News and Blogs

January 18, 2022

Illinois 4-H Livestock Skillathon Team crowned reserve national champions
Louisville, KY --The Illinois 4-H Livestock Skillathon Team brought home Reserve National Champion honors at the National 4-H Livestock Skillathon Contest.  The contest was held in conjunction with the...

July 7, 2021

Extension names new agriculture outreach leadership
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Tiny tick-insect crawling on person's finger.

June 10, 2021

Small bug, big risk: Protect yourself from ticks this summer
URBANA, Ill. — When venturing in the woods this summer, don’t forget to protect yourself from a small, but dangerous creature likely lurking in trees, grass, and bushes. Ticks are easy to pick up when visiting grassy areas, woods, prairies, wetlands, deer trails, and brushy...

January 29, 2018

Looking for anaplasmosis in beef cattle
By Todd Gleason Researchers at the University of Illinois are working with beef cattle producers in the southern third of the state to determine the prevalence of a disease that causes...

August 30, 2017

Data-Driven dairy
“Can we make dairy extension more scientifically sound?” That’s the question that led Phil Cardoso in 2012 to develop the Dairy Focus Team...

The Cattle Connection

Early spring grazing management tips

March 9, 2026

Turning cows out on immature forages can have consequences. If forages are overgrazed early, permanent damage to grass stands can lower yields and...

What will a good bull cost me in 2026?

February 5, 2026

A popular question this time of year is “What will a good bull cost me?.” My go-to answer is usually… “How much revenue loss would you have from a...

A little better is still better

January 20, 2026

Speaking for myself, the past year has been fun. Conversations have mostly been positive with profitability gracing all segments of the cattle...

When do cows feel the cold?

December 15, 2025

With winter weather and cold temperatures setting in, it is time to talk about when cows feel the cold. The big factors that determine the lower...

Is it time to bale graze?

November 24, 2025

Adding nutrients, organic matter, and ground cover to poorly productive lands have some raving about bale grazing. Added fertility and better water...

Re-investing profits on the ranch

November 17, 2025

Are you looking for avenues to re-invest in the ranch this year? First, know that not every year is as profitable as this year and sometimes...

Breeding season tips for fall calving herds

October 29, 2025

Fall calving herds are approaching breeding season. While general breeding practices are similar to spring calving herds, breeding fall calving cows...

Supplementing cows on drought-stressed pastures

October 7, 2025

Supplementing cows during drought is common practice. Harvested forages, such as hay, can be used to replace available forage for grazing. However,...

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