Forestry

Events

Fire Ecology for Managing Grasslands and Woodlands

August 19, 2026

The Edible Wild Path

August 25, 2026

County

Champaign

Ford

Vermilion

Iroquois

Drone-based Herbicide Application Efficacy for Priority Invasive Plants

August 26, 2026

Blog Posts

Using forestry tools was the core lesson at recent Extension workshop

August 13, 2026

Every tree has a story to tell, you just need the right tools to read it. Those stories are written in tree rings, hidden in their height, and tucked...

What makes a pest "invasive?"

April 23, 2026

Not all insects or pathogens that arrive from elsewhere are harmful. Many settle quietly into their new surroundings without causing noticeable...

A conversation about conservation, why words matter when talking about invasive species

March 12, 2026

Emerald ash borer, bush honeysuckle, bighead carp – if any of those names made you shudder, you’re likely aware of the widespread environmental and...

A group of pinecones hanging from a branch

A look at Illinois’ native conifers

January 16, 2026

I have always marveled at pinecones and the seeds of other conifers. Whether I was picking them up for a “collection” as a kid or watching them...

More Blogs

News Releases

Collage featuring Jenny Lee, the new horticulture educator, along with photos of Illinois Extension outreach, native plants, insects, and a gardening activity.

September 1, 2026

Jenny Lee transitions to Horticulture Educator role with Illinois Extension
MATTOON, Ill. – University of Illinois Extension is pleased to announce Jenny Lee as the Horticulture Educator serving Coles, Cumberland, Douglas, Moultrie, and Shelby counties.In her new role, Lee develops and delivers educational programs that help individuals and communities create...

Bronwyn Aly and Kacie Athey speaking to a group of registrants at the Dixon Springs Agricultural Field Day

July 15, 2026

Field Day offers an in-depth look at research at Dixon Springs Agricultural Center
SIMPSON, Ill. – Dixon Springs Agricultural Center is a University of Illinois research center dedicated to agricultural innovation, hands-on education, and rural development in the heart of southern Illinois. Since 1934, DSAC has supported farmers, landowners, and communities with practical,...

People observe a hands-on soil sampling demonstration during an Illinois Extension training.

July 7, 2026

Serve your community, become a Master Naturalist
MATTOON, Ill. – From neighborhood parks to the Shawnee National Forest, University of Illinois Extension Master Naturalists volunteer as environmental stewards, helping protect Illinois' natural resources while connecting people with the outdoors.Illinois Extension is accepting...

Dixon Springs Ag Center offices with fall foliage

May 21, 2026

Illinois Extension hosts inaugural Dixon Springs Agricultural Center Field Day on July 14
SIMPSON, Ill. – Community and agriculture come together for an evening of learning and connection during the inaugural Dixon Springs Agricultural Center Field Day on July 14. The experience will begin at 5 p.m. and includes a farm-to-table meal featuring food grown and produced at the Ag...

More News

Videos

Controlling Woody Invasive Species in Fall and Winter

Move beyond the basics of invasive species

Join University of Illinois Extension Forester Christopher Evans in this info-packed Wilderness Wednesday webinar sponsored by the Kankakee River Valley Forest...

Making Maple Syrup - A Basic Introduction

Explore the basics of all of the steps involved in making maple syrup as Extension Forester Chris Evans walks through the maple syrup production process at the Dixon Springs Agricultural Center in southern Illinois.