Spring Break Gardening
The Jo Daviess County Extension Staff along with the Jo Daviess County Master Gardeners are busy planning their annual Spring Break Gardening Day. This year the event is being held on Saturday, March 21, 2020 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. with registration beginning at 8:30 a.m. The event is being...

Gardening For Food Flowers and Fun
Gardening enthusiasts are encouraged to “save the date” for Gardening for Food, Flowers and Fun, the annual horticulture workshop offered by University of Illinois Extension.  Planned by a committee of Master Gardener volunteers, the program includes a keynote speaker, three breakout...

Industrial Hemp Production Workshop
Gardening enthusiasts are encouraged to “save the date” for Gardening for Food, Flowers and Fun, the annual horticulture workshop offered by University of Illinois Extension.  Planned by a committee of Master Gardener volunteers, the program includes a keynote speaker, three breakout...

Free Extension Webinars for Small Farmers
DECATUR, Ill. — During winters, farmers may not be out in their fields, but that doesn’t mean they are taking a break. Starting in January, University of Illinois Extension is providing a weekly educational webinar series for the small farm community. This online series will provide small farm...

Heart Healthy Living Workshop
Heart Healthy Living Workshop February is American Heart Month. A month dedicated to raising awareness about heart disease, and educating the public about preventive measures to reduce their risk of developing heart disease. Heart disease often thought of as a condition...

Backyard Cover Crops (Elizabeth)
Join Illinois Extension Local Foods and Small Farms Educator Grant McCarty on Wednesday, February 19, 2020 from 10 a.m. to noon for a program on Backyard Cover Crops. The program is being held at the Jo Daviess County Extension Office, 204 Vine St. Elizabeth, IL. There will be a $5 charge to...

Northern Illinois 4-H Summer Camp – Change Your Child’s Life!
Registration for 4-H Camp 2020 is open!  4-H Camp is set for June 8-12, 2020 at Rock River Christian Camp, RRCC in Polo, IL.  Sign up today to get your child in on all of the amazing fun!  4-H Camp is a five-day, four-night residential camping experience that is conducted...

Cooking Under Pressure: Air Fryers & Pressure Cooker (Elizabeth)
Cooking Under Pressure: Air Fryers & Pressure Cooker Did you recently receive or purchase a pressure cooker or air fryer? Are you wondering what to do with it? Or if it is as easy to use say they say? If you answered yes to any of these questions, consider attending the University of...

Updates in Nutrient and Weed Management Focus of Agronomy Summit
  Freeport, IL-------The 2019 growing season was one of the most challenging years in recent memory for crop producers in Illinois. A cold, wet spring prevented us from getting into the field to conduct scheduled operations resulting in many acres...

Cooking Under Pressure: Air Fryers & Pressure Cooker
Freeport, IL----Did you recently receive or purchase a pressure cooker or air fryer? Are you wondering what to do with it? Or if it is as easy to use say they say? If you answered yes to any of these questions, consider attending the University of Illinois Extension upcoming...

Apple Tree Pruning The Older and Neglected
Freeport, IL----Do you have unruly apple trees on your property? Would you like tips on how to shape the trees back up and get them back in production? Join University of Illinois Extension Local Foods and Small Farms Educator Grant McCarty for Intro to Apple Tree Pruning: The Older and...

2020 Northwest Illinois Grazing Conference
The 2020 Northwest Illinois Grazing Conference is scheduled for Friday, March 6, 2020 in Elizabeth, IL.  Plan to join the University of Illinois Extension for this annual conference from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Elizabeth Community Building, HWY 20 W. Elizabeth, IL.  The...

Winnebago 4-H Project Workshop Day
University of Illinois Extension and Winnebago 4-H are hosting a project workshop day for any youth ages 8-13 on Saturday, January 25, 2020. Youth will choose from 9 different sessions including cartoon drawing, painting and origami, making sock puppets, photography, paper crafting and more....

Woodland Management for Wildlife, Timber and Enjoyment
Join Illinois Extension for a seminar on Woodland Management for Wildlife, Timber, and Enjoyment on Thursday, January 16 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Elizabeth Community Building, HWY 20 W. Elizabeth, IL. There will be a $10 charge to attend the seminar and pre-registration is required by Tuesday...

Apple Tree Pruning: The Older and Neglected
University of Illinois Extension Local Foods and Small Farms Educator Grant McCarty will teach Apple tree pruning on Wednesday, February 5, 2020 from 10:00 a.m. to noon at the Jo Daviess County Extension Office, 204 Vine St., Elizabeth, IL 61028. Registration cost for this program is $5 and pre-...

Illinois Extension Develops Industrial Hemp Resources
Illinois producers did you grow hemp in 2019? Are you interested in giving it a shot in 2020? With the end of the growing season here, there are many hemp growers who will be looking to find processors and end buyers for their product. As this is an emerging industry without a developed supply...

Successful Backyard Orchard program
Successful backyard orchard management covered in The Backyard Orchard program “The winter is a great time to plan for your backyard orchard,” states Grant McCarty, Local Foods and Small Farms Educator. “Many varieties of fruit trees sell out early spring. This is a good time to...

Timber Sales and Marketing
Join Illinois Extension Forestry Specialist Jay Hayek on Wednesday, January 15, 2020 from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. for a Timber Sales and Marketing program. The program will be held at the Elizabeth Community Building, HWY 20 W. Elizabeth, IL 61028. Pre-registration is required by January 13 and the...

Mental health information in rural areas is best delivered face-to-face, from family and friends, study shows
URBANA, Ill. – Mental health is a concern in rural areas, as farmers cope with stress and uncertainty due to economic and environmental conditions. Often, there are no mental health providers in the local community. Public health programs can help, but what are the best ways to reach farm...

Northwest IL Agronomy Summit
Freeport, IL--Well, here we go again. The 2019 growing season has been another challenging one for producers in Northern IL. A cold, wet spring prevented us from getting the crop in the ground, and extensive late-season precipitation and cool temperatures has delayed us in...