Every year, as the growing season wraps up, we learn more about what’s working and where there’s room to improve. Through your checkoff investment, we’re able to turn those lessons into practical research that helps farmers make better decisions, improve profitability and strengthen their operations.

At Illinois Soybean Association (ISA), our goal is simple: turn research into real-world value on your farm. Although traditional production research is important, we’re focused on the whole soybean system, unlocking how management practices affect yield, profitability, soil and water quality, and long-term sustainability. That means looking at everything from agronomics to economics and making sure research reflects real conditions across Illinois.

Farmer Feedback Guides Research Selection

Each year, ISA reviews millions of dollars’ worth of research proposals. With input and leadership from farmer board members, those proposals are narrowed down to a select group of projects the reviewers believe will deliver the most value back to farmers. Limited funding is available, so the goal is to invest in work that answers your most important questions.

How do we know what matters most? We ask.

Farmer input drives this process every step of the way. Whether feedback is shared during conversations at field days, in discussions with the ISA Agronomy Team or directly via board members, your voice helps shape where checkoff dollars go.

Growing Concerns Survey Flags Top Issues

One of the most important tools we use is the annual Growing Concerns Survey. In it, farmers across Illinois share what challenges they’re seeing and what research would be most helpful.

In the most recent survey, weed management came out as the top priority for the 158 farmers and crop consultants who responded. Also of concern were herbicide-resistant weeds, nutrient management for maximizing yield, fungicide and insect resistance monitoring, and in-field conservation practices.

These priorities ensure that the research we fund stays relevant and useful. We strongly encourage every farmer to take the survey. The more input we receive, the better we can align research efforts with your needs.

Soybean Production Committee Pairs Farmers, Researchers

Another key part of this process is the Soybean Production Committee. This team works with university and industry researchers to connect science with what’s happening on farms. Researchers share what they’re seeing in trials and labs, and farmers bring real-world experience and challenges to the table.

Recent discussions between the committee and researchers highlighted several trends across Illinois. Management practices continue to evolve, including differences between rented and owned ground. There’s a shift toward earlier planting dates. And more farmers are using high-residue systems. These changes need to be considered when developing and testing new recommendations.

One message that came through loud and clear from farmers: return on investment matters. When considering new practices or products, farmers want to understand the impact on a per-acre basis. They also want to know how long it will take for a practice to pay for itself, whether in one season or several years. Making that information clear and usable is critical for adoption.

All ISA-funded research focuses on providing unbiased, soybean-specific information you can trust. If you want to learn more about current projects or connect with researchers directly, you can visit the Field Advisor website and explore the Meet the Researchers page at fieldadvisor.org/research/meet-the-researchers/. It’s a great place to find project summaries and learn more about the university researchers investigating key questions on your behalf.

Meet the Soybean Researchers

In this year’s 2026 Illinois Research Review, which you’ll read in the pages that follow, you will find results from a wide range of projects examining soil health, liming recommendations and insecticide return on investment, among other topics. These summaries are designed to help you take what scientists are learning and apply it on your farm.

For example, research from Dr. Fred Below and Dr. Connor Sible looks at how to better use leaf-tissue testing in soybeans. Their work identifies the best timing and location for sampling so you can more accurately understand nutrient needs and fine-tune your management plan throughout the growing season.

Another project, led by Nathan Johanning, focuses on cover-crop planting dates. This research helps answer key questions about how timing influences yield, stand establishment and biomass production. It also provides guidance on species selection and seeding rates that are practical for real-world farm conditions.

From Insight to In-Field Action

But we know it’s not always easy to translate research findings into specific steps you should take next. You need to know how to implement recommendations in your fields.

That’s where the ISA On-Farm Trial Network (OFTN) comes in. This program was developed to take research and test it under real farming conditions across the state. In 2025, OFTN included 31 field trial locations in 20 counties, giving us a strong look at how practices perform in different regions and environments.

In addition, demonstration sites have been established at the ISA Agronomy Farm near Heyworth and at the Farm Progress Show site in Decatur so that farmers can see trials up close.

Twenty farmers participated in OFTN Action Trials, including studies on sulfur fertilization and soybean insecticide ROI. Five farmers also continued managing Legacy Soil Health trials. Results from the insecticide trials and sulfur study, along with tissue analysis, are included in this report.

We want to extend a sincere thank-you to the farmers who participated in the first year of OFTN. Your time, effort and willingness to try something new are critical to making this program successful.

As we move into the 2027 season, we’ll continue scouting and evaluating trials in the field. We’re excited to share what we learn and to work alongside more farmers across Illinois in the next round of trials.

As you review the results in the ISA Research Review, at FieldAdvisor.org and at outreach events, we encourage you to explore how your checkoff is approaching soybean production issues and to challenge your approach where it makes sense. Together, we can build our soybean systems to be profitable and sustainable for years to come.