Weekly Update

For the second year, IL Corn and ISA partnered to offer the Water Testing Challenge to all Illinois FFA chapters. This hands-on, educational program challenged students to sample and analyze water from different areas. They were then tasked with incorporating this data into a report, along with improved suggestions and management changes. Congratulations to the winners which include students from the Fairfield, Home Fires, Blue Ridge, Kewanee, and Mater Dei Catholic FFA chapters.

Illinois farmers once again led the nation in total soybean production for the 2023 growing season. The National Agricultural Statistics Service of the United States Department of Agriculture estimates Illinois soybean farmers raised 648.9 million bushels on 10.3 million acres.

Prepare for a successful 2024 growing season with ISA by attending a half-day Better Beans event in your area. The ISA Agronomy Team, alongside university researchers and agronomy experts, will deliver regional insights on a range of topics, from conquering weed challenges and managing diseases to optimizing soil health. Stay updated on the latest in soybean agronomy, sustainable production, and agribusiness management.

You’re already an expert; share your expertise and insights in soybean production as a Soy Envoy. The Soy Envoy program, an initiative by ILSoyAdvisor and ISA, features seasoned experts in the soybean industry offering valuable insights to Illinois soybean farmers. This team of six professionals shares their extensive agronomic knowledge through various mediums, including written articles, videos, and audio interviews. The application period ends February 2, 2024.

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Illinois Department of Agriculture, and University of Illinois Extension recently released the 2023 Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy Biennial Report, which highlights efforts to reduce nutrient loss from non-point source, point source, and urban stormwater sectors across the state. The Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy (NLRS) is a state-wide effort to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus loading into Illinois waterways, the Mississippi River, and eventually the Gulf of Mexico.

Last week, the ISA Market Development team hosted German agriculture influencers, including both farmers and media experts. During their visit, the group toured the farms of ISA board members in Atlanta and Kankakee and engaged with ISA’s Soybean Production, Market Development, and Marketing Communications departments at the Bloomington office.

The B20 Club is a partnership between ISA and the American Lung Association which recognizes Illinois-based organizations whose fleets run on biodiesel blends of 20 percent or greater. Recently, the group welcomed new members ADM and Wilmette Park District, while the Village of Mundelein became an Affiliate Member with plans to transition into a full membership in the near future.