The On-Farm Trial Network Issue
FEBRUARY 2026 | VOLUME 6, ISSUE 4
ISA's On-Farm Trial Network works directly with farmers across the state to develop research and protocols that address significant production concerns.
By Deanna Burkhart, ISA Agronomic Services Manager
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
Research from Southern Illinois University suggests that winter barley might suppress weeds with less biomass production than cereal rye.
By Eduardo Lago & Karla Gage, Southern Illinois University Carbondale
ISA Perspectives
Vice Chairman Brady Holst covers the ISA Adopt-a-Researcher project.
By Brady Holst, ISA Vice Chairman
Farming is a business. And like any business, farmers rely on vital information that becomes reflected in their decisions and best practices.
By John Lumpe, ISA CEO
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
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
Within the 20 agronomic research projects funded by ISA in FY26, one priority continues to stand out: conservation.
By Ashley Rice-Haddon, Lead Writer, Illinois Field & Bean Magazine
Participants in the On-Farm Trial Network provide key insights into how management decisions affect productivity and profitability.
By Darby Danzl, ISA Regional Technical Agronomist, and Stacy Zuber, Ph.D., ISA Research Data Scientist
Known as the “silent yield robber,” soybean cyst nematode (SCN) reduces yields without leaving obvious above-ground symptoms.
By Nathan Schroeder, Associate Professor, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Every year, ISA's farmer-led Board takes a careful, science-based approach to investing checkoff dollars where they matter: back into your fields.
By IL Field & Bean Team
The International Commercialization Initiative (ICI) of ISA's Soy Innovation Center unites soybean organizations to advance market development efforts.
By Todd Main, ISA Director of Market Development
Meet Bean There, ISA's International Market Development blog that covers events, conferences, trade missions and farm visits to connect Illinois soy with industry representatives, key trade partners, global buyers and more.
By Emma Peters, ISA International Markets Coordinator
Illinois Field & Bean investigates how U.S. soy compares to its largest competitors, Brazil and Argentina, by examining key differences in sustainability, production, infrastructure, quality and price.
By Ashley Rice-Haddon, ISA Content Manager
As global soybean markets continue to shift, how can Illinois farmers stay competitive?
By IL Field & Bean Team
As policies continue to directly and indirectly impact agriculture, ISA's Government Relations team works to ensure farmers have a seat at the table as decisions are made.
By Collin Cisco, ISA Farm Policy Manager, and Matt Johnston, ISA Government Relations Coordinator
Learn how federal and Illinois laws—and coming changes in tax provisions—might affect a family’s ability to pass the farm to the next generation.
By Collin Cisco, ISA Farm Policy Manager
Illinois farmer and ISA Board Director Steve Pitstick expresses his concerns over the proposed Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS).
By Steve Pitstick, Illinois Farmer and ISA Board Director
According to Collin Cisco, ISA Public Policy Manager, understanding the impact of upcoming tax changes—particularly the estate tax, Section 199A deductions and the stepped-up basis rule—is crucial for Illinois farmers who aim to safeguard their financial future and secure their ability to continue farming.
By Collin Cisco
Learn what ISG is doing to ensure American tax dollars are invested in domestic industries that use domestic feedstocks - such as Illinois-grown soybeans - to ensure our energy independence.
By David Kubik