The Illinois Advantage
SEPTEMBER 2026 | VOLUME 6, ISSUE 11
Learn how good transportation makes for good economics.
By Todd Main, Director of Market Development, Illinois Soybean Association
More than 500 soybean buyers from nearly 60 countries experienced Illinois agriculture in August.
By Olivia Shafer, Assistant Editor, Illinois Field & Bean Magazine
Go behind the scenes to explore how farmers get their crop from field to market.
By Mallory Shehorn, Communications Intern, Illinois Soybean Association
Through collective investments, U.S. soybean production has grown from 1.8 billion bushels in 1990 to over 4 billion bushels today.
By Brent Gatton, United Soybean Board Chairman
Discover why bridge maintenance is so important to the success of Illinois farmers.
By IL Field & Bean Team
By Ashley Rice-Haddon, Lead Writer, IL Field & Bean
By John Lumpe, ISA CEO
By Kevin “KJ” Johnson, ISA Director of Government Relations & Strategy
By Jeff O'Connor, At-Large Director and Market Development Committee Chairman, Illinois Soybean Association
By Darby Danzl, Regional Technical Agronomist, and Whitney Miller, Agronomic Services Coordinator, Illinois Soybean Association
Explore how Illinois soybean farmers are helping fuel PepsiCo's sustainability journey.
By IL Field & Bean Team
Chicago Fire FC and ISA have entered into an official partnership centered on a shared commitment to growth, development for the next generation of soccer fans.
By Chicago Fire FC
Illinois Field & Bean connected with other state agricultural organizations to learn more about the Illinois farmers who lead their boards.
By Ashley Rice-Haddon, Lead Writer, IL Field & Bean
You don't need to be a spreadsheet genius to be a successful farmer. Instead, focus on these first principles.
By IL Field & Bean Team
ISA Board Directors share farm succession pitfalls, surprises and what they're doing differently for the next generation.
By Olivia Shafer, Assistant Editor, Illinois Field & Bean Magazine
Renewable fuels are no longer a future concept. Instead, they are a growing part of today's agricultural economy.
By IL Field & Bean Team
Every soybean checkoff dollar is working to answer the questions that matter most on your farm, from weed management and nutrient efficiency to profitability and sustainability. Discover how farmer-driven research and on-farm trials are turning scientific insights into practical decisions that deliver real results in Illinois fields.
By Abigail Peterson, CCA, Director of Agronomy, Illinois Soybean Association
Highlighting research results from the 2025 growing season.
By ISA Agronomy Team
The ISA Agronomy Farm is emerging as a long-term, systems-focused farm designed to answer real-world questions about soybean production, crop rotation and return on investment in Illinois.
By Abigail Peterson, CCA, Director of Agronomy, Illinois Soybean Association
Meet the 2026 Illinois Soybean Association Soy Envoys!
By IL Field & Bean Team
What does the farm of the future look like? Robots? Automation? Fewer workers?
By Ashley Rice-Haddon, Lead Writer, Illinois Field & Bean Magazine
ISA-funded research at the University of Illinois focuses on improving early detection of RCR and mapping where it occurs within fields.
By Boris Camiletti, Ph.D., Plant Pathologist, University of Illinois
Discover the value that collaboration with universities, USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service, and U.S. Soybean Export Council, Soy Excellence Centers and the Illinois Innovation Network bring to your farm.
By IL Field & Bean Team
Innovation often begins with a simple question: What else can soy do?
By Todd Main, Director of Market Development, Illinois Soybean Association, and Badri Narasimhan, Venture Advisor, Soy Innovation Center
Domestic soybean crush capacity has surged in the past few years, driven largely by growing demand for biomass-based diesel and soybean oil.
By IL Field & Bean Team
As markets continue to shift and sustainability becomes mainstream, the SpringBoard Challenge aims to commercialize price- and performance-competitive soy-based products.
By Todd Main, ISA Director of Market Development
Hosted by SSGA and co-sponsored by ISA, Transportation Go! is the premier conference representing identity preserved, value-added agriculture supply chain stakeholders.
By IL Field & Bean Team
USSEC CEO Jim Sutter explores the current state of global soy supply and demand, which he'll cover in depth at Soybean Summit.
By Jim Sutter, CEO, U.S. Soybean Export Council
U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) explains how to access used equipment and tools at a steep discount.
By U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.)
On April 1, the Illinois B20 Legislation moved into full effect, meaning biodiesel blend requirements increased from B17 to B20.
By Rob Shaffer, ISA Government Relations Committee Chairman
Clean fuels are no longer a niche market. Instead, they're essential to the U.S. economy, farm income and energy security.
By Heather Buechter, Director of Communications, Clean Fuels Alliance America
ISA's Biofuels & Trade Policy Manager sits down with IL Field & Bean Lead Writer Ashley Rice-Haddon to discuss the complex state of biofuels at the state and federal level.
By Ashley Rice-Haddon, Lead Writer, Illinois Field & Bean Magazine
Illinois Soybean Growers’ legislative priorities represent strategic investments in agricultural sustainability, economic growth and long-term rural viability.
By IL Field & Bean Team
As the Trump administration enters its second year, Illinois soybean farmers face a policy environment full of both opportunity and uncertainty.
By Matt Johnston, ISA Policy Specialist