Ensuring access for all, Extension adds DEIA leadership
URBANA, Ill. – A new leadership position will guide University of Illinois Extension’s efforts to ensure its programs are relevant, inclusive, and accessible to all of Illinois’ diverse residents and communities. ...

Emerging technology allows solar panels and agriculture to coexist, legal hurdles remain
URBANA, Ill. – Renewable energy technologies such as wind turbines and solar panels are gaining traction, but are sometimes met with local resistance because they take up valuable space that could otherwise be used for agricultural production. Agrivoltaics provides a way of creating dual land...

Protect your holiday baking traditions with 4 food safety tips
URBANA, Ill. – Holiday baking brings family and friends together and creates lasting memories as friends share recipes, stories, and meaningful time together.  Amid the flurry of flour-covered countertops and mountains of messy mixing bowls, keep food safety in mind. “Baking and food...

Holiday favorite gourd is good to go for 2022
Few of us stop to wonder how that slice of pumpkin pie made it onto our plate, but if it weren't for the Illinois pumpkin industry and plant pathologist and Extension specialist Mohammad Babadoost, the classic fall dessert...

Study shows the power of 'thank you' for couples
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Gratitude has been a trendy sentiment in recent years – sparking an industry of journals, knickknacks, and T-shirts touting thankfulness as a positive force in individuals’ lives. New research suggests that gratitude from one’s partner may be a powerful tool for couples...

Protect trees from winter’s wrath with a few preventive steps
URBANA, Ill. – Winter is hard on trees. Wind, ice, and cold temperatures can harm trees through sunscald, branch-breaking ice loads, or winter burn on evergreens. Taking preventative measures in the fall can help minimize winter injury to trees in the landscape. Boxwood, arborvitae, and...

Bats protect young trees from insect damage, with three times fewer bugs
URBANA, Ill. – Bats help keep forests growing. Without bats to hold their populations in check, insects that munch on tree seedlings go wild, doing three to nine times more damage than when bats are on the scene. That’s according to a groundbreaking ...

Illinois Extension welcomes new 4-H Program Coordinator
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – University of Illinois Extension is pleased to welcome Sherri Bishop as the new 4-H Program Coordinator in Logan County. Most recently, Sherri served as the Office Support Assistant in the Logan Extension Office, and she has extensive experience working with youth...

Best way to estimate costs for invasive plant removal? Get out and dig
URBANA, Ill. – Plants are designed to travel. They might not stand up and walk, but many plants produce seeds or other bits that can be carried long distances by wind or animals and start growing. While that might be great news for the plant, escapes like these can disrupt natural ecosystems and...

Improve well-being, health with 5 life lessons
URBANA, Ill. – Continued learning through all stages of life helps us to thrive physically, mentally, and financially. No matter your age, learn valuable life lessons in five monthly workshops which continue a tradition of supporting Illinois residents and communities with relevant and easy-to-...

Researchers explore soil erosion nutrient runoff in Illinois waterways
URBANA, Ill. - A team of Agroecosystem Sustainability Center (ASC) scientists was awarded a grant from the Illinois Nutrient Research and Education Council to quantify streambank erosion across the state and its contributions to phosphorus (P) loading...

Explore agriculture technology to inform the future of digital ag
URBANA, Ill. – The agriculture industry is changing – driverless full-sized tractors can till fields and robots are milking cows and feeding calves. New digital farming technologies like robots and autonomous field equipment are coming out every day. But these labor-saving machines have also...

Local youth program offers a place where kids can belong, lead, learn
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – 4-H members in Illinois will join 6 million youth across the country in celebrating National 4-H Week Oct. 2-8. Clubs around Illinois celebrate this week by highlighting the remarkable 4 H youth in their communities and showcasing the incredible experiences that 4 H offers...

Outstanding volunteers honored at State Fair ceremony
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Outstanding 4-H volunteers were celebrated as part of the 2022 class of the Illinois 4-H Hall of Fame at a ceremony held as part of the 4-H General Project Show at the Illinois State Fair...

Illinois 4-H invites alumni to join 4-H history project
URBANA, Ill. – Illinois 4-H is proud of the rich history of 4-H and the network of 4-H alums near and far. Alums of the Illinois 4-H program share a unique bond with over 25 million Americans across the country. Illinois 4-H has launched a new initiative for the Illinois 4-H History...

Build money management skills early for a solid financial future
URBANA, Ill. — Building positive money habits early in life paves the way for long-term financial stability, but navigating topics such as spending, saving, investing, and managing debt can feel overwhelming, especially for young adults who are tackling financial responsibilities for the first...

4-H members earn awards in State Fair Junior Livestock Shows
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – 4-H members from Logan, Menard, and Sangamon Counites earned champion awards during the 2022 Illinois State Fair Junior Livestock Shows.  In the Junior Livestock Division, 4-H and FFA members from across the state have an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and skills...

Abe Lincoln 4-H Shooters holds archery exhibition
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Abe Lincoln Shooters 4-H currently offers shooting disciplines of archery and shotgun. The Sangamon County program is guided by a Certified 4-H Shooting Sports Coordinators. The Illinois 4-H Shooting Sports program is part of the National 4-H Shooting Sports Program which...

4-H members earn awards at Illinois State Fair
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – 4-H members from Logan, Menard, and Sangamon Counites earned special awards for their project exhibits at the 2022 Illinois State Fair.  Eighty-two local 4-H’ers exhibited their project work alongside 4-H’ers from across the state in the Orr Building on Sunday, August 14. ...

Local community members inducted into Illinois 4-H Hall of Fame
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Two local community members have been inducted into the Illinois 4-H Hall of Fame in recognition of their decades of dedication to the program.  Patty Huffer of Lincoln and Sharon Lounsberry of Oakford were both employees of Illinois Extension for many years. Patty...