The agriculture industry is facing a multitude of challenges, including climate change, water scarcity and market volatility. Inflation also has emerged as a significant concern.

It’s hard to keep up. Between managing inputs, watching markets, monitoring the weather and making long-term decisions, there’s not much time to dig through headlines to figure out what matters. That’s why Illinois Soybean Growers (ISG) created its monthly webinar series—focused, farm-tested insights from industry and academia delivered without the fluff.

These webinars aren’t led by talking heads who waste your time. They’re each a one-hour shot of high-value information— delivered straight from experts who will break down complex issues most likely to affect your farm. No pandering or sales pitch. Just straight answers and useful insights that you need to improve your operation.

Built for Busy Farmers

Each month, ISG brings in voices that matter—economists, agronomists, weather pros, fellow farmers—and focuses the conversation on Illinois-specific challenges and opportunities. This isn’t a classroom. It’s a real-time conversation with live questions from across the state where we, with our experts, do our best to leave you with answers.

Our webinars are conversations with a goal of giving you the tools to make your own decisions, whether you’re looking at crop budgets, weather risks, succession/estate planning or the latest global export shifts. You can join live, ask questions or catch the recording later when it fits your schedule.

What We’ve Covered So Far

If you’re just learning about the series, here’s a quick look at what we’ve already tackled this year:

• January: Ed Elfmann from the American Bankers Association unpacked how the new Farm Bill and shifting tax laws could impact rural lending and family farms. It was big-picture stuff that’s critical to understand.
• February: With crop budgets showing red ink, University of Illinois economists Gary Schnitkey and Nick Paulson walked through real-world strategies for staying profitable when commodity prices dip.
• March: We heard the story behind Low Mu Tech—a farmer-led business turning soybeans into real solutions. It was a reminder that innovation doesn’t just happen in a lab; it happens on the farm.
• April: Davon Cook from Pinion Global led a session on estate and succession planning. It was eye-opening, especially her advice on how to “pass the baton” and keep the farm in the family.
• May: Meteorologist David Yeomans talked about how Tornado Alley is shifting and what that means for Illinois growers. Spoiler alert: It’s more variability, more risk and the need for better forecasting.
• June: A panel of agronomy pros from Beck’s Hybrids, Valent BioSciences and the University of Illinois dove into the weeds (sometimes literally) with ISG to share lessons from this year’s planting season, discuss policy impacts and highlight what farmers can do to make this year profitable—and what challenges to watch as summer rolls on.
• July: In a down commodity market where every dollar and hour counts, investing in a high-horsepower tractor can seem like a huge financial leap. But is it worth it? ISG talked with FENDT/AGCO in this webinar to pull back the curtain on what makes modern tractors so expensive—and how those costs translate into real, measurable returns for Illinois farmers.

These weren’t generic, one-size-fits-all sessions. They were built specifically for Illinois soybean producers and sometimes corn producers (snark added)—focused on your land, your markets and your challenges.

What’s Coming Next

While details are still coming together, the rest of the year is packed with useful, timely topics. You’ll hear about: • Global soybean markets and how we stack up internationally • Biodiesel policy and why defending soybeans as a primary feedstock matters • New regulations around pesticide use—and what farmers can do to stay ahead • Ag tech trends such as AI and digital tools for smarter farm decisions • Updates on river infrastructure and how our transportation network gives Illinois growers an edge • A 2026 outlook from ag industry leaders to help you plan for what’s next Each topic is curated based on feedback from farmers and conversations ISG is already having with policymakers, researchers and industry partners. You’re not getting recycled talking points— you’re getting insights that can help you make better calls on the farm.

Why It’s Worth Your Time

When you register for an ISG webinar, you’re setting yourself up to stay informed on the things that affect your bottom line. You’ll know when policy shifts are coming. You’ll be better prepared for regulatory changes. You’ll hear about new market opportunities before they hit the mainstream. And you’ll have access to recordings, resources and follow-up articles in the Illinois Field & Bean magazine.

How to Become A Member

Now is a good time to fix that. Becoming a Grower Member of ISG gives you more than just access to the webinars—it gives you a voice in the bigger conversations that shape our industry. Whether it’s fighting for fair markets, lower taxes, supporting biodiesel or protecting access to crop protection tools, ISG is out there working for you. Being a member means you’re part of that effort, reserving you a voice and seat at the negotiation table.

Let’s Stay Connected

When the next ISG Webinar email invite hits your inbox, don’t ignore it. Click “register,” grab a cup of coffee, and join us for the next session. Created for Illinois farmers, these webinars are focused, timely and worthwhile.

If you have a topic you want to hear experts dive deep on or have questions about membership, reach out to Ashley Barry at ashley.barry@ilsoy.org.

Catch up on previous webinars and explore more content on the ISG Policy Blog: www.ilsoy.org/illinois-soybean-growers/