Media

For media inquires about nutrient pollution in Illinois, contact the Illinois Extension Nutrient Loss Reduction team at NLRS@illinois.edu.

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Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Podcast

Discover Illinois's commitment to preserving waterways in our monthly podcast. Explore stories from the field about farm conservation practices, wastewater system management, urban stormwater, and policies and programs that affect nutrient loss, research updates, and more. Tune in for updates on ongoing efforts to protect Illinois waterways. Our podcast is your go-to source for staying informed about nutrient loss reduction efforts in Illinois.

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Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Blog

At Illinois Extension, we're helping enhance water quality at home and downstream. Our watershed outreach staff share stories on agriculture conservation, research updates, and field insights. The Nutrient Loss Reduction blog features practices aligned with the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy, timely updates, farm safety, and new tools for farmers to reduce field nutrient runoff.

Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Webinars

Discover a wealth of tips and tricks from the Illinois Extension Nutrient Loss Reduction team. Uncover knowledge through our engaging webinars and bite-sized videos designed to bring the best management practices to you. Whether you're eager to transform your home or business with rain gardens and barrels, to implement conservation practices on your farm, or take the lead in crafting watershed-based plans in your community, we have the information you need.

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Events

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March 17, 2026 - April 3, 2026

An illustration of native flowers and plants on a yellow background with the text Rain Garden Rumble

March 17, 2026 - April 3, 2026

2026 Rain Garden Rumble

It's a native plant playoff! 

Get to know 28 of the native plants found in the Red Oak Rain Garden by building a bracket, submitting it, and voting for…

March 18, 2026

A table with yogurt jars topped with fresh fruits, nuts, and seeds, and there is a person who is forming a heart shape with their hands over their stomach.

March 18, 2026

Wellness Wednesday

Gateway to Gut Health

County: Monroe

A monthly series designed to empower individuals in their journey towards better health and well-being. Led by Extension Nutrition and Wellness Educator and Registered Dietitian Kris Juelfs, each…

March 24, 2026

Wetlands and the text "Resilient Communities"

March 24, 2026

Reviving Illinois Wetlands

Resilient Communities Series

Wetlands are making a comeback in Illinois.

Wetlands of all sizes filter pollutants, provide protection from floods, recharge groundwater and serve as wildlife and fish habitat. But despite…

March 25, 2026

A woman with a box of tomatoes stands in front of a stocked food pantry.

March 25, 2026

Find Food. Share Support.

County: Lake

University of Illinois Extension in Lake County invites township clerks, social workers, school personnel, food pantry managers, and other community service providers to join us for “Find Food. Share…

June 30, 2026

A green and white corner-bordered image of a person at knee level checking soybean plants.

June 30, 2026

Focus on the Future: Sustaining Farm Legacy | Sycamore

There are significant and detailed decisions to be made when owning a farm and building a legacy.

Focus on the Future: Sustaining Farm Legacy events will feature critical and practical updates for…

August 25, 2026

Focus on the Future: Sustaining Farm Legacy | Mt. Vernon

There are significant and detailed decisions to be made when owning a farm and building a legacy.

Focus on the Future: Sustaining Farm Legacy events will feature critical and practical updates for…

News

March 2, 2026

Study shows 20-year decline in nitrate pollution across portions of the Mississippi River Basin
A new accounting of nitrogen pollution in the Mississippi-Atchafalaya River Basin (MARB) reveals a significant decline in recent decades, suggesting positive momentum for water quality goals in local watersheds and the Gulf. Surprisingly, the University of Illinois...

Native plant illustrations on a yellow background with the text "Rain Garden Rumble"

February 25, 2026

Root for your favorite native plant to help crown 2026 Rain Garden Rumble champion
URBANA, Ill. — Let the garden games begin with the return of the annual Rain Garden Rumble, where nature and gardening enthusiasts get to pick the champion in this native-plant-playoff. This botanical bout —...

February 13, 2026

Farm Drainage Series: Part 4 - Negotiating a mutual farm tile project: A joint tile main case study
Note: This article is not to be construed as legal advice. Consult with your legal advisor before entering tile agreements. Improving farm drainage tiles in Illinois can be very challenging because most farmland is owned by absentee landowners rather than by the farmer....

A family of three stand in a farm field overlooking a sunset

February 11, 2026

Illinois Extension offers support for farmers experiencing economic stress
URBANA, Ill. — As farmers across the state face mounting economic pressures, University of Illinois Extension reminds agricultural producers, advisers, and families that free help is available wherever you are.Assistance resources range...

Woman showing two young kids and their mother some gardening information in a greenhouse.

February 5, 2026

Dig into spring gardening with confidence at local gardening programs
URBANA, Ill. — Gardening is an ever-evolving journey, and each growing season brings fresh experiences and strategies for both new and veteran gardeners. This spring, learn more gardening techniques and grow...

February 3, 2026

Genes from corn's wild ancestor change soil microbial community, improve sustainability
URBANA, Ill. — Corn bred with genes from wild relatives can reshape soil microbial communities and reduce nitrogen loss — with no yield reduction — according to new research from the University...

A person kneels down to check soybean plant progress in a field

February 2, 2026

New Focus on the Future meetings to help Illinois agriculture community build, sustain farm legacy
URBANA, Ill. — Every farm has an individual story to tell, and it is up to the generations of farmers living it to tell the tale. In 2026, University of Illinois Extension and Illinois Farm Bureau are...

Looking at ground level between crop rows with corn growing through cover crop residue

January 30, 2026

Illinois Extension is growing cover crop conversations by connecting farmers to farmers
URBANA, Ill. — What better way to learn about cover crops than from someone already growing them? University of Illinois Extension is offering farmers, producers, landowners, and industry professionals a chance to log on for a free virtual panel on...

January 16, 2026

Illinois researchers untangle drivers of nitrogen loss in the Upper Mississippi River Basin
URBANA, Ill. — Scientists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign can now differentiate between human-derived and hydrological contributions of riverine nitrogen pollution in the Upper Mississippi River Basin. The advancement, published in...

Members of Extension Academy and ACES/Extension leadership

January 14, 2026

Illinois Extension Academy cohort poised to cultivate collaboration and impact
URBANA, Ill. — Collaboration and shared expertise strengthen any project, especially when they help deliver the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s latest research and best practices to communities across Illinois and beyond.With the start of the...

January 13, 2026

Illinois Extension’s strategic plan shows significant progress in year one
URBANA, Ill. — University of Illinois Extension is driving statewide impact through its comprehensive 10-year strategic plan, focused on the key priorities of environment, food and agriculture, health, community, economy, technology and discovery,...

Two photos one of a creek with grass on the banks the other a wide stream with trees along it

December 3, 2025

Terrestrial biodiversity grows with tree cover in agricultural landscapes
Farmers plant or preserve riparian buffers for various reasons, such as improving water quality, controlling erosion, or maintaining hunting habitat. Now, a new study from the ...

November 1, 2025

Wetlands efficiently remove nitrogen pollution from surface water, leading to cost savings for municipalities
Wetlands are an important part of the ecological system, providing a myriad of benefits for people, wildlife, and the environment. They also serve as “nature’s kidneys,” filtering out pollutants from surface water. A new study...

Wild ginger plant grows beneath a red oak tree.

October 29, 2025

Extension advances community-led Mattoon water quality solutions with Lumpkin Foundation Grant
MATTOON, Ill. — The Lumpkin Family Foundation has awarded University of Illinois Extension a $40,000 grant to improve water quality and protect local drinking water sources in Coles County. The funding will support a Watershed Stewards community...

October 20, 2025

Beam signing cements progress on a mission-centered gathering place for University of Illinois Extension
URBANA, Ill. — University of Illinois Extension is poised to have its first central facility in its 100+ year history by Spring of 2027. The high-impact, geographically dispersed organization serves the state as the outward-facing public good unit...

attendees listen to speaker at stormwater conference

October 7, 2025

Stormwater Leadership Summit unites Northern Illinois communities in search for regional solutions
GLENCOE, Ill. — On Sept. 25, more than 100 community leaders, engineers, planners, and stormwater experts gathered at the Chicago Botanic Garden for the first-of-its-kind Stormwater Leadership Summit to address one of Illinois' most pressing...

Children and adults looking at a row of jack-o'-lanterns lining the border of the Red Oak Rain Garden.

October 6, 2025

Nature’s canvas highlighted in autumnal celebration, art exhibit at the Red Oak Rain Garden
URBANA, Ill. — When the sun sets late in October, something whimsical this way comes to the Red Oak Rain Garden. The “Illuminating Art in Nature” exhibit will return to the University of Illinois Urbana-...

September 30, 2025

Study: 72% of Illinois wetlands no longer protected by federal Clean Water Act
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois once harbored more than 8 million acres of wetlands. By the 1980s, all but 1.2 million wetland acres had been lost, filled in for development or drained to make way for agriculture. Now, thanks to a 2023 Supreme Court decision, roughly 72% of the remaining 981,000...

Matthew Vann, Illinois Extension Associate Dean and Director, wears a blue vest over a light blue button -up shirt

August 18, 2025

University of Illinois Extension announces NC State agricultural leader as its new director
URBANA, Ill. — Matthew Vann has been named the new associate dean and director of University of Illinois Extension, the flagship public engagement organization housed in...

People in hard hats handle equipment on the edge of a boat

August 4, 2025

Gulf of Mexico ‘dead zone’ below average, scientists find
NOAA-supported scientists announced today that this year’s Gulf of Mexico “dead zone” — an area of low to no oxygen that can kill fish and marine life — is approximately 4,402 square miles, 21% smaller than estimates from early June...

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