Field Advisor

In this episode of the Field Advisor Podcast , Dr. Connor Sible , research assistant professor in the crop physiology lab at the University of Illinois, discusses his team’s recent work on sulfur trials in soybeans, tissue testing and their impact on crop yield and management. The conversation covers phantom yield loss in corn, harvest challenges and biologicals. Sible also outlines future researc...

Dr. Aaron Hager from the University of Illinois, Kevin “KJ” Johnson of the Illinois Fertilizer & Chemical Association, and Dr. Corey Lacey with the Illinois Soybean Association discuss the latest surrounding pesticide regulation. They break down the current status of dicamba and glyphosate, what the new rules may mean for farmers, and the role of applicator training in ensuring compliance. The...

In this episode of the Field Advisor Podcast , Matt Reardon , Senior Atmospheric Scientist at Nutrien Ag Solutions, breaks down the weather trends shaping agriculture right now. He discusses whether harvest conditions could mirror last year’s dry fall, the impact of current weather on crop health, updates on the ongoing hurricane season, and soil moisture deficits. Reardon also shares his forecast...

At the Farm Progress Show, IL Soy Envoy Byron Hendrix , CCA, and ISA Outreach Agronomist Stephanie Porter , CCA, shared crop updates and observations as harvest approaches. Corn is in good shape thanks to cooler weather, but standability and grain fill remain key concerns. Soybeans are healthy overall, though SDS is showing up in spots, and many fields could use one more rain. Disease pressure is...

In this episode of the Field Advisor Podcast, IL Soy Envoy  Torey Colburn , Midwest Conservation Agronomist with American Farmland Trust, shares an update on crop conditions in Northern Illinois. He discusses soil moisture, disease management, and the approaching window for cover crop seeding. Torey also explores the challenges and advantages of aerial seeding and highlights how cover crops can pl...

In this episode of the Field Advisor Podcast, experts from across Illinois share an inside look at early August crop conditions. Byron Hendrix, CCA, of Agronomy 1st LLC; Stephanie Porter, CCA, of the Illinois Soybean Association; Seth Wiley of Babson Farms; and Mike Wilson, CCA, of Wabash Valley Service Company discuss how weather, disease pressures, and market trends are shaping the 2025 growing...

In this episode of the Field Advisor podcast, Kelsey Litchfield , Stephanie Porter , and Matt Reardon of Nutrien Ag discuss the complexities of weather patterns affecting agriculture in Illinois. They explore the challenges posed by unpredictable rainfall, the impact of heat and moisture on crop health, and the current state of drought and soil moisture. The conversation also explores into the sig...

In this episode of the Field Advisor Podcast, Brandon Hall, CCA and location operations manager at West Central FS, shares an update on crop conditions across Knox County and the West Central Illinois region. He breaks down how timely rains have supported crop growth, while also emphasizing the need to stay ahead of diseases like tar spot. Brandon offers practical advice on fungicide timing, asses...

In this episode of the Field Advisor podcast, Kelsey talks with Illinois Soybean Association Outreach Agronomist Stephanie Porter , CCA, about the soybean diseases farmers should watch for in their fields this growing season. They cover scouting tips, weather impacts, and the importance of timely fungicide applications. Stephanie highlights key diseases such as frogeye leaf spot, septoria leaf bli...

In this episode of the Field Advisor podcast, host Kelsey Litchfield is joined by IL Soy Envoys Seth Wiley (northern Illinois) and Mike Wilson, CCA (southeastern Illinois), for a scouting update on crop and field conditions across the state. They break down the agronomic impact of recent weather extremes—from saturated soils to isolated drought stress. The discussion dives into pest pressure trend...

Host Kelsey Litchfield talks with Kelly Robertson, certified crop adviser and owner of Precision Crop Services, LLC , about the severe rainfall crisis in Southern Illinois. The episode addresses delayed planting, poor crop emergence, increased disease pressure, and crop insurance. The discussion also covers economic strain, mental health concerns among farmers, and the challenges of wheat harvest....

In this episode of the Field Advisor podcast, host Kelsey Litchfield speaks with Matt Reardon , senior atmospheric scientist at Nutrien Ag Solutions, about current weather patterns affecting Illinois. They discuss the frequency of rain events in Southern Illinois along with ongoing drought concerns in the north. The episode also explores the potential influence of tropical systems on regional weat...

In this episode of the Field Advisor podcast, host Kelsey Litchfield is joined by Illinois Soy Envoys Torey Colburn, CCA, with American Farmland Trust; Haley Brokate, CCA, with Illini FS; and Byron Hendrix, CCA, with Agronomy 1st LLC, for an early June agronomic roundtable. The discussion focuses on statewide crop conditions and dives into timely topics including cover crop termination lessons, po...

In this episode, Kelsey Litchfield talks with Matt Montgomery , also known as The Short Bald Agronomist and Agronomy Education Lead at Beck’s Hybrids, about agronomy education, soybean management strategies, and navigating information overload. Topics include disease education (e.g., red crown rot), the role of mentorship, personal branding, people skills, and the integration of emerging technolog...

In this episode of the Field Advisor Podcast, Kelsey Litchfield chats with Kevin Johnson from the Illinois Fertilizer & Chemical Association and Corey Lacey from the Illinois Soybean Association. They break down what farmers need to know about the latest fertilizer and chemical trends, the EPA’s final herbicide and insecticide strategies, Illinois applicator licensing updates, and potential Il...

In this episode of the Field Advisor podcast, host Kelsey Litchfield checks in with Illinois Soy Envoys Seth Wiley in northern Illinois, Matt Montgomery in central and west-central Illinois, and Mike Wilson in southeastern Illinois. They provide updates on soybean and corn planting progress, which varies widely across the state — with some farmers finished and others still waiting to begin. The co...

In this episode of the Field Advisor Podcast, host Kelsey Litchfield chats with Mike Wilson , CCA and Specialty Products Marketing Manager at Wabash Valley Service Company, who brings years of experience in soybean production.  They explore the evolving role of biologicals, why sulfur matters in soybean management, and lessons learned from decades of experience. Mike offers practical recommendatio...

Tune in to this episode of the Field Advisor Podcast as Kelsey Litchfield chats with 2025 IL Soy Envoy Haley Brokate , CCA, from Illini FS to talk agronomy and what’s really happening in the field. From tackling herbicide resistance and staying ahead on weed control to navigating labor shortages, Haley shares her perspective on these issues. They also dig into soybean management strategies, seed p...

The Illinois Soybean Association Agronomy Team hosted a live Q&A session to discuss the 2025 growing season. Abigail Peterson, CCA, Stacy Zuber, PhD, and Stephanie Porter, CCA, discussed what to watch for this season in terms of nutrient management, weed control, cover crops, and much more. 

In this episode of the Field Advisor podcast, Kelsey Litchfield gets a weather update from Matt Reardon , senior atmospheric scientist at Nutrien Ag Solutions. They discuss how this year’s weather patterns are impacting planting season, along with the latest spring forecast, including rainfall, severe weather, and drought risks for the upcoming summer. Plus, Reardon explains the unusual wind patte...

In this episode of the Field Advisor Podcast, host Kelsey Litchfield talks with Byron Hendrix, CCA, owner of Agronomy 1st LLC and 2025 Illinois Soy Envoy. Byron brings his boots-on-the-ground perspective on weed control, herbicide resistance, and soybean management. He also shares why working with a Certified Crop Adviser could be helpful on your farm. 

On this episode of the Field Advisor podcast, Kelsey Litchfield chats with Connor Sible , PhD, research assistant professor at the University of Illinois, about what tissue testing in soybeans can tell us—and whether it's worth the time and money, especially with today’s tighter margins. Connor shares what he’s learned so far from the first year of Illinois soybean checkoff-funded research looking...

This week on Field Advisor, Kelsey Litchfield shares the latest blog updates, including the spring weather outlook, soybean planting recommendations, 2024 soybean disease loss data from the Crop Protection Network, and timely cover crop termination tips.

In this episode of Field Advisor, Kelsey Litchfield and Stephanie Porter, CCA, discuss soybean planting season. They cover the risks associated with early planting, the considerations for no-till planting, adjustments in seeding rates, weed control challenges, seed quality concerns, and crop scouting. 

In this episode of the Field Advisor podcast, Kelsey Litchfield speaks with Matt Reardon, a Senior Atmospheric Scientist at Nutrient Ag Solutions, about the current weather patterns affecting the Midwest, particularly Illinois. They discuss the recent severe storms, the implications for the upcoming growing season and the importance of being prepared for severe weather events. Matt explains the tr...