News You Can Use

BETSEY EMERICK | AT-LARGE DIRECTOR | ILLINOIS SOYBEAN ASSOCIATION

As a farmer, I know it’s hard to find unbiased tools to help you filter through actionable and timely advice that's specific to your land in Illinois. Some people are trying to sell you stuff, some people have ulterior motives, but very few resources are targeted at simply helping us farmers make the best decisions for our fields.

Lucky for me, and all Illinois farmers, ILSoyAdvisor.com does just that. I’m grateful for the valuable resource that is powered by the Illinois Soybean Association’s in-house agronomy team as well as experts from the University of Illinois Extension program, our network of Illinois researchers, and other agronomic experts from the Soy Envoy program.

One tool from the site that I use frequently is the Online Crop Report. It compiles data and breaks the state into six regions to help farmers like me best understand what is going on in my area. This is helpful because something that worked for a farmer up north isn’t necessarily the best solution for my farm in the Vandalia area. All the relevant information that will impact my specific crops is right at my fingertips.

Another resource provided by ILSoyAdvisor is the wide array of research that is funded through ISA. From soil health research to plant pathology and everything in-between, our collaborative research colleagues are investigating exactly what farmers want, and need to know. The information found at ILSoyAdvisor.com is targeted toward helping farmers make educated decisions based on science-backed data, eliminating any guess-work from the decision making process. I personally like knowing what I’m putting into my crops and this research does a great job of breaking that down for me.

This is also a great site to read blog articles from industry experts such as the 2023 Class of Soy Envoys. These seven individuals have covered a full range of topics, answering the questions we all have from the field. Karen Corrigan wrote a fantastic blog covering her own “Go To” agronomy resources, Kris Ehler wrote a fascinating blog on crop insurance, and Leo Rocha is working on a soybean pathology series. Good stuff!

Have questions about carbon? ILSoyAdvisor.com has you covered there, too, with the CarbonSense program which helps describe carbon sequestration and how to enroll in the right program for your operation.

ISA is meeting farmers like me out in the field, making sure we get the timely, actionable, and unbiased information we need to have the most profitable season possible. From one farmer to another, I encourage you to check out this information that will keep you competitive in the marketplace. You won’t regret it. Happy Growing!