If you’re looking to attend one event that can reshape how you think about your farm in 2026, make it the Illinois Soybean Association’s (ISA’s) Soybean Summit. This day-and-a-half event brings together the voices shaping modern agriculture: those of fellow farmers, leading agronomists, market experts and policymakers for the kind of real-world insights that can drive results on your farm.

“Attending the annual Soybean Summit provides our state’s farmers with the tools and insights needed to have a successful growing season,” says John Lumpe, CEO, ISA. “The event delivers three key takeaways: timely agronomic strategies farmers can put to work right away, valuable updates on market and policy trends shaping our industry, and opportunities to connect directly with experts and peers who share a commitment to continuous improvement.”

What to Know About the Summit

This year’s Summit takes place Jan. 27-28 in Champaign and will dive into critical topics including global trade impacts, the future of biodiesel, conservation strategies and what’s next for farm policy. Whether you’re dialing in plans for spring planting, adjusting to policy shifts or seeking data-backed strategies to improve ROI, you’ll leave with actionable insights tailored to your operation.

“Soybean Summit keynote and breakout sessions are carefully selected each year to ensure the presentations remain relevant for Illinois soybean farmers,” Lumpe explains. “As markets and policies continue to fluctuate, and input prices continue to climb, ISA remains committed to supporting the changing needs of our farmers and preparing them for what’s ahead.”

Choose Your Own Adventure

Customization is an important part of the conference experience. You get to pick which sessions you attend based on where you’re looking to grow and learn.

“Not all farms across Illinois are the same,” Lumpe points out. “In fact, no two are identical. With that in mind, ISA designs the Soybean Summit agenda to include a diverse range of sessions and speakers from across the state and country, ensuring every attendee finds insights relevant to their own operation.”

Here’s a look at this year’s agenda including session titles, descriptions and world-class speakers.

Tuesday, January 27
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

How the Illinois Soybean Association Will Work for You (Opening Keynote)

Learn how ISA is organizing its activities and programming around your needs to develop new markets, support production and influence ag policy in Springfield and Washington. You’ll get a clear view of the major issues facing Illinois agriculture as we open 2026.

Speakers: Kevin “KJ” Johnson, Director of Government Relations & Strategy, ISA; Todd Main, Director of Market Development, ISA; Abigail Peterson, Director of Agronomy, ISA

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM

The State of Trade: The Global Impact of Illinois Soy (Keynote Session)

Sixty percent of Illinois soybeans are exported, which means your bottom line depends on global trade. This session explains how U.S. soy competes in a global market and what current trends mean for your profitability in 2026.

Speaker: Jim Sutter, CEO, U.S. Soybean Export Council

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM

Is the Farm Bill Dead? (Keynote Session)

With a Reconciliation Farm Bill signed in 2025, the rules of farm and food assistance are changing. Explore the political and economic fallout of the legislation and what it could mean for the future of farm programs and your risk-management strategy.

Speaker: Jonathan Coppess, Gardner Associate Professor of Agricultural Policy, University of Illinois

2:30 PM – 3:30 PM

Biodiesel Market and Policy Update (Keynote Session)

Get insights on 2025’s biodiesel activity and learn where the market is headed next. Understand policy shifts, market drivers and ways biodiesel could play a role in your cropping strategy.

Speaker: Joe Jobe, CEO, Sustainable Advanced Biofuel Refiners

The Soybean Summit is designed to give Illinois farmers a clear starting point for the year ahead. Whether you are seeking guidance on agronomic planning or marketplace changes, you can use insights shared at the event to make the right business decisions for your farm operation.

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

New Technology to Make Phosphate Fertilizer More Efficient and Economical (Breakout Session)

Learn how RhizoSorb technology is helping farmers get more out of their phosphate fertilizer. You’ll walk away with practical tips for improving phosphorus uptake and ROI while reducing environmental loss.

Speaker: Taylor Strehl, Technical Agronomist, Phospholutions Inc.

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Illinois Wetland Resources Overview (Breakout Session)

Find out how wetlands fit into modern ag operations. This session covers what wetlands are, why they matter and how farmers can incorporate conservation practices on their land. Includes panel discussion.

Speakers: Geoff Pociask, Principal Research Scientist, Illinois State Geological Survey; Paul Marcum, Associate Research Scientist, Illinois State Geological Survey

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Grains, Gains, and Global Change: The Story of Soy and Soybean Meal (Breakout Session)

Explore the shifting dynamics between exports and domestic soybean utilization, and discover how changes in global protein demand are redefining the economics of soy. This panel will unpack what these changes mean for price trends and profitability.

Speakers: Ryan Locke, Vice President of Engagement, National Oilseed Processors Association (NOPA); Todd Main, Director of Market Development, ISA; David Kubik, Biofuels and Trade Policy Manager, ISA; Devin Mogler (tentative), President & CEO, NOPA

Wednesday, January 28
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM

Why Conservation Shouldn’t Be a Trend (Breakout Session)

Conservation practices aren’t one-size-fits-all. This session offers straight talk on how to navigate conservation programs and what it really takes to implement practices that stick.

Speaker: Darby Danzl, Regional Technical Agronomist, ISA

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM

Developing New Markets (Breakout Session)

ISA has a multipronged approach to developing new markets. This presentation will discuss how we manage the turbulence in international markets and continue to grow demand for Illinois soy.

Speaker: Todd Main, Director of Market Development, ISA

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM

Farm Inputs: A Focus on Fertilizers and Overall Farm Economy (Breakout Session)

This presentation focuses on the critical role of fertilizer in maintaining soil fertility and strong yields. It will also examine how rising prices for these essential inputs are reshaping farm budgets, tightening margins and influencing planting and management decisions.

Speaker: Samuel Taylor, Farm Inputs Analyst, Rabobank

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM

The 5-Year Transition Program: Taking Time to Transition to Effective Soil Health Systems (Breakout Session)

Learn how a five-year support program is helping farmers transition to soil health systems. See real-world data from Illinois farmers using conservation practices that boost long-term performance.

Speaker: Jim Iserman, Independent Ag Consultant

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM

From Harvest to Quality: How Bin Intelligence Protects Your Grain (Breakout Session)

Discover why “brains in bins” is more than a slogan; it’s a game-changer for crop storage. This session combines technical expertise with real-world applications to help you make smarter storage decisions.

Speakers: John Lawrence, PhD, PE, Lead Grain Researcher, AGI; Ryan Thompson, Strategic Account Manager, AGI

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM

How the MAHA Movement is Connecting Ingredients and Agriculture (Breakout Session)

Learn how the food and beverage industry is responding to the MAHA movement using themselves as a case study. PepsiCo highlights how they’ve made changes to meet consumer demand for more products and how they’ve partnered with farmers to meet these goals.

Speaker: Jeremy Adamson, Director of Global Agriculture Policy, PepsiCo; Ryan Locke, Vice President of Engagement, National Oilseed Processors Association; Corey Lacey, PhD, Environmental Policy Manager, ISA

Illinois Soybean Association CEO John Lumpe, left, visits with an attendee during a past Soybean Summit. The event emphasizes direct conversation among farmers, ISA leadership and other leading industry experts on issues shaping soybean production, markets and policy.

10:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Soybean Management: The Never-Ending Contest (Keynote Session)

Your success with soybeans is a year-round challenge. This session gives you a strategic framework to manage pre-plant, in-season and post-harvest decisions with long-term payoffs.

Speaker: Dr. Matt Montgomery, Agronomy Education Lead, Beck’s Hybrids

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Prairie Fire & Ice (Closing Keynote)

What’s in store for 2026? Learn how weather patterns, snow, drought and ocean temperatures could shape your next growing season.

Speaker: Matt Reardon, Senior Atmospheric Scientist, Nutrien Ag Solutions

Join Us to Jumpstart Your Year

By making the commitment to attend Soybean Summit 2026, you’ll be investing in a day and a half of insights, connections and experiences that will drive success on your operation for years to come, says Lumpe, ISA’s CEO.

“Each year, I learn something new, whether it be a fresh idea, a different perspective or a great story, and I can’t wait to see what this year’s conversations will bring,” he says.

Mark your calendar for Jan. 27-28 and make plans to be in Champaign. Whether you’re there to connect with fellow farmers, pressure-test ideas or gather tools to plan your next move, this is the place to do it.

Industry partners play a key role at Soybean Summit by bringing practical tools and research directly to farmers. During the trade show, you can visit with trusted ISA collaborators, learn about new solutions and get answers to your questions. Conversations held at the Summit often influence management choices long after the event ends.