Conservation

Events

Blog Posts

Karen Weigelt using forestry tool
Read article: Using forestry tools was the core lesson at recent Extension workshop
Using forestry tools was the core lesson at recent Extension workshop
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...
naturalistic gardening
Read article: Tips for gardening with nature: fall edition
Tips for gardening with nature: fall edition
I used to think fall was the time to clean up. Now I know fall is the time to prepare. When I was very small, I remember the leaves dropping...
Nipper Wildlife Refuge
Read article: Nipper Wildlife Sanctuary: A local nature classroom
Nipper Wildlife Sanctuary: A local nature classroom
By Roberta Clifton, Extension Master Naturalist, serving Fulton, Mason, Peoria, and TazewellOff the beaten path, but only 30 minutes from our capital...
Cereal rye emerging through corn stover in a field
Read article: Cover crop conversations: Profitability, soil health, and yield
Cover crop conversations: Profitability, soil health, and yield
When evaluating cover crops, many conversations begin with one question: Are they profitable? In...

News Releases

Collage featuring Jenny Lee, the new horticulture educator, along with photos of Illinois Extension outreach, native plants, insects, and a gardening activity.
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...
People observe a hands-on soil sampling demonstration during an Illinois Extension training.
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...

Videos

Uncovering the Winter Secrets of Whip-poor-wills

Often heard and rarely seen, the eastern whip-poor-will and its namesake nighttime call is an iconic Midwestern woodland bird. But like many other insect-eating birds, its numbers are declining. University of Illinois avian researchers are working to uncover the secrets of where this elusive...

Cover Crop Conversations, Farmer-to-Farmer Insights Across Illinois

Farmers from northwest, west central, and southern Illinois discuss how they use cover crops in their operations as part of this recorded presentation coordinated in part by the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy. Hear how they have incorporated cover crops on their farms, lessons learned...