FUNDED BY THE ILLINOIS SOYBEAN ASSOCIATION CHECKOFF PROGRAM.

Barb Baylor Anderson

Wheat Yield Winners Offer Double-Crop Management Tips

Double-cropping wheat and soybeans is a popular strategy in parts of Illinois. Farmers who won the Illinois Wheat Association’s (IWA) 2020 yield contest recently offered their tips for success during the 2021 Double-Crop Farmers Forum sponsored by ISA, the IWA and others. David Justison from Montgomery County placed first with a yield of 126.7 bushels, Dan Rubin of Fayette County was second with 124.7 bushels and Dale Wehmeyer from St. Clair County was the third-place winner with a yield of 119.4 bushels per acre. The management practices below are some of the highlights as discussed by these three farmers [...]

By |February 5, 2021|

When in Doubt, Assume it will be a Record in 2021

It looks like 2021 will be a banner year when it comes to crop statistics. Guy Allen, senior economist with Kansas State University International Grains Program, told participants in the 2021 Double-Crop Farmers Forum that wheat, soybeans and corn will all likely set various domestic and world records for production and consumption this year. The forum was sponsored by ISA, the Illinois Wheat Association and several other partners. “I don’t know if I have seen such a plethora of issues driving the commodity markets,” Allen says. Here is a look at the macroeconomic factors he believes could impact price [...]

By |February 5, 2021|

Get Covered with Available Farm Programs in 2021

Illinois soybean and wheat farmers have plenty of programs at their disposal to protect and grow 2021 crop production. The best approach is to understand what programs are available, take note of any registration or application deadlines and double-check for updates to last year’s programs. That was the advice of a trio of farm program officials speaking during the 2021 Double-Crop Farmers Forum sponsored by ISA, the Illinois Wheat Association and several other partners. Brian Frieden, Illinois state director with the Risk Management Agency; Wendy Mueller, Illinois compliance chief program officer for the Farm Service Agency (FSA); and Ray [...]

By |February 5, 2021|

Be Prepared if Fusarium Head Blight Rears, You Know, its Ugly Head

While the good news for Illinois wheat growers is that fusarium head blight (FHB) has not been a significant issue the last three years, challenges remain to its management in the future. Nathan Kleczewski, University of Illinois Extension field crop pathologist, speaking during the first session of the 2021 Double-Crop Farmers Forum sponsored by ISA, the Illinois Wheat Association and others, says no new fungicides are available today, but new moderately resistant varieties are coming. Kleczewski says the fusarium pathogen that causes the fungal disease overwinters in crop residues, primarily corn and wheat residues. Wheat behind corn raises the [...]

By |January 26, 2021|

Managing Resistant Weeds with Seed Destruction Technologies

This article was originally published on the Soybean Research & Information Network, a checkoff funded website. Controlling weeds like herbicide-resistant waterhemp and other pigweed species is a serious economic challenge for soybean farmers. Rather than wait until all herbicide options become unavailable, weed scientists are evaluating non-chemical control options now. “Postponing non-chemical weed control research until all available chemical control options have been exhausted would be a mistake and would leave producers with a lack of weed control options and even more serious herbicide-resistance issues than producers currently face,” says Kevin Bradley, University of Missouri Extension weed scientist. “That [...]

By |June 5, 2020|

Innovative Biodiesel Business Opportunity

This article was originally published in the January issue of Soy Perspectives magazine. Illinois soybean farmers commonly are aware of numerous benefits that biodiesel provides versus petroleum diesel; reliable engine performance, cost effectiveness, fewer harmful emissions and a lower carbon footprint. But what farmers may not realize is new business prospects may exist if they focus on the value of carbon reduction to further build the industry. “A misconception about the value of carbon reduction exists within agriculture. But farmers can change the paradigm by more aggressively participating in the debate,” says Rebecca Richardson, Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) biodiesel [...]

By |March 19, 2020|

Soy Power: The Protein of Choice

Look in the shopping cart or at the restaurant plate of today’s consumers. You’re likely to find more plant-based, protein-rich foods that promote health and make eating an experience. When consumers learn those foods fit their definition of sustainable production, even better. While this is a shift from the meat-and-potatoes generation, soy is still part of the food equation. In fact, today’s food trends may open new doors for soybeans, if farmers play their cards right. “Clean eating with all natural, recognizable ingredients and accountability of farmers is becoming more important. Soy is a star among the many available [...]

By |July 30, 2018|
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