Media

Illinois researchers untangle drivers of nitrogen loss in the Upper Mississippi River Basin
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...

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

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,...

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 ...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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-...

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...

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...

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...

At Extension, water resources work when we work with them
Sometimes water is only a drizzle or a trickle, while other times it pours and floods, but it is always there in the background, a steady and vital resource for all our lives. A core University of Illinois Extension program area — natural resources,...

Extension invests in sustainability with growing natural resources, environment, energy team 
URBANA, Ill. — Change is constant in both the human and natural world — birds migrate, rivers change course, and winds shift. Helping people navigate those changes is a cornerstone of University of Illinois Extension’s mission. To support that cause...

Dust storms in Illinois: Identifying farm solutions
URBANA, Ill. — Dust storms have become an increasing concern in Illinois, prompting investigations into their causes and potential solutions. These weather events have resulted in fatalities, including a 2023...

Extension bridges gap between environmental research and real-world solutions
Strong natural systems and the resources they provide, from water filtration to renewable energy sources, are a vital part of healthy, robust communities. One of the core University of Illinois Extension program areas – natural resources, environment, and energy – connects communities across the...

Study: ‘Sustainable intensification’ on the farm reduces soil nitrate losses, maintains crop yields
URBANA, Ill. — A nine-year study comparing a typical two-year corn and soybean rotation with a more intensive three-year rotation involving corn, cereal rye, soybean and winter wheat found that the three-year system can dramatically reduce nitrogen — an important crop nutrient — in farm runoff...

Join Illinois Extension and Precision Conservation Management for a Farmer-Led Discussion on Conservation Practices
Kewanee, IL – Illinois Extension and Precision Conservation Management invite you to a farmer-led discussion on in-field nutrient loss reduction strategies and conservation practices, with a focus on economic impacts. The event will take place on ...

Celebrate spring with the return of the Rain Garden Rumble native plant playoff 
URBANA, Ill. — What’s a little friendly competition between plants? The annual Rain Garden Rumble returns this spring, giving nature and gardening enthusiasts a chance to root for their favorite native plants...

Tap into Illinois water resources, actions to take at home with Everyday Environment
URBANA, Ill. — With the quick twist of a handle, water is easily available whenever we need it for drinking, cooking, bathing, washing, and yard work. But do you know where your water comes from?Water is a vital resource that affects everyone. This spring, learn more about how water works...