Field Advisor

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 should stay committed to their management plans while adjusting to changing field conditions.

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 fields—not someone else’s. He also reflects on the value of family, staying curious, and always improving.

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. 

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 patterns we’re seeing in 2025.

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 at the best time to tissue test soybeans to get a clearer picture of nutrient needs and increase yields. He talks about some of the challenges with tissue testing, how soybeans move nutrients through the plant, and how farmers and researchers working together can turn data into practice on their fields. 

If you’ve ever questioned the value of tissue testing, this episode offers practical information to help you decide what works best for your farm.

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 trends in severe weather, including derechos and tornadoes, and provides analysis into the upcoming spring weather forecasts and seasonal outlooks. The conversation also touches on soil moisture concerns, the impact of snow and freeze-thaw cycles, and the role of AI in weather forecasting.