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 blight, red crown rot, and sudden death syndrome (SDS), emphasizing accurate diagnosis and the role of ...
Jul 10, 2025•35 min•Ep. 51
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 trends and fungicide strategies, including comparisons between generic and branded products and the econo...
Jun 26, 2025•41 min•Ep. 50
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....
Jun 19, 2025•36 min•Ep. 49
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 weather and severe storm outbreaks, and includes a global outlook on drought risks, particularly in East...
Jun 09, 2025•18 min•Ep. 48
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, postemergence weed control, and weather-induced variability in crop development. The group also addres...
Jun 05, 2025•30 min•Ep. 47
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 technologies like drones in modern ag practices....
May 29, 2025•52 min•Ep. 46
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 Illinois laws that could impact your farm....
May 21, 2025•38 min•Ep. 45
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 conversation covers replanting considerations, the importance of scouting for weeds, and why farmers s...
May 15, 2025•34 min•Ep. 44
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 recommendations on managing yields, specialty products, and why it’s important for farmers to focus on their own f...
May 08, 2025•57 min•Ep. 43
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 placement, and how tech tools like drones are changing the game in scouting and yield estimation....
May 01, 2025•38 min•Ep. 42
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.
Apr 25, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 41
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 patterns we’re seeing in 2025....
Apr 22, 2025•19 min•Ep. 40
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.
Apr 17, 2025•44 min•Ep. 39
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 at the best time to tissue test soybeans to get a clearer picture of nutrient needs and increase yi...
Apr 10, 2025•42 min•Ep. 38
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.
Apr 05, 2025•5 min•Ep. 37
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.
Apr 03, 2025•26 min•Ep. 36
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 trends in severe weather, including derechos and tornadoes, and provides analysis into the upcoming sp...
Mar 19, 2025•35 min•Ep. 35
In this episode of Field Advisor, host Kelsey Litchfield discusses the upcoming 2025 growing season with agronomists Eric Beckett and Karen Corrigan. They explore the critical role of agronomists in providing unbiased information to farmers, the biases that exist within agricultural recommendations, and the importance of data-driven decisions in crop consulting. As they prepare for the upcoming spring planting season, they emphasize the need for good agronomy practices and the importance of safe...
Mar 05, 2025•40 min•Ep. 34
In this final growing season update, the IL Soy Envoys recap the top agronomic challenges of 2024 and share primary concerns for farmers heading into 2025. They discuss how early-season stressors influenced harvest yields, weed control issues, the yield hit of late spot spraying, and the challenges of fall soil testing. The Envoys also address rising fertilizer costs, the effects of corn aphids on yields, and concerns about dry conditions and warm temperatures for fall anhydrous applications. Th...
Oct 24, 2024•37 min•Ep. 33
In this episode, the IL Soy Envoys share yield reports from their regions, highlighting a wide range of results in both soybeans and corn, with many areas seeing strong yields overall. They also cover important fall topics, including soybean header loss, soil pH and lime application, the impact of planting dates on yield, soil moisture and dryness concerns, a disease update, and more. Links Mentioned in This Episode: “ The Hidden Power of Lime: Why pH Matters to Production ” by Kelly Robertson, ...
Oct 10, 2024•36 min•Ep. 32
In this episode, the IL Soy Envoys examine the current conditions of soybean and corn crops, highlighting how recent rains have enhanced moisture levels in soybeans. They review yield reports, noting variability in both corn and soybeans, with some areas experiencing lower yields due to seasonal stresses, along with reports of cercospora leaf blight and ear rot disease. The conversation also covers 2025 input planning for fertilizer and weed control. Links Mentioned in This Episode: · “The Bronz...
Sep 26, 2024•20 min•Ep. 31
In this episode, Kelsey Litchfield is joined by John Howell, a farmer from Monroe and Randolph counties in Illinois and president of the Illinois Wheat Association. They start by examining the 2024 winter wheat crop and the challenges it presented this year. Despite strong yields, they were slightly lower than those in 2023. John also shares his perspective of why Illinois wheat growers are seeing steady improvements in winter wheat yields. The discussion shifts to double-crop soybeans, highligh...
Sep 18, 2024•36 min•Ep. 30
In this episode, the IL Soy Envoys discuss early harvest reports and plans for the next growing season. Soybeans are maturing quickly, and while some harvests have started with strong early yields, concerns about dry beans and a long season persist. There are reports of white mold, stalk rot, and anthracnose, but tar spot isn’t a major issue. The IL Soy Envoys seeing a wide range of yields, and despite some wet areas, a big crop is expected. Questions around lime, fertility, and soil tests are i...
Sep 11, 2024•23 min•Ep. 29
They say a picture is worth a thousand words—so let’s dive in! The IL Soy Envoys share their most intriguing photos from the 2024 growing season, discussing what’s happening in each shot and the lessons learned. Plus, they bring you the latest weekly crop report straight from the field. If you'd like to see the photos from today's episode, click here to watch here on YouTube. The guests in today’s podcast include Eric Beckett, Illini FS; Craig Grafton, Bayer Crop Science; Karen Corrigan, McGilli...
Aug 22, 2024•30 min•Ep. 28
USDA-NASS forecasts yields of 225 for corn and 66 for soybeans in Illinois, but are the IL Soy Envoys seeing this potential in their fields? Listen as they share crop conditions, discussing the possible need for a second fungicide pass, and addressing reports of tar spot, SDS, white mold, and more. The guests in today’s podcast include Craig Grafton, Bayer Crop Science; Karen Corrigan, McGillicuddy Corrigan Agronomics; and Drew Beckman, Beck’s Hybrids. Today’s podcast was hosted by Kelsey Litchf...
Aug 15, 2024•18 min•Ep. 27
Rainfall continues across Illinois, with some areas welcoming the moisture while others face potential excess. The IL Soy Envoys discuss this issue, along with disease pressure and the looming threat of tar spot. They urge farmers to continue scouting their fields and to assess corn pollination progress to avoid surprises during harvest. Additionally, they report sightings of stinkbugs in soybean fields and potential pod feeding. Tune in to today’s podcast for more details. The guests in today’s...
Aug 01, 2024•17 min•Ep. 26
Corn leaf aphids are invading corn fields, and wet conditions are leading to an increase in disease. The IL Soy Envoys discuss these challenges, sharing insights on disease and insect pressure, along with other field reports. The guests in today’s podcast include Shelby Weckel, Ehler Bros Seed; Eric Beckett, Illini FS; Craig Grafton, Bayer Crop Science; Karen Corrigan, McGillicuddy Corrigan Agronomics; and Drew Beckman, Beck’s Hybrids. Today’s podcast was hosted by Kelsey Litchfield, Agronomic O...
Jul 25, 2024•22 min•Ep. 25
Illinois experienced significant rainfall this week, including a derecho that brought substantial precipitation to several areas. How will this impact the crops? Our Soy Envoys share their insights on the situation, along with updates on fungicide applications, pollination challenges, corn leaf aphids, soybean diseases, and more. *Editor’s note – We experienced some technological difficulties during this episode. We apologize for the choppy audio.* The guests in today’s podcast include Kelly Rob...
Jul 18, 2024•28 min•Ep. 24
We're halfway through the growing season, and many farmers are considering whether to apply fungicide despite low commodity prices. What do our IL Soy Envoys and Certified Crop Advisers have to say on the matter? Tune in to this episode as they share their latest crop updates, rainfall reports from Hurricane Beryl, predictions for a record crop in Illinois, and more! The guests in today’s podcast include Drew Beckman, Beck’s Hybrids; Eric Beckett, Illini FS; and Kelly Robertson, Precision Crop S...
Jul 11, 2024•27 min•Ep. 23
After a week's break, the IL Soy Envoys have returned to provide their latest field reports. They cover precipitation levels—or the lack thereof in some regions—and discuss the emergence of tar spot and other potential diseases. Additionally, they provide updates on corn rootworm, Japanese beetles, and other significant field developments. The guests in today’s podcast include Kelly Robertson, Precision Crop Services, LLC; Shelby Weckel, Ehler Bros Seed; Eric Beckett, Illini FS; Craig Grafton, B...
Jul 02, 2024•30 min•Ep. 22
