News Releases

Four Seasons Gardening Winter Webinar Series Underway
The Four Seasons Gardening Webinar Series is one of the most popular horticulture programs offered by the Illinois Extension Horticulture Team. Each season, the team hosts three live webinars participants can take from their own computers delivered via Zoom. The programs are free, but...
Free Extension Webinars for Small Farmers
DECATUR, Ill. — During winters, farmers may not be out in their fields, but that doesn’t mean they are taking a break. Starting in January, University of Illinois Extension is providing a weekly educational webinar series for the small farm community. This online series will provide small farm...
Explore and assess your seeds this winter
URBANA, Ill. – While there may still be snow on the ground outside, it is never too early to start planning your garden for the spring. Begin by digging through your old seed packet stashes to find those still viable to plant. Seeds are considered viable when they are capable of...
Farm Bureau salutes outstanding 4-H members
The Youth Education Committee of the Illinois Farm Bureau and its affiliates awarded 10 Illinois 4-H members with its Leadership, Citizenship, and Professionalism Award at a ceremony held Saturday, Oct. 5 in Champaign. In addition to the award, the winners participate in an elite leadership...
Key Award celebrates youth service and mentoring
The Illinois 4-H Key Award recognizes youth leaders who mentor and serve their community. Eight 4-H teens were honored as award recipients at a ceremony Oct. 5 in Champaign. The award is sponsored by the H. Richard and Sarah F. McFarland Endowed 4-H Youth Leadership and Character Development...
These members are experiencing all 4-H offers
Illinois 4-H challenges youth to try new things, experiment in project areas that interest them, and explore opportunities around the state and country. The 4-H Experience Award recognizes youth who excel in that challenge. “We celebrate youth whose 4-H experiences have expanded outside...
Dogs win the day at state 4-H contest
More than 1,500 Illinois 4-H members care for dogs as part of their project work. Obedience training provides mental stimulation that keeps dogs mentally and physically healthy and provides structure for appropriate behavior. Two hundred 4-H members advanced from county competitions to...
On target, on the range and in life
More than 3,600 4-H members participate in one of the five 4-H shooting sports disciplines. Each fall, the oldest of those members compete in four state contests to determine the state winners and delegates to the National 4-H Shooting Sports...
Woodford County Master Gardener Receives State Award
Source: Brittnay Haag Extension Educator-Horticulture University of Illinois Extension Serving Livingston, McLean and Woodford Counties (309) 663-8306 • bhaag@illinois.edu   EUREKA, Ill. – University of Illinois Extension...
McLean County Master Gardeners Receive State Awards
Source: Brittnay Haag Extension Educator-Horticulture University of Illinois Extension Serving Livingston, McLean and Woodford Counties (309) 663-8306 • bhaag@illinois.edu   BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – University of Illinois Extension...
Bagworms are Everywhere
EUREKA, ILL. – At the local University of Illinois Extension Office in Woodford County, Master Gardeners are receiving a bombardment of questions about what seems like a bagworm explosion. Bagworms hatch from their eggs in mid- to late-June, then spin silks to catch the wind and balloon...
The Mosquito Mystery
BLOOMINGTON, IL – If you scooped a pond, you would find the infamous mosquito larvae but you would also find dragonfly and damselfly nymphs, tadpoles, and fish feeding on them. The larvae of these mosquitoes love cleaning stagnant water of bacteria, algae, and fungus. However, states University...
New Hydrangea at the Woodford County Courthouse Creates Pruning Questions
EUREKA, Ill. – University of Illinois Extension Woodford County Master Gardeners recently added Hydrangea ‘Bobo’ to the Woodford County Courthouse landscape. This newer cultivar stays compact and holds the flowers on strong stems so they do not flop. Extension Horticulture educators believe we...
Late summer gardening tasks for fall harvest success
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – In the heat of summer’s end, vegetable gardeners are often drained by the weeding and watering routine, and ready to put the garden to bed. University of Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator, Kelly Allsup, says “fall provides some of the most productive gardening...
Gardening in schools is more than a grade
Source: Brittnay Haag Extension Educator-Horticulture University of Illinois Extension Serving Livingston, McLean and Woodford Counties (309) 663-8306 • bhaag@illinois.edu   School gardens...
Four Seasons Gardening Program Offers Summer Series
The summer series of University of Illinois Extension’s Four Seasons Gardening Program, which focuses on environmental stewardship, home gardening, and backyard food production, gets underway the month of June. The public is invited to participate in this free webinar series. The first session...