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Stormwater Leadership Summit

September 25, 2025

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Winter's last shot

February 28, 2025

Trent Ford, Illinois State Climatologist, provided this weather update. Since the calendar turned over to 2025, we have been experiencing winter...

A sunrise over a farm field and wind turbines

Why do we use meteorological and astronomical seasons?

February 11, 2025

In Illinois, February can still have some extremely cold days, but also some hints of spring. It gives us a taste of the warmer weather to come. Yes...

Are cold temperatures good for soil quality?

November 21, 2024

Cold winter air is one reason that we have highly productive soil in Illinois and the Midwest. Temperature plays a major role in how much organic...

Black and white sketch of historic Jamestown

The pilgrims, frost fairs, and winters in the 1620s

November 8, 2024

We have all heard the story of the Pilgrims landing at Plymouth Rock in 1620 and the harsh conditions endured during the winter. The following year,...

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A gas analyzer measures carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide from fields.

April 25, 2025

Illinois leads most rigorous agricultural greenhouse gas emissions study to date
URBANA, Ill. — Farmers apply nitrogen fertilizers to crops to boost yields, feeding more people and livestock. But when there’s more fertilizer than the crop can take up, some of the excess can be converted into gaseous forms, including nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas that traps nearly 300 times...

a group of people having a discussion outside sitting in the grass

January 9, 2025

Local Climate Stewards can lead to big changes with new environmental program
URBANA, Ill. — Climate change is a complex global challenge, but local action has an important role in empowering communities and building resiliency. The new University of Illinois Extension Climate Steward course trains environmental stewards to communicate about climate change and engage in...

two weather monitoring systems, one in front of a building and one in a farm field

December 10, 2024

As climate change impacts the world, citizen science project focuses on community-level data
URBANA, Ill. — “Nice weather we’re having.” “Looks like rain.” “Can you believe how cold it is?” Whether the skies are clear, or a storm is incoming, people pay attention to the weather. It prompts how we dress, where we go, and our plans for the day. We can’t control it, and it is one thing we...

September 25, 2024

Climate-smart grazing: U. of I. study shows how weather mitigates nitrogen runoff
URBANA, Ill. — Livestock production is an important component of U.S. agriculture, with global demand for meat and dairy expected to double in the coming decades. This increase will lead to intensified grazing on U.S. grasslands, potentially exacerbating water quality degradation from livestock...

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Welcome to the Everyday Environment series!

Now, Everyday Environment has even more tools and recommendations for you to explore, engage, and be a steward of the environment with small changes that have positive impacts on the world around us.

Expanding Crop Rotation Options and the Diverse Corn Belt Project

A more diverse Corn Belt starts with wider options for crop rotations.

Illinois and Indiana's farmers have the current corn and soybean rotation built into their operation, so what is holding them back from diversifying the crop selections?

The ...

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Bin Peng

Maddie Olivieri-Rangel

Duane Friend

Abigail Garofalo

Justin Vozzo

Sarah Zack

Emily Heaton

Linda Derhak

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