University of Illinois Extension

Dry, warm temperatures and high gusty wind conditions severely raise the risk of fires and dust storms. Stay alert and safe while working and traveling around Illinois this week.  Use and share these resources to help stay informed, from the farm to traveling the highways and everywhere in between.  🔗 10.30 National Weather Service Alert: https://lnkd.in/gYRTweAM 🔗 Taming the Dust: Proven Practices to Combat Erosion and Dust Storms in Central Illinois: https://lnkd.in/gQ5KW4rH 🔗 Download the Farm Fire Risks and Prevention Fact Sheet at https://lnkd.in/gNq_4CNe

A lack of water drainage and soil conservation practices in agricultural operations can weigh heavily on overall farm profitability and sustainability over time if not managed. Professionals from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Illinois Extension are partnering up for an exclusive, two-day agriculture workshop, Integrated Water Management for Farmers and Landowners, on Nov. 6 and 7 at the Farm Credit Illinois Regional Office at 1100 Farm Credit Dr., Mahomet. Presentation topics include the basics of integrated water management, soil drainage, conservation, nutrient loss reduction strategy, surface runoff, erosion, and more. The cost to attend is $15 and includes lunch on both days for those who register by Nov. 1. 🔗Read more: https://lnkd.in/gNUyRheQ 🔗 Find the full agenda, including expanded topics, presenters, and registration at https://lnkd.in/grgehUsa.

Celebrate autumn on campus with a new sustainable art exhibit at the Red Oak Rain Garden @raingardenUIUC This October, the “Illuminating Art in Nature” exhibit connects art, nature, and sustainability with a display of art student sculptures and jack-o'-lanterns. 🎃 Visit the garden from 6-9 pm on Oct. 29-30 to see the exhibit and learn how to make your seasonal celebrations zero waste. Link in bio to learn more! #RainGarden #NativePlants

Celebrate autumn on campus with a new sustainable art exhibit at the Red Oak Rain Garden! This October, the “Illuminating Art in Nature” exhibit connects art, nature, and sustainability with a display of art student sculptures and jack-o'-lanterns. 🎃 Visit the garden from 6-9 pm on Oct. 29-30 to see the exhibit and learn how to make your seasonal celebrations zero waste.

Severe drought and current environmental conditions have the Midwest on alert as fire risks and events are higher than usual as harvest gets closer to wrapping up across the state. Environmental conditions of little precipitation, low soil moisture, low relative humidity, high wind, and high-temperature increase risk and danger. Steps for fire preparedness, especially during high-risk harvest, include checking the weather forecast, knowing the exact field identification and address, access to water, fire extinguishers, fire blankets, and equipment to create potential fire breaks, maintaining, clean, and monitor equipment for fire potential, smoke detectors in buildings with alerts connected to a phone, and always have a plan for all livestock. 🔗 Stay up to date on current drought conditions with Illinois Water Survey at https://lnkd.in/gbXj2jaZ 🔗 Download the Farm Fire Risks and Prevention Fact Sheet at https://lnkd.in/gNq_4CNe

The Legal Training for Illinois Small Farms webinar series returns to continue assisting farmers with the tools and resources needed to answer to the needs of their farms. Whether in grain, livestock, specialty crops, or hobby farms, everyone can strengthen their business through sessions and tools provided by Illinois Extension’s local food systems and small farms in partnership with Farm Commons. Understanding legal issues can dispel anxiety and help farmers realize their power to control their circumstances. Four free sessions are planned, with the first on Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. 2024-2025 sessions include: Oct. 22: Business Structure Basics Dec. 16: Forming an LLC March 17: Land Leasing Basics June 23: Farm Property Insurance 🔗 Register for Oct. 22 Business Structure Basics: https://lnkd.in/gaZaU5VP 🔗 Read and register for each session of the Legal Training for Illinois Small Farms series at: https://lnkd.in/gaXaA9Ru

Energy needs and resources are changing across Illinois. Stay up to date on funding resources and available programs with the new Thriving Communities newsletter. Subscribe at https://lnkd.in/gPSRnhSg. The Thriving Communities Initiative is a cross-programmatic University of Illinois Extension team that supports communities that have been disproportionately burdened by environmental hazards and historically have not had the resources to apply for environmental, climate, or energy-related grants. Services they offer: • Grant opportunity exploration and identification. • Partnership coordination and meeting facilitation. • Strategic planning sessions and workshops. • Educational materials, including fact sheets and guides. Questions? Looking for more information? Contact Linda Derhak, lderhak2@illinois.edu, or Lisa Merrifield, lmorrisn@illinois.edu

Against the backdrop of a beautiful autumn filled with migrating birds and blooming goldenrod, more than 150 Master Naturalists gathered the last week of September in west central Illinois to connect and gain new skills at the annual conference. Read more about the Master Naturalist conference and program at https://lnkd.in/gXW8DJ4h. The Illinois Extension Master Naturalist volunteer program brings positive change to natural areas across the state. Learn how you can get involved at extension.illinois.edu/MN.

Having skills to scout farm fields allows us to better understand what is happening with crop growth or yield stealers, including diseases, insects, and weeds. Youth are gaining and strengthening those skills by competing with a team in crop scouting competitions. Both the Wesclin and Pontiac FFA teams advanced to represent Illinois at the 2024 Regional Youth Crop Scouting Competition in Minnesota this fall. The two Illinois youth teams competed with teams from Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Kentucky. After a competitive contest, Pontiac FFA tied to finish fourth, with Wesclin finishing in 13th. Both teams took away a lot from the trip and the experience of competing together as a team. Shoutout to all of the teams who participated in this year’s contests, and we look forward to next year. 🔗 Wesclin and Pontiac FFA youth crop teams advance to represent Illinois at regionals in Minnesota: https://lnkd.in/gZfPiRKx

Whether the midwest is on high-fire risk like now or just every day for safety first, here are a few daily things to check before heading out to the combine: Check the weather forecast. Conditions are dry and windy, wait. Ensure the farm address is clearly visible from the road. Always know the exact field identification and location. Access to water, fire extinguishers, and fire blankets. Access to equipment to create potential fire breaks. Maintain, clean, and monitor equipment for fire potential. Smoke detectors in buildings with alerts connected to a phone. Have a plan for all livestock. Feel safer and know how to prepare for high-fire risk conditions with tips from climate and agricultural safety experts at Illinois, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and Nebraska Extension, Illinois State Water Survey, US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS), NOAA National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS), and EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, ILLINOIS. 🔗 Find more risks around the farm, building and storage, environmental contributors, and steps for preparedness by downloading the fact sheet at https://lnkd.in/gNq_4CNe.