Conservation

Events

2025 DeWitt, Macon, and Piatt County Master Naturalist Training

January 7, 2025 - March 25, 2025

County

DeWitt

Macon

Piatt

Preventing Soil Loss on Your Farm

March 6, 2025

County

Wayne

Blog Posts

Gift wrapped in cloth with greenery for decoration

Unwrapping the environmental cost of holiday gifts  

November 8, 2024

The holiday season is quickly approaching, and while we might all celebrate differently, many of us are purchasing gifts for loved ones over the next...

The agronomics of N, P, & K

October 31, 2024

As harvest wraps up, many farmers are turning their attention to fall fertilizer applications. Managing nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (...

A wooden frame holding native seed collected at Nachusa Grasslands in Northern Illinois

Beginner’s Guide to Collecting Native Seeds for Autumn

October 18, 2024

Autumn is a time for…life? This may seem perplexing, as we often link fall with plants dying, wildlife migrating, and us retreating indoors. However...

Man sorting through plastic on conveyor belt

Path of plastic 

October 11, 2024

Which of the following statements are true?  There are hundreds of types of plastics.  Since the 1950s, global plastic production has grown...

More Blogs

News Releases

November 12, 2024

Tara Heath promoted to Extension crops educator
LEWISTOWN, Ill. - The agriculture industry continues to change rapidly, impacting everyone from the producers to the industry professionals to the food consumers. University of Illinois Extension is growing its team of commercial agriculture educators to provide research-based, unbiased...

Water flooding and rushing through a drainage system in a farm field.

October 18, 2024

Learn the flow of integrated agricultural water management with Illinois Extension workshop
Notes on the Event Schedule ChangeThank you for your interest in the Integrated Water Management for Landowners and Farmers workshop. The workshop is postponed and moving to spring 2025. For questions or to...

A man stands in a prairie examining a plant

October 10, 2024

Faced with environmental challenges, Illinois Extension Master Naturalists sow seeds of hope
MACOMB, Ill. — The beauty of autumn in west central Illinois is not subtle. Amber swaths of blooming goldenrod are adorned by monarch butterflies under a bright blue sky, which only ends when it meets the expanse of Illinois River wetlands, filled with the calls of migrating birds. This vibrant...

September 17, 2024

Pollinator Palooza at Carlyle Lake: A Free Family-Friendly Event
University of Illinois Extension invites the community to Pollinator Palooza, a free outdoor event celebrating our vital pollinators! Join us at the Carlyle Lake Visitor Center on [Event Date] for a day of educational fun and engaging activities designed to highlight the importance of...

More News

Videos

What is a Saturated Buffer and How Does it Work to Improve Water Quality?

Saturated buffers are an edge-of-field option farmers can apply to reduce the amount of nitrogen runoff in water leaving their fields. Illinois Extension watershed outreach associates explain how bioreactors work to remove nitrogen and improve water quality.

Water Conservation at Home

Conserving water can be simple with the right items in place and a few small habit changes. We all know the obvious “turn the water off” ways to save water, but what about considering water quality and how you can save some of the energy it takes to get water to your tap?

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