Elizabeth Wahle reflects on her time with Illinois Extension as she prepares for retirement
When I started with Extension, I was fresh out of my Ph.D. program with Dr. John Masiunas…and really wet behind the ears compared to what I know now...
Review of yields and gross sales for high tunnel tomato and pepper crops in 2025
Yield data is collected every year from crops grown within the high tunnels at the Dixon Springs Agricultural Center in southern Illinois. Plots are...
Fruit and vegetable growers cultivate knowledge and success through Extension program
MT. VERNON, Ill. — Growing fruits and vegetables comes with plenty of challenges and unknowns. Producers can count on Illinois Extension's up-to-date, practical research to guide their production decisions. Community members can make plans now to attend the 2026 Southern Illinois Fruit and...
Pumpkin disease not evolving, could make a difference for management
URBANA, Ill. — The pathogen that causes bacterial spot is very good at what it does. Forming small lesions on the rinds of pumpkins, melons, cucumbers, and other cucurbits, it mars the fruits’ appearance and ushers in secondary pathogens that lead to rot and severe yield loss. The bacterium,...
New Illinois Extension educator returns home to support local food growers
ST. CHARLES, Ill. — From raising animals and bees to fruit and vegetable production, University of Illinois Extension strives to help small farms thrive. This summer, a new Extension educator joins the team to specifically support local food production in Kane, DuPage, and Kendall counties....
Illinois Extension investing in the future of farming across the state
URBANA, Ill. — Helping Illinois farmers grow thriving crops and livestock has always been at the heart of University of Illinois Extension’s mission. Using feedback received from farmers and other agricultural stakeholders through a 2022 survey,...
