Field Advisor

Join us for the latest episode of the ILSoyAdvisor podcast with your host Kelsey Litchfield, from the Illinois Soybean Association. In this episode, we sit down with Stephanie Porter, an outreach agronomist and certified crop adviser, to dive into the challenges and highlights of the 2023 growing season. From the drought to the unexpected derecho in June, we explore the weather conditions that impacted various regions in Illinois. Tune in to hear about the challenges growers faced in weed management, disease and insect pressure, environmental conditions, and more. Don't miss this comprehensive recap of the 2023 growing season on the ILSoyAdvisor podcast.

In this podcast episode, we hear from three agronomists with updates on soybean and corn harvest and their concerns for the upcoming season. Bayer Agronomist, Jim Donnelly, shares recent rains have delayed harvest, but soybean yields are generally in the 70s with some reports in the 60s and 80s. Crystal Williams, Illinois Soy Envoy and Pioneer Agronomist, notes that while rainfall has caused some delays, early soybean planting has been beneficial for yields. Steve Wilkens with Golden Harvest emphasizes the importance of learning from this year's experiences and reports that yields have exceeded expectations.

Their main concerns from the past growing season include issues with white mold. Looking ahead to spring, Jim highlights the need for soil testing and addressing low potassium levels observed from the dry growing season. Steve is concerned about herbicides and weed control, emphasizing the importance of managing the seed bank and using cover crops effectively. Crystal shares concerns about weed management and corn rootworm control, echoing Steve's recommendations for sticky traps in both corn and soybean fields. Additionally, all three agronomists stress the importance of not discounting the use of residual herbicides despite their performance in this unusual growing season. They encourage farmers to continue using residuals and prevent weed emergence. Tune in to gain valuable agronomic insight! 

Kelsey Litchfield discusses the agronomy headlines of the week from ILSoyAdvisor.com. In this episode, she shares a harvest update from the Illinois Soy Envoys, explore the weather outlook for the remainder of harvest, examine the impact of cover crops on soybean growth during the 2023 season, discuss the effort to oppose the EPA Herbicide Strategy, and much more.

All of these articles are available on ILSoyAdvisor.com underneath the “In the Field” tab in the Field Notes blog. You can also subscribe to our e-newsletter and get these posts straight to your inbox on Monday morning. Go to ILSoyAdvisor.com and scroll all the way to the bottom of the homepage under newsletter sign-up. 

This year's harvest has brought a wide range of yields so far, from disappointing to outstanding, in both soybeans and corn. The Illinois Soy Envoys offer a wide-ranging harvest report, covering yield assessments from various regions across the state. In addition, they provide insights into the growing season, addressing challenges such as insects, disease, and weed problems in both corn and soybean crops. The Envoys also share their concerns and thoughts for the upcoming spring.