ACES expert: How animals are affected by Canadian wildfire smoke
URBANA, Ill. — Livestock and pets may be at risk due to poor air quality from Canadian wildfire smoke, according to animal welfare expert Angela Green-Miller at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Farm stressors affect mental health of adults and adolescent children
URBANA, Ill. — Agriculture is a stressful occupation, and farmers face substantial mental health challenges. Research indicates they often experience higher levels of anxiety and depression compared to the general population, but less is known about the effects on their families. A new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign explores how economic stressors affect the mental health of U.S. farmers and their adolescent children.
Illinois Corn Growers Association scholarship program supports five ACES students
URBANA, Ill. — This year, the Illinois Corn Growers Association (ICGA) awarded five scholarships to undergraduate students, all of whom are part of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
University of Illinois ranked No. 4 in agricultural and biological engineering, moving up three spots
URBANA, Ill. — The agricultural and biological engineering graduate program at the University of Illinois is ranked No. 4 nationwide by U.S. News & World Report, moving up three spots according to the go-to source for higher education rankings.
NIR spectroscopy provides easy, cost-effective method for food allergen testing
URBANA, Ill. – Food allergies pose a significant health risk, resulting in numerous hospitalizations every year, as even trace amounts of allergens can trigger severe reactions. Cross-contamination of food products can happen easily in the production process, so it’s important to have reliable methods of testing for allergens.
Automated agricultural machinery requires new approaches to ensuring safety
URBANA, Ill. — From self-driving tractors to weeding robots and AI-powered data collection, automated machinery is revolutionizing agricultural production. While these technological advancements can greatly improve productivity, they also raise new questions about safety measures and regulations. To address these issues, a recent study from the University of Illinois reviewed current academic literature on the safety of automated agricultural machines.
ABE doctoral student receives prestigious FFAR fellowship
URBANA, Ill. – Caleb Bruhn, doctoral student in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (ABE) at the University of Illinois, has been named as a 2023 Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) fellow. The FFAR Fellows Program prepares the next generation of food and agriculture scientists for the workforce by providing hands-on support and mentoring from the industry.
Toward women and youth’s access to postharvest mechanization in Bangladesh
In observance of Earth Day (April 22), we share work being done by Maria Jones, associate director of the ADM Institute for the Prevention of Postharvest Loss, and Samantha Lindgren, assistant professor in the Department of Education and affiliated faculty member in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering and the Technology Entrepreneurship Center in the Grainger College of Engineering.
By Sam Lindgren, Ghaida Alrawashdeh, and Maria Jones
Center for Digital Agriculture leads undergrad research program on machine learning, AI practices
The Center for Digital Agriculture will lead an on-site Research Experience for Undergraduates program titled “Drivers for Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence Practices (MAPs).”
Winter cover crops could reduce nitrogen in Illinois drainage water by 30%
URBANA, Ill. – As Corn Belt states seek ways to curb nitrogen flow from farms into the Gulf of Mexico, new University of Illinois research adds evidence for winter cover crops as an important part of the solution. A simulation study published in Science of the Total Environment finds widespread planting of cereal rye in Illinois could reduce nitrate in the state’s tile drainage water by 30%.