The Illinois Advantage
SEPTEMBER 2026 | VOLUME 6, ISSUE 11
Illinois has numerous ag industry advantages. But maintaining that edge takes intention.
By John Lumpe, ISA CEO
For members of Congress, August is a chance to spend time back home to visit with the constituents they represent.
By Kevin “KJ” Johnson, ISA Director of Government Relations & Strategy
By 2050, the world will need to feed 10 billion people — and soybean farmers will be central to that mission. Learn how ag companies are using AI to prepare.
By IL Field & Bean Team
Explore how the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA's) team is leading innovative crop research from 438 miles up.
By IL Field & Bean Team
Learn how Dr. David Bullock works with farmers to turn numbers into on-farm results by using GPS-reliant precision agriculture technology.
By Peyton Rinkenberger, ISA Communications Intern
Agricultural drones are buzzing into action, helping producers adapt faster, work smarter and maximize every inch of their fields.
By IL Field & Bean Team
Learn about USDA's Soybean Germplasm Collection that is located at the University of Illinois.
By Ashley Rice-Haddon, ISA Content Manager
Get to know John Reichman and his family, who have quietly played a pivotal role in advancing soybean research and production.
By IL Field & Bean Team
When Illinois farmer Tom Ritter tragically lost his life in a grain bin accident this August, his neighbors and friends didn’t hesitate to step in.
By IL Field & Bean Team
We're exploring the ways Illinois growers can maximize crop potential with next-generation biostimulants.
By Valent BioSciences
Join us for the 2026 Field Advisor Forum on Thursday, January 16, at the Atkins Golf Club at the University of Illinois in Urbana.
By Kelsey Litchfield, ISA Agronomic Outreach Manager/Editor, Field Advisor
ISA's new Agronomy Farm is a nearly 98-acre site designed to turn checkoff-funded research into practical, field-ready insights for Illinois farmers.
By Abigail Peterson, CCA, ISA Director of Agronomy
Illinois Soy Envoy Byron Hendrix, CCA, reviews how farmers can access financial support for conservation practices on their operations.
By Byron Hendrix, CCA, IL Soy Envoy
At SpringBoard 2025, growers, researchers and industry leaders came together to spark new uses for soybeans and unlock fresh market opportunities for the future.
By IL Field & Bean Team
Through the See for Yourself 2025 program, participants saw firsthand how checkoff investments open international doors for U.S. soy, supporting profit-ability back home.
By Johnathan Griffel, 2024 20 Under 40 Farmer
Learn more about the iFAB Tech Hub at the University of Illinois and how its team is harnessing the power of corn and soy to create sustainable, high-value products.
By Olivia Key, Field & Bean Magazine Assistant Editor
As it celebrates its one-year anniversary, the ISA Soy Innovation Center is dedicated to facilitating the research and commercialization of new and innovative soy-based products with a focus on three primary categories: textiles, bio-lubricants and industrial applications.
By IL Field & Bean Team
Did you know soy can be used to replace nearly any product made from petroleum—including plastics? Soy-based plastics offer a nontoxic alternative to everyday items, contributing to sustainability and representing an exciting opportunity to drive demand for Illinois soy.
By Dylan Karis, Lead Chemist, Airable Research Lab
Learn more about an emerging partnership between ISA and the Peoria-based National Center for Agricultural Utilization, a 270,000-sq.-ft. research facility that employs nearly 200 people including 75 Ph.D. scientists.
By IL Field & Bean Team
Discover the many ways the Illinois Soybean Association has spent the last 60 years advancing biofuels, infrastructure and waterways transportation, and critical agronomic research - and what soybean farmers can expect in the coming years.
By IL Field & Bean Team
Hear from Stephen Censky, Chief Executive Officer of the American Soybean Association, about the ways ASA, ISA and other groups are working together to protect your farming freedoms.
By Stephen Censky
Get to know your ISA Government Relations Team, which is dedicated to advocating ...
By Olivia Key
Illinois Field & Bean Magazine spoke with select federal and state legislators ...
By IL Field & Bean Team
Jonathan Coppess of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign guest authors this perspective on the Farm Bill's impasse and the unlikelihood for reauthorization this year.
By Jonathan Coppess
The challenges farmers face every single day are tedious and time-consuming.
By IL Field & Bean Team