URBANA, Ill. - The 2019 Certified Livestock Manager Training workshops, will be held in 11 locations throughout the state, beginning Jan. 30 in Springfield and concluding Feb. 28 back in Springfield. The University of Illinois Extension workshops provide Illinois livestock producers the manure management training they need to meet the requirements of the state's Livestock Management Facilities Act.

URBANA, Ill. – Speakers from University of Illinois Extension and the farmdoc team from the U of I Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics will explore topics such as the 2019 outlook for crop and livestock prices, the farm profitability outlook and management challenges, the next farm bill, long-term trends in grain prices, and prospects for farmland values at the 2018 Illinois Farm Economics Summit in December.

The following are reflections from Martin Overholt, a PhD student in Food Science and Human Nutrition, on his research project,  which was partially funded by an ACES International Graduate Grant: “Determination of sources of variability in pork quality in the Dutch swine production system." Martin's advisor is Dr. Anna Dilger. 

The following are reflections from Luis Ibarra Sanchez, a PhD student in Food Science and Human Nutrition, on his research project, which was partially funded by an ACES International Graduate Grant: “The effect of adding antimicrobials to Queso Fresco on Latino consumers’ acceptance." Luis's advisor is Dr. Michael Miller. 

The following are reflections from Hania Taha, a PhD student in Food Science and Human Nutrition, on her research project partially funded by an ACES International Graduate Grant: “Feasibility of a neoadjuvant modified-ketogenic diet clinical trial to improve cancer outcomes in gastrointestinal and head and neck cancers." Hania's advisor is Dr. Anna Arthur.

The following are reflections from LaKisha David, a PhD student in Human Development and Family Studies, on her research project, which was partially funded by an ACES International Graduate Grant: “Northern Ghana Family Reunification Project.” LaKisha's advisor is Dr. Christy Lleras.

As the world we live in becomes increasingly global and internationalized, there is a profound opportunity for curriculum and instruction to evolve internationally as well. One highlight of this is the Arlys Conrad International Teaching Enhancement Award Program, supported through the College of ACES and the ACES Study Abroad Office. This endowed seed grant opportunity has allowed ACES faculty to better serve students with global experiences and build new programs to bridge the international gap, create partnerships abroad, and bring cultural elements into curriculum.

URBANA, Ill. – Dormant winter pruning always leaves a mess of trimmings that end up being composted or placed in your yard bin. But there is another use for those trimmings: plant clones.

“Plant propagation is the science and practice of creating new plants,” said Bruce J. Black, University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator. “Creating new plants can be done with woody trees and shrubs or softer, herbaceous plants.”

URBANA, Ill. – Of the nine Illinois researchers recently recognized by Clarivate Analytics as Highly Cited Researchers, three are affiliated with the Department of Crop Sciences in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. They include Elizabeth (Lisa) Ainsworth, Stephen Long, and Donald Ort.

Six undergraduate students from the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) attended the annual World Food Prize in Des Moines, Iowa during October. This three-day event is known as “the premier conference in the world on global agriculture.”

The selected students, whose registration and travel were sponsored by the ACES Office of International Programs and the ACES Office of Academic Programs, included (left to right in photo):