SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The expiration of the Farm Bill is putting the brakes on conservation programs important for many Illinois farmers and ranchers. While the legislation largely stalled over the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the people who grow food and livestock also were impa

URBANA, Ill. — A major endeavor is under way to educate soybean farmers about helping to save honeybees. The Honey Bee Health Coalition this month unveiled a management plan for growers. Adam Dolezal, assistant professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, conducted the research

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- A report that looks in depth at how climate change is robbing crops of nutrition says there will be more hungry people and more suffering due to vitamin deficiencies. Samuel Myers, an environmental health researcher at Harvard's School of Public Health, conducted a study in 20

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Wildlife protection groups are backing a bill that would ban the trapping of bobcats and the sale of their pelts in Illinois. Last year, state lawmakers gave the OK to allow sport hunting of bobcats for the first time in nearly 40 years. Marc Ayers, state director for the Hum

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Advocates of sustainable food are in Springfield today talking about local food policies, as a state Senate committee considers a seed-sharing bill. Supporters of HB 3130 believe it will help protect free, public seed exchanges. According to Illinois Stewardship Alliance, ove

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Conservation groups say Illinois could be using controlled fires more often and more effectively to help protect wildlife habitat and clean up areas that need it. Groups such as the Nature Conservancy cite a new report that shows the state should be burning at least 213,000 acr

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The U.S. Senate on Wednesday blocked a bill that opponents call the DARK Act, or Deny Americans the Right to Know. The bill would have reversed some strict genetically modified food laws that some states already have passed. It also would have prohibited other states from apply

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The population of eagles in Illinois has hit record numbers in recent years, and conservationists are celebrating the bird's success this weekend. The Nature Conservancy will host Eagle Day on Saturday at the Emiquon Preserve and other sites in central Illinois. Jason Beverlin,