webinar Series
  Join Grant McCarty, Illinois Extension Local Foods and Small Farms Educator, for the Get Growing Webinar Series. The series will be held on Thursday evenings beginning April 22 and going through May 13. The presentations will be from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. each evening and will be held...
Emotional Eating: How Stress Impacts Hunger, Appetite
  Believe it or not, we do not always eat just to satisfy our physical hunger. In fact, many of us turn to food for a number of reasons. Perhaps we are looking for comfort, or we are feeling stressed and overwhelmed with life. Then again, we could be looking for a way to reward...
Midwestern Hemp Database 2021 Applications Open!
  Freeport, Ill. – Industrial hemp is one of the fasting growing crops across Midwestern fields and researchers are recruiting producers in the race to learn more.  University of Illinois Extension commercial agriculture educators are working with growers to...
Think Spring Gardening Series
The University of Illinois Extension is offering the virtual Think Spring Gardening Series in place of their annual in person gardening days which will not be held this year due to the ongoing pandemic. The series will be held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings beginning March 16 and going through...
Virtual Grazing Conference
Planning for Grazing Success Identifying options to improve, supplement and extend the grazing season will be the major overarching focus on the 2021 Northwest Illinois Grazing Conference.  “Reinvigorating Pastures and Expanding Grazing” will be the theme of the University of...
National Nutrition Month
  March is National Nutrition Month, and the University of Illinois Extension and 4-H have a fun opportunity to enhance youth cooking skills. When it comes to nutrition and health, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. We are putting together educational cooking kits designed to...
Get your Certified Food Protection Manager Certificate now
Do you currently have a position handling food or are you looking to find a position in the food industry? If so, consider getting your Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) certification. The Illinois Department of Public Health requires retail food establishment managers to obtain an...
Country ponds need help to stay healthy, beautiful
URBANA, Ill. – Owning a lush and scenic country pond is a point of pride for many rural landowners, but over time ponds need a hand to stay clean and healthy. “Good management can slow or stop harmful changes like a buildup of surface algae or a decrease in fish so you can use and enjoy...
Your Thoughts Matter Online Series for Youth Ages 13 and Older
Health is an important part of 4-H. After all, an entire H is devoted to it. Just like exercise and nutrition are a part of good health, mental health plays an important role in our daily living. Studies show that 1 in 4 American adults is diagnosed with a mental disorder in his or her...
2021 Driftless Region Beef Conference
The upcoming virtual Driftless Region Beef Conference will host speaker Dr. Brenda Boetel. Dr. Boetel is the University of Wisconsin-River Falls Professor and Department Chair of Agricultural Economics and UW Madison Division of Extension Agricultural Marketing Specialist. Iowa State University...
2021 Northwest Illinois Grazing Conference
The theme for the 2021 Northwest Illinois Grazing Conference is “Reinvigorating Pastures and Expanding Grazing”. The conference hosted by University of Illinois Extension will be held virtually via the Zoom platform over four consecutive Wednesday evenings in March from 6:30 to 8 p.m. There will...
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 -...