The People Behind the Platform

The People Behind the Platform

By Jennifer Jones, CCA, ISA Research Agronomist

When an infinite amount of information is available at our fingertips, how can we distinguish trustworthy, unbiased sources from the rest that try and capture our attention? It is important to sort facts from opinions, especially when it comes to making decisions that may impact your farming operation.

Enter CCA, Stephanie Porter, Outreach Agronomist, and Kelsey Litchfield, Agronomic Outreach Coordinator here at the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA).

Stephanie and Kelsey act as the gatekeepers of ILSoyAdvisor.com, which serves as ISA’s online agronomic house of information.

Growers, landowners, Certified Crop Advisers (CCAs), and other agricultural professionals can find information pertaining to every aspect of soybean agronomy on ILSoyAdvisor, from the most recent checkoff-funded research findings to in-field observations and recommendations. A diverse array of contributors share information on ILSoyAdvisor, including members of the ISA Agronomy team, researchers from universities around the state and region, CCAs, our Soy Envoys (see page 6 to learn more about this year’s roster of Soy Envoys), climatologists, reporters, and more.

Each educational piece that is shared through ILSoyAdvisor first undergoes a review process established by Stephanie and Kelsey to ensure the information is high quality and will bring value to a grower’s operation directly or provide education as they try and navigate the many opportunities available in spaces like conservation cost-share, for example.

Two words that I hear often from Kelsey and Stephanie are “timely” and “relevant.” As a team, we see great importance in providing farmers with upto-date information that can make an immediate impact on their decision making.

Resources like blogs, short videos, and longer recordings of webinars or live events can all be found on ILSoyAdvisor – there is truly something for every learning style.

You might be asking, "How can I learn when new resourc - es are available?” Make sure to follow ILSoyAdvisor on Twitter and Facebook where the newest information is highlighted. Additionally, you are encouraged to sign up for the ILSoyAdvisor newsletter, which will come to your email inbox every other week with a roundup of upcoming events and opportunities, news, and agronomic recommendations.

“Our ISA agronomy team has a lot of agronomic information waiting to be shared with our farmers and other agricultural audiences. Stephanie and I see a need to report and distribute this knowledge daily through ILSoyAdvisor.com as well as through our e-newsletter and social media platforms,” says Litchfield. “We continue to brainstorm more ways to report timely and relevant agronomic information to soybean farmers across the state and plan on launching new media projects in the upcoming months, so stay tuned!”

Since Stephanie and Kelsey have joined the team, the amount of information shared on ILSoyAdvisor has dramatically increased, to the point where one or two blogs are posted nearly every workday of the month. What has helped contribute to this growth? Utilizing the people behind Illinois agriculture. The power of multiple contributors providing content for ILSoyAdvisor brings a unique breadth and depth to the information shared.

From Stu Ellis, whose video interviews touch on every aspect of agriculture, to the researchers around the state studying soybeans and the corn-soybean system from all angles, to our Soy Envoys who work in industry consulting, research, education and more, ILSoyAdvisor brings them all together in one readily-available place, right at your fingertips.

With these experts on your side, you can be sure that the information you receive from ILSoyAdvisor is relevant and up-to-date, giving you the knowledge to ensure your farm remains productive, profitable, and sustained for years to come.

You are just a few clicks away from the engaging content that matters most for your operation; navigate to ILSoyAdvisor.com now or follow @ILSoyAdvisor on Twitter and Facebook.

Pictured here, Kelsey Litchfield, ISA Agronomic Outreach Coordinator, and Deanna Burkhart, ISA Agronomic Programs Coordinator