“I want to create something so unique that it will captivate experts and keep everyday people coming back,” said Bradley “Brad” Beam, an entrepreneurial winemaker from Illinois. Since founding Spoon River Junction in 2020, Beam has kept this mission a central focus of his efforts. Yet his journey toward innovative success and passion for winemaking began years earlier.

What if farmers could not only prevent excess phosphorus from polluting downstream waterways, but also recycle that nutrient as a slow-release fertilizer, all without spending a lot of money? In a first-of-its-kind field study, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign researchers show it’s possible and economical. 

Climbing the well-worn marble stairs, one cannot help but think of the generations of students and faculty who have tread these hallowed halls. Mumford Hall has been called the heartbeat of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. Home to the dean, administrative offices, and the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics, it is the flagship of ACES. 

Germán Bollero, dean of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty for the sake of science.

Jordyn Chace is a huge fan of classic murder mysteries. As a geneticist and wildlife biologist, she considers herself an investigator.

But instead of solving human crimes, she uncovers clues that may help contribute to the recovery of a once-common North American mammal: the little brown bat, Myotis lucifugus, a species now on the brink of extinction.

The College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has named Professor Mary Arends-Kuenning as the associate dean for international programs. This decision follows a period of careful evaluation of her leadership and contributions while serving as acting and interim associate dean since October 2021.

Using data collected on agricultural machine-related injuries in Pakistan, a team from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is advocating for a safer work environment for farmers around the world.

Just two machines, the fodder cutter and the thresher, were together responsible for 79% of the agricultural machine-related injuries reported in two Pakistani provinces during 2022-2023, many of which caused amputations, according to a study that is detailed in Safety 2024. 

Most corn and soybean fields in the U.S. are planted with herbicide-resistant crop varieties. However, the evolution of superweeds that have developed resistance to common herbicides is jeopardizing current weed management strategies. Agricultural robotics for mechanical weeding is an emerging technology that could potentially provide a solution.

A renowned expert on Indian policy visited the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in October to join discussions on how to best repurpose policies for a sustainable and nutritious future in the world’s most populous country.