URBANA, Ill. — University of Illinois Extension is offering tours that provide a behind-the-scenes look at small farms and other unique operations around the state. This year’s schedule of six sustainable agriculture tours represents some of the innovative practices and income-producing solutions being developed.

“Sustainable agriculture looks a little different as each operation develops its own niche products, agritourism opportunities and other enterprises to maintain or supplement farm income,” said Deborah Cavanaugh-Grant, Small Farm and Sustainable Agriculture Extension Specialist who is coordinating the tours. “This year’s tours showcase the creativity of the small farm. And one tour will show a variety of research projects at the U of I Dixon Springs Agricultural Center,” she said. Cavanaugh-Grant said that this is the fifth year she has coordinated the tours.

The first tour will be on May 4 to Spence Farm in Fairbury (www.the spencefarm.com). Marty and Kris Travis are stewards of Spence Farm - the oldest family farm in Livingston County.

Visitors will learn about heirloom crops, heritage breed animals, conservation of natural areas, woodland, management and more. The farm specializes in growing wild ramps or leeks.

Triple S Farms in Stewardson is the location for the second tour on June 14. Triple S is a 200-acre diversified organic operation that produces dozens of varieties of organic vegetables, chickens, turkeys, hogs and cattle, organic dent corn, sweet corn, popcorn, soybeans a