University of Illinois Extension service copes with cuts
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Agriculture may be the state’s biggest industry but the number of agricultural specialists in Illinois has declined dramatically over the past 25 years.
The University of Illinois Extension service that had 92 state specialists in 1986 is down to 15 today, noted Bob Hoeft, who heads the Extension program.
State budget cuts have reduced both the number of Extension offices and personnel over the past two years. There are now 27 multicounty Extension units across the state, down from 76.
In about two years, the number of Extension educators has gone from 250 to 125, said Earl Allen, who heads one of those multicounty units that includes Peoria, Tazewell, Mason and Fulton counties. Peoria Journal Star
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