Local Foods and Small Farms

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Blog Posts
many small cream colored larva feeding on the inside of a plant stem
Swede midge
Swede midge is an invasive pest of brassicas introduced to North America in 2000 where it was detected in Canada. Since then, it has been detected in...
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Fall is Here, so is El Niño!
Update from Trent Ford, Illinois State Climatologist (217-244-1330; twford@illinois.edu)September is...
cracks in bare soil inside and between raised beds inside high tunnel
From Dixon Springs Ag Center: Insects were thriving in the heat of September
The relentless heat and humidity of September are finally over. Lack of soil moisture and continued high temperatures created many noticeable cracks...
group of orange pumpkins in field beside green plants
From Southwestern Illinois (Waterloo): Fall pumpkin and apple season is upon us
We are finally starting to feel a little more fall like in the region.  Up until the latter part of September we had maintained many days of...
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News Releases
Green grass with blue sky horizon chicken coup and chickens on grass
McHenry County Farm Stroll 2023
McHenry County Farm Stroll 2023 Offers Tours of 11 Family-Owned Small Farms and McHenry County College Student Farm Woodstock, Ill. – Come out for an autumn day in the country! On Sunday, Sept. 24, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., McHenry County will host its annual Farm Stroll, a free self-...
A group of participants walking in a pumpkin field.
Local growers get fresh research and production strategies at Pumpkin Field Day
BELLEVILLE, Ill. — Attendees from across the Midwest braved the triple-digit temperatures to attend Pumpkin Field Day. The biannual event welcomed growers, educators, and industry partners for a hands-on pumpkin field day that highlighted the latest research, production strategies, and on‑farm...
Carly Whorton presenting at 2025 grocer summit
Illinois Extension hosts second annual Independent Grocer Summit
CARTERVILLE, Ill. — The Southern Illinois Food Access Initiative, a program of Illinois Extension, is hosting the second annual Independent Grocer Summit at John A. Logan College on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026. This annual event pulls together independent grocery store owners...
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Videos
From Farm to Community: The Impact of IL-EATS.

Through IL-EATS, Illinois farmers and food access partners came together to strengthen local food systems while feeding their communities. This video shares their experiences and highlights how the program expanded markets, increased access to fresh, local food, and built a more resilient supply...
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