Session Speakers

SESSION 1: Variety

Lance Tarochione, Monsanto
"Do Traits Increase, Protect or Interfere with Yield?"

Prior to the biotechnology era, soybean breeders incorporated traits for resistance to soybean cyst nematode and various soybean diseases. Some traits have been difficult to incorporate into high yielding genetics which, at times, has caused soybean growers to wonder if traits are enhancing or interfering with soybean yield potential. Lance Tarochione, Territory Agronomist for DEKALB/Asgrow at Monsanto, will discuss how traits have largely been used to protect yield potential from weeds, diseases, nematodes or other pests. As we move forward, many are betting traits will be developed to actually enhance the yield potential of soybeans rather than merely protect existing yield potential from pests. Lance has spent 15 years working in various research, product development, technical development and agronomy roles with Monsanto, as well as four years as a seed agronomist.

Kelli Basset, Pioneer
"Unleashing the Complete Genetic Potential on Your Farm"

Farming for high-yield soybeans begins with selecting the right product on the right acre. Pioneer Agronomist Kelli Basset will walk us through variety selection, discussing the traits and technologies available in today's products. She also will detail some of the work involved in product development and selection to provide an understanding of the agronomic characteristics described for varieties and how you can use this information to maximize yield on your farm. In addition to helping growers throughout central Illinois on product placement and support, Kelly is a regular guest on local farm broadcasts, speaking out about various agriculture topics. She also is actively involved in her family's grain and livestock operation, located in Illinois and Missouri.

SESSION 2: Soil Management

Dennis Neffendorf, Orthman Manufacturing
"Better Production with Strip Tillage"

Dennis Neffendorf, regional agronomist for Orthman Manufacturing, will discuss how to design your farm operations for improved yield and crop quality while providing environmental benefits that save you time and fuel through better strip tillage techniques. Neffendorf has served as field, area, state and national staff agronomist with the USDA National Resource Conservation Service throughout the Great Plains. He also has served with the Department of State as an agronomist in Al Asad, Iraq. Dennis has a Master of Science from Texas A&M University and runs a peach and grazing operation in Fredericksburg, Texas.

Allen Williams, Ph.D., LMC, LLC
"Utilization and Benefits of Soil Microbial Biologicals in Row Crop Production"

Alllen Williams is president of LMC, LLC, an agriculture industry consulting firm specializing in enhanced farm and ranch profitability through value-added product development and marketing. After spending 15 years in the academic world, Allen left to found LMC, LLC. Since then, he has worked with more than 3,000 farmers and ranchers in the United States, Canada, Mexico and South America. He also has been an invited speaker at over 200 regional, national and international conferences and symposia.

SESSION 3: Plant Nutrition

Howard Brown, Ph.D., GROWMARK
"Nutrient Management: Current Understanding and Future Vision"

The American farmer continues to meet the growing demand for production of grain for feed and food production. Projected population growth and demand for protein will drive the pursuit of higher crop yields. Howard Brown, manager of Agronomy Services for GROWMARK, Inc., will discuss how nutrient management is and will be one of the primary ingredients for attaining and sustaining higher crop yields -- focusing on where we are currently at and where we may need to go. Brown and his team provide agronomic training and technical support to over 400 crop specialists in Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa. He serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois.

Albert Liptay, Ph.D., Stoller
"Foliar Feeding and Stimulating Soybean Productivity"

Albert Liptay, director of research for the Stoller Enterprises Inc., has been working with his team to increase crop yields globally for the past eight years. Their primary approach is to work towards understanding the signaling molecules as supported by small molecules and minerals that achieve the myriad of expression of genes for processes during the complete cycle of crop plant development. Liptay's session will focus on how enhancing nodule development and the life expectancy of nodules can help soybean producers avoid "minimum" productivity, especially in years the plant is under duress. Additionally, he will share how the many stress factors affecting the biological machinery of the soybean plant have been resolved down to the level of gene expression, thereby enhancing the level of soybean production yield. 

SESSION 4: Seed Treatments

Mark Kitt, Syngenta
"Keys to Maximizing Soybean Yields"

North America Soybean Solutions Development Manager for Syngenta Mark Kitt has been immersed in boosting crop production from an early age. Raised on a row crop and livestock farm in Audubon, Iowa and having worked in various aspects of the industry - including as a commercial applicator, a field market development specialist and a technical service representative, Mark has identified three pillars of soybean production: 1) "Strong Start," 2) "Stress Free" and 3) "Strong Finish." He will further explain how fungicides, insecticide and nematicides play an important role in soybean productivity.

Vince Wertman, Advanced Biological Marketing
"Agronomic Aspects of Inoculation"

Vince Wertman, regional manager for Advanced Biological Marketing, has extensive expertise in seed treatment, product formulation and manufacturing. Updating us on the biological integration in seed treatments for 2012 and beyond, Vince will review the relationship of plant and host with beneficial biology and what fail factors to avoid. Insight on how to manage profitability with the advances in genetics, formulation, and application methods for 2012, and why they are different from the last decade's inoculant offerings also will be discussed.

SESSION 5: Disease Management

AJ Woodyard, BASF
"The Role of Foliar Fungicides in the Pursuit of Maximum Soybean Yields: What Can We Expect and How Do Fungicides Interact with Other Management Strategies?"

There are multiple factors that can impact soybean yields every season which can be controlled by the grower, others cannot. The introduction of the strobiluron chemistries in the mid 2000's to the soybean market brought a new, innovative solution to control diseases and provide additional plant health benefits that resulted in increased soybean yields. In this session, AJ Woodyard, technical service representative for BASF, will focus on how foliar fungicides can be successfully implemented into a high-yield soybean management strategy. Attendees will investigate the manner in which fungicides provide yield increases and evaluate research trials aimed at studying the interaction of foliar fungicides with other common high yield strategies, including foliar insecticides and planting date. Woodyard has worked with growers to lead on-farm research trials aimed at maximizing corn and soybean yields, and also conducts extensive research trials at the BASF Midwest Research Farm just west of Champaign, Illinois.

Angie Peltier, Ph.D., University of Illinois
"Healthy Roots, Healthy Yields."

Soilborne pathogens can limit soybean yield by causing decay, leading to fewer root tips, reduced nodule size and loss of functionality. Angie Peltier, commercial agriculture extension educator for the Northwestern Illinois Agricultural Research and Demonstration Center at the University of Illinois, will focus on practical ways to improve root health, from cultural methods to seed treatments. Peltier is a plant pathologist by training and most of her research to date has focused on controlling soybean disease. 

SESSION 6: Weed Management

Daren Bohannan, Bayer CropScience
"Practicing Zero Tolerance in a Weed Resistant World"

Dealing with weed resistance issues that neighbors may have created on your farm? Hear the latest in controlling weeds in corn and soybeans from Daren Bohannan, technical services representative at Bayer CropScience. Darren will discuss how these resistant biotypes can impact your bottom line and what changes can be made today to keep from losing revenue in the future. He also will explain how you can know when weed resistant biotypes arrive on your farm, what can you do to prevent them or reduce their impact on your profitability, or better yet... can they be stopped at all?

Bryan Young, Ph.D., Southern Illinois University
"Proactive Weed Management a Must for High Yield Soybeans"

A weed scientist and professor in the Department of Plant, Soil and Agricultural Systems at SIUC, Bryan Young lives and breathes agriculture. He even operates a small farm in Murphysboro, IL, where some of the land is devoted to field research. Young served as an adjunct assistant professor at U of I for eight years before joining the SIUC faculty in 1998. Young's session will discuss the mentality of "plan for the best, experience the worst" when it comes to how glyphosate is used repeatedly until it fails. The overall cost of the weed control failure can be a combination of additional herbicide expense, lost crop yield from prolonged competition with the weeds and potential crop yield loss from a late application of an herbicide mixture that results in excessive crop injury. When considering all these factors, the most proactive weed management program is to establish and maintain control early in the growing season to eliminate weeds from interfering with achieving the maximum return on investment for all the other crop inputs implemented for high yielding soybeans.
 

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The Illinois Soybean Program Operating Board (ISPOB) manages and invests soybean checkoff funds.
Separately, the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) administers legislation and membership programs.