Water Quality

Blog Posts

Making Every Nutrient Count: Fall Fertilizer Decisions for Productivity, Profitability, and Water Quality

September 28, 2026

Fall fertilizer season brings decisions about when, where, and how much to apply.In...

Cover crop conversations: when to seed a cover crop

September 21, 2026

When it comes to seeding cover crops, timing matters, but the right timing can look different depending on where you farm and what you are trying to...

Cereal rye emerging through corn stover in a field

Cover crop conversations: Practical management advice

August 24, 2026

Cover crops and no-till can take some trial and error. In ...

Cover crop conversations: Profitability, soil health, and yield

July 22, 2026

When evaluating cover crops, many conversations begin with one question: Are they profitable? In...

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News Releases

Collage featuring Jenny Lee, the new horticulture educator, along with photos of Illinois Extension outreach, native plants, insects, and a gardening activity.

September 1, 2026

Jenny Lee transitions to Horticulture Educator role with Illinois Extension
MATTOON, Ill. – University of Illinois Extension is pleased to announce Jenny Lee as the Horticulture Educator serving Coles, Cumberland, Douglas, Moultrie, and Shelby counties.In her new role, Lee develops and delivers educational programs that help individuals and communities create...

two women in hard hats use machinery on a boat in the ocean

August 10, 2026

NOAA and partners find smaller-than-anticipated hypoxic zone in Gulf
NOAA-supported scientists announced today that the hypoxic zone in the Gulf is approximately 1,332 square miles, making it the second-smallest zone on record in 40 years of measurement. Hypoxic areas, also called “dead zones,” are areas with little to no oxygen in the water, which can...

May 7, 2026

Farm Drainage Series Part 8: A USDA Certified Wetland Review is required before altering farm drainage
PEORIA, Ill. - Most farmers and absentee landowners who own or farm cropland in Illinois rely on the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) benefit programs. These programs serve as a safety net to keep farm operations economically viable and motivate them to adopt environmentally...

May 13, 2026

Illinois study: Can designer biochar pellets help manage phosphorus in agricultural fields?
Tile drainage is common in U.S. Midwest agricultural fields, helping to remove excess water and aerate the soil. While the practice enhances crop productivity, it can cause phosphorus to leak into nearby waterways, where it contributes to harmful algal blooms. Directing tile-drain...

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Videos

Cover Crop Conversations: Farmer-to-Farmer Insights Across Illinois - Part 2

Illinois farmers discuss how cover crops fit into their systems, what they have learned along the way, and how these practices support soil health, nutrient management, erosion control, and farm profitability under very different soils and climate conditions.

Actions to Reduce Water Pollution

What’s in your water? Learn about common water pollutants, how your daily actions, indoor and outdoor, impact water quality, and how water is treated before returning to rivers and lakes. Simple tips to prevent pollution start with you.

This webinar was recorded on May 8, 2025. Find more...