Field Advisor

IL Soy Envoy Brandon Hall of West Central FS in Knox County discusses POST applications and how weather conditions have made weed control more difficult.

IL Soy Envoy and Beck's Hybrids agronomy education lead, Matt Montgomery, shares observations from scouting soybean fields in central IL. 

IL Soy Envoy Tim Laatsch, certified crop adviser and owner and president of Field Hawk Ag Research LLC, shares a corn and soybean crop progress report from Effingham County and discusses wheat conditions, disease pressure and corn replant considerations.

Illinois Soy Envoy Jamie Horton reports from Jefferson and Perry counties, where March‑planted soybeans are already flowering and rainfall totals differ sharply between areas.

Stephanie Porter of Illinois Soybean Association and Rachel Vann of the University of Illinois round up their recommendations on soybean replanting thresholds, including stand assessment and yield potential. 

Field report discussing evaluating soybeans after a frost or freeze and considerations for re-planting. 

Rachel Vann, associate professor of cropping systems at the University of Illinois and Science for Success coordinator, outlines what growers should evaluate before replanting soybeans. Listen to the full episode on FieldAdvisor.org! 

On this episode of the Field Advisor podcast, host Kelsey Litchfield talks with Dr. Rachel Vann , associate professor of cropping systems at the University of Illinois and Science for Success coordinator, and Stephanie Porter , CCA, outreach agronomist with the Illinois Soybean Association. The guests dig into early‑season soybean management, from planting‑time decisions and replant strategies to...

In this episode of Field Advisor, atmospheric scientist Matt Reardon of Nutrien Ag Solutions breaks down a volatile spring across Illinois, including record tornado activity and a rapid shift from drought to excess moisture that has delayed planting. He explains what drove April’s extreme weather, what to expect through May, and how a developing El Niño could influence summer conditions.

In this episode, IL Soy Envoys Matt Montgomery, CCA, with Beck’s Hybrids and Scott Krone with GDM Seeds join Illinois Soybean Association agronomist Stephanie Porter , CCA, to provide a regional crop update across Illinois. The discussion covers current planting progress and how recent weather patterns are influencing field conditions, including frost events and the potential for early-season soyb...

In this episode, Mike Wilson, CCA, specialty products marketing manager with Wabash Valley Service Company, joins Kelsey from southeastern Illinois with a boots-on-the-ground update from the field. He discusses emerging soybeans, current drought conditions, and how weather is influencing planting progress across the region. Mike also shares perspective on fertilizer prices, cautions against cuttin...

In this episode, Sunrise FS agronomist Eric Beckett, CCA, examines how increasing weather variability is reshaping agronomic decision making across the Midwest. He discusses the need to reassess traditional tillage and nutrient application strategies to improve efficiency, soil health and risk management under windier conditions. Beckett also addresses the rapid adoption of drone-based application...

In this episode, Illinois Soybean Association Agronomist Stephanie Porter , CCA, discusses current field conditions and drought concerns, along with considerations around soybean seed quality, input costs and the economic factors shaping on farm decisions. She also covers soybean planting recommendations, seeding populations, seed treatments and weed management strategies for the 2026 growing seas...

Early soybean planting can boost yield potential, but it also brings added risk. This episode features Logan Miller, research specialist in weed science at the University of Illinois, discussing his IL Soybean checkoff-funded research evaluating which preemergence (PRE) herbicides are more likely to cause crop injury in early planted soybeans. Miller explains how cold, wet conditions impact herbic...

In this episode of the Field Advisor podcast, Matt Reardon, senior atmospheric scientist at Nutrien Ag Solutions, discusses what Illinois farmers can expect as winter transitions into spring. He breaks down ongoing drought conditions, the 14-day outlook for rainfall, and how El Niño may influence weather patterns throughout the growing season. The conversation also covers severe weather preparedne...

In this episode of Field Advisor, Kelsey sits down with Wisconsin-based crop consultant Kyle Stull of Stull Agronomy to discuss how today’s marketing environment is influencing on-farm decision making and return on investment. With constant exposure to new products, free trials and influencer recommendations, how can growers separate what truly pays from what is simply popular? Kelsey and Kyle exp...

New dicamba rules. Farm Bill uncertainty. And a packed legislative agenda in Springfield. In this episode of Field Advisor, Kevin Johnson (KJ), director of government relations and strategy at the Illinois Soybean Association, joins Kelsey Litchfield to break down the latest dicamba news from the EPA, pesticide legislation to watch in Springfield, and other policy issues Illinois farmers should be...

Dr. Matthew Vann , associate dean and director of University of Illinois Extension, stopped by the Field Advisor Podcast booth at the Farm Progress Show to talk about the path that led him to Illinois. A native of rural Florida and graduate of NC State, Dr. Vann shares how his upbringing and academic journey shaped his career and what inspired his move to Illinois. Hear his perspective on leadersh...

How can Illinois farmers more easily find clear, reliable information about conservation programs and practices? In this episode of the Field Advisor podcast, guests Jean Brokish and Kris Reynolds , CCA, discuss how the Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership (ISAP) helps farmers connect to resources and peer-to-peer learning opportunities. The conversation also highlights the mission of American Farm...

John Pike joins this Field Advisor episode to share his recommendations for getting started with cover crops. He offers practical examples, discusses the early benefits farmers often see, and explains how to think about cover crops as part of the corn-soybean system.

In this episode, the IL Soy Envoys break down the current state of harvest across Illinois, sharing yield reports, regional trends, and how ongoing drought conditions are shaping results. They also provide updates on cover crop seeding (and no, not the “free kind” already growing in the field!) and discuss fall burndown along with the challenges of applying anhydrous ammonia in dry soils. The conv...

Red crown rot is increasingly recognized as a serious issue in soybean production, but many questions remain. In this Field Advisor episode, Syngenta’s Dale Ireland, University of Illinois plant pathologist Boris Camiletti, and Illinois Soybean Association outreach agronomist Stephanie Porter discuss early detection, management strategies, environmental influences, varietal responses, and how soil...

In this episode of the Field Advisor podcast, released in recognition of National Nematode Day , host Kelsey Litchfield sits down with three experts to tackle one of the biggest threats to soybean yields: soybean cyst nematode (SCN). Joining the conversation are Dr. Horacio Lopez-Nicora , assistant professor of soybean pathology and nematology at The Ohio State University; Dr. Dylan Mangel , exten...

Eliot Clay , executive director of the Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and Andrew Larson , director of government relations and strategy at the Illinois Soybean Association, join the Field Advisor podcast to talk about the critical role of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) in Illinois. Together, they explore the history and importance of local conservatio...

IL Soy Envoys Matt Montgomery, CCA, of Beck’s Hybrids, Seth Wiley of Babson Farms, and Byron Hendrix, CCA, of Agronomy 1st LLC join the podcast to share harvest updates from across Illinois. They dig into the biggest headlines from the field—including how 2025 shaped up as a strong fungicide response year, with some corn fields showing 20–30 bushel yield advantages where foliar fungicides were app...