Canada goose walking on a dirt path with four yellow goslings following behind
With spring's warmer days, wildlife are waking up, migrating, and mating. Sometimes that puts us in close contact with them.
Learn how to coexist with our wildlife neighbors, find a wildlife rehabilitator, and more at https://extension.illinois.edu/Wildlife
Pile of cleaned out empty white plastic pesticide jugs in a truck bed with overlay text saying Illinois Pesticide Review, Illinois Extension, and an orange Illinois I-Block logo.
Stay in the loop on the latest in pesticide safety issues, regulations, and changes in pesticide registration label status with the Illinois Pesticide Review newsletter.
🔗 Read March/April newsletter at extension.illinois.edu/newsletters/illinois-pes...
Hand placing coin into jar beside stacked coins and growth chart; brochure title "Saving and Investing: 3 Steps to Success."
Setting savings goals, creating an emergency savings account, and starting to set aside money regularly are some ways to get started.
💰Find more information on practical ways to save: extension.illinois.edu/finances/saving-and-inve...
#DYK that many invasive plants – burning bush, purple loosestrife, bushhoney suckle – that landowners and conservation workers fight to remove today were first planted in landscaping?
Green tractor with folded tillage driving down a rural road near power lines with overlay text saying Think Safety First Around Farming, Illinois Extension, and an orange Illinois I-Block logo.
Another Midwest farming season may seem routine.
For both tractor drivers and those following behind, stay aware of surroundings and leave room for safety.
🔗 Level Up Safety First Thinking at extension.illinois.edu/news-releases/level-safe...
Hands shaped into a heart over the abdomen with message: Good health starts in the gut.
This week, listeners will learn what the gut microbiome is and why it plays such a powerful role in digestion, immunity, and even mood.
extension.illinois.edu/podcasts/wellness-wake-c...
At the Doris Kelley Christopher Center, we’re celebrating the legacy of University of Illinois Extension by creating a time capsule – capturing today’s impact to inspire tomorrow’s communities. From innovation to outreach across all 102 counties, this is just the beginning.
Green invasive plant on rocky forest floor with warning to stop invasive plants before they spread.
Invasive garlic mustard spreads fast. One plant can produce up to 8,000 seeds. Check wooded areas and pull, mow, or cut stalks after they flower and before they produce seeds
- Southern Illinois: Flowers late-March
- Northern Illinois: Flowers mid-April
More at https://go.illinois.edu/GarlicMustard
Camouflaged Eastern Whip‑Poor‑Will perched on a branch, with "Voice of the Wild" and Illinois Extension text overlays.
Whip-poor-will, whip-poor-will! Often heard and rarely seen, the eastern whip-poor-will is an iconic nocturnal woodland bird. Once common, its numbers are declining.
Learn more by listening in and subscribing to Voice of the Wild at https://extension.illinois.edu/podcasts/voice-wild
Foraging morels: large morel illustration with tips—check rules, tread lightly, identify fungi, enjoy nature.
Foraging mushrooms? Do it safely and sustainably:
• Check site foraging rules
• Tread lightly when foraging, stay on trails when you can
• Look for morels in sites with mixed hardwood trees and wet soils
extension.illinois.edu/news-releases/spring-bri...
Meet the ACES alum helping shape the future of agriculture through a transformative gift to revitalize the historic Morrow Plots.
More: aces.illinois.edu/news/meet-aces-alum-behi...
Person in gloves studying plants in a green woodland; graphic reads "25 Years of Research on Illinois Ecosystems."
What were you like in the '90s? Well, scientists with the Illinois Natural History Survey have been collecting environmental data since 1997!
Learn how that data helps with invasive species management with TJ Benson from @prairieresearch.bsky.social at https://go.illinois.edu/everydayenvironment
Fresh strawberries, tomato, grapes and orange with green banner reading 'Picking, Preparing & Storing Fruits and Vegetables'.
Want fresher produce and less food waste?
Our new YouTube playlist, Picking, Preparing, and Storing Fruits and Vegetables, walks you through simple, science‑based tips to make the most of your favorite fruits and veggies.
www.youtube.com/playlist
Young child holding a smartphone horizontally; overlay: "Tech time for young children" and Illinois Extension logo.
If you’re wondering how to find a healthy balance with screens at home, you’re not alone.
✅Explore strategies that support learning, connection, and healthy habits for young children.
extension.illinois.edu/blogs/family-files/2026-...
Recent dust storms have prompted researchers to take a closer look at farming practices. A new study found that reducing tillage can maintain soybean yields and lower costs
Hand holding basket of fresh vegetables; announcement: Gardening on a Budget class offered in April and September.
Starting a container garden can benefit your budget and be a fruitful hobby that satisfies your taste buds. Learn about the start-up expenses for a container garden and plan your produce to supplement your budget.
Register at extension.illinois.edu/events/2026-04-14-garden...
Teal push lawn mower, lawn rake, open bag of granular fertilizer, and a yellow sprinkler resting on a lush green lawn.
Early spring means lawn care across Illinois. #GoodGrowing explores tips and timing for spring lawn care tasks
🔗 Read Spring Lawn Care: What Should You Really Be Doing at extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2026-...
Morel mushroom infographic with photo: saprophytic fungus, three Illinois species, wild-foraged, appears in March.
It's morel mushroom season – if you know, you know. ...But what if you don't know?!
• Morels are saprophytic fungi; they feed on dead trees
• They have to be foraged
• Illinois is home to 3 species
More at extension.illinois.edu/news-releases/spring-bri...
University of Illinois Extension staff gathered in the state Capitol on March 25 to showcase how Extension and Illinois 4-H strengthen communities statewide.
Read more: extension.illinois.edu/news-releases/illinois-e...
Sun-dappled woodland with tall thin trees, green understory vegetation and a leaf-littered forest floor.
Tall green grass leading to a sunlit deciduous forest; a gray-green backpack lies partially hidden in the grass at right.
Leafless forest with a roughly circular patch of charred ground dotted with small white survey flags.
Oak trees are a keystone species in Illinois forests. New research shows that doing more prescribed burns in forests with invasive grasses helps young trees thrive! 🌳
extension.illinois.edu/news-releases/frequent-p...
In this episode of the Good Growing Podcast, Chris and Ken are sharing their all-time favorite signs of spring — from crocus and daffodils to magnolias, peonies, and those magical woodland blooms that pop up when you least expect them.
▶️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGihbSjXDi8
Invasive species are everywhere. So how can you keep track of them to try to control them?
EDDMaps is an online mapping system anyone can use to report invasive species.
Grain bin interior at floor level with corn and title text reading Stand Up 4 Grain Safety Week, Mar 30–Apr 3, Illinois Extension, and an orange University of Illinois I-Block logo.
Pouring grain background with large warning text reading never enter a grain bin without safety equipment, Illinois Extension, and an orange University of Illinois I-Block logo.
Grain flowing background with overlaid text reading Have a safe method for removing clogged grain, Illinois Extension, and an orange University of Illinois I-Block logo.
Never enter a bin with flowing grain warning text over the background of flowing grain, Illinois Extension, and an orange University of Illinois I-Block logo.
It only takes seconds for a life-changing moment or accident. Whether in the field, driving equipment, or working around grain bins, prioritizing safety saves lives. #StandUp4GrainSafetyWeek!
🔗 Handling Out-of-Condition Grain: https://grainsafety.web.illinois.edu/
Wildlife are faced with many natural predators - foxes, coyotes, hawks.
But one unnatural predator that takes a large toll are free roaming cats, because even a well-fed cat will kill birds and small mammals.
Leafy park scene with text "Why detecting invasive species early matters" and Illinois Extension logo.
When new invasive species show up, responding quickly is key to containing them. One way the Midwest Invasive Plant Network tracks potential new invasions is by recruiting public gardens to track plants that escape from where they were planted.
More at https://go.illinois.edu/everydayenvironment
Pink piggy bank among fresh vegetables with text: 7 tips to stay nourished on any budget (Illinois Extension)
This week, learn how to stretch your food dollars while still putting nutritious meals on the table.
🎧Listen to learn more extension.illinois.edu/podcasts/wellness-wake-c...
Hand holding a pink breast cancer ribbon above poster text about lifestyle factors affecting cancer risk, Illinois Extension logo
🎙️Tune in to learn how assessing your nutrition, physical activity, and other behaviors can help you lower your risk of cancer and build a healthier future.
extension.illinois.edu/podcasts/wellness-wake-c...
Doris Kelley Christopher Illinois Extension Center 🚧
The space will bring programs together under one roof, featuring flexible classrooms, a demonstration kitchen, teaching gardens, and innovative spaces for hands-on learning.
More: extension.illinois.edu/global/christopher-extension-center.
Five people, including one person carrying a child in their arms and two others holding hands, walk through a grassy field toward a herd of grazing cattle.
On National Agriculture Day and every day, always check on the people in your life who call agriculture home. #AgDay2026
🔗 Farm Economic Stress Resources: extension.illinois.edu/news-releases/illinois-e...
Forest with white-flowering trees; cover about invasive plant regulations, Illinois Extension and program logos.
From regulations to removal, many tools can help slow the spread of harmful invasive species. Get a breakdown of Illinois invasive species rules:
• Blog: extension.illinois.edu/blogs/everyday-environme...
• Podcast: extension.illinois.edu/podcasts/everyday-enviro...