View from the Cab: Better Beans coming

By Kent Casson

Farmers can prepare for a successful 2024 growing season by attending one of the upcoming Better Beans events around the state this winter.

“Rooted for Success” is the theme for the Illinois Soybean Association event which features members of the ISA Agronomy Team alongside university researchers and agronomy experts sharing regional insights on a range of topics from conquering weeds to managing disease.

The first event of the Better Beans series will be held January 11 at the Illinois Soybean Association in Bloomington. The agenda includes presentations from Dr. Stacy Zuber, “Making Sense of Soil Health;” Stephanie Porter, “From Field to Future: Lessons from the 2023 Growing Season;” and Dr. Shaun Casteel, “Sulfur Foundations in High Yield Soybeans.” There will also be a ISA Agronomy team update as well as a hot breakfast and lunch.

The second stop of the Better Beans tour will be in Southern Illinois in Ina at Rend Lake College on Thursday, January 18. The agenda includes presentations from Dr. Karla Gage, “Optimizing Your Weed Control Strategies for Success;” Dr. Jason Bond, “Soybean Stem Diseases in Illinois;” and Dr. Jessica Rutkoski, “Wheat Genetics and Management Considerations for Double-Crop Bean Success.”

The final stop of the Better Beans series will be held in Northern Illinois on Thursday, January 25 in Deer Grove. Presentations will include an update from the ISA Agronomy team, Meaghan Anderson talking about “The Challenge: Winning Against Weeds,” Dr. Martin Chilvers discussing “Disease Management Considerations: Phytophthora, White Mold, and More,” and Dr. Seth Haeve with his presentation titled “Too Hot, Too Cold, Too Dry, Too Wet, Too Smokey, Too Sunny: How Does Stress Affect Soybeans?”. A hot breakfast and lunch will also be included from 7 AM – 12:30 PM. View the agenda and register here. 

The annual Soybean Summit will also be held Thursday, February 1 at the iHotel in Champaign. The Summit is always an event packed full of valuable information for growing soybeans and we typically run into a number of familiar faces in agriculture from around the state.

Be watching and listening to The Central Illinois Farm Network for more on these winter meetings for soybean growers in Illinois.