The latest climate monitoring station in Illinois is in Coles County, and researchers with Prairie Research Institute have plans to expand the network even more.
Scientists say leaving autumn leaves on the ground can add important nutrients to the soil and create needed habitat for insects.
Soil science is a relatively new field and becoming more critical in the work to keep soil healthy and productive. The discovery of century-old soil samples at a land-grant university could offer big clues into how soil has changed over time.
A soil scientist at the University of Illinois Urbana campus is reaching out to landowners and farmers, as he prepares to take soil samples at locations where samples were taken years ago across the state.