Ilsoyadvisor Podcasts

The ISA Board understands that profitability is top of mind for many farmers, especially in this economic environment, and they devote checkoff funds to help farmers become better agronomic managers and better business managers. This specific project was intended to explore the commonalities of farmers who continue to be more profitable than their peers, in both good times and more challenging times. Using data from Farm Business Farm Management (FBFM), we looked at which on-farm practices lead to healthier bottom lines and what habits these resilient farmers have in common.

Kevin Nelson is a certified crop adviser and 4R Nutrient Management Specialist. He has a strong background in soil fertility and precision agriculture, and is passionate about providing farmers with the information and advice needed to be more profitable and grow better beans.

ISA Trade and Market Development Eric Woodie, trade facilitator for the Illinois Soybean Association Aired: February 2017 As trade facilitator for the Illinois Soybean Association, Eric Woodie spends his days working to generate beneficial partnerships with stakeholders across trade, transportation, infrastructure and other industries to create changes that will positively impact Illinois soybean growers. With more than a decade of experience in export trade, foreign markets, and inland logistics, Woodie’s skillset was a perfect match for ISA. “I handle the practical stuff,” says Woodie. “Aligning the right people to get projects going that ensure we’re getting soybeans into critical markets and working hard to minimize or remove any challenges for Illinois farmers.” Listen now to hear more about how Eric and the ISA team are working diligently on behalf of Illinois growers. Key Takeaways: 1. Strengthening internal infrastructure. With our river, rail, and inland container systems, Illinois’ transpo

Habits of Highly Successful Farmers Gary Schnitkey, agriculture and consumer economics professor at the University of Illinois Aired: January 2017 In both good times and bad there are commonalities among the farmers who tend to be most profitable. Last year a study sponsored by ISA and the Illinois Soybean checkoff program explored the on-farm practices that led to healthier bottom lines. Gary Schnitkey, agriculture and consumer economics professor at the University of Illinois, and his team of researchers found that certain habits of the most successful farmers set them apart. “The most resilient farmers are able to mitigate risks, make informed, cross-functional decisions and operate with lower overall costs than their peers,” says Schnitkey. Listen now to hear more on these fascinating findings. Key Takeaways: 1. Keep overhead costs low. The most successful farmers often have slightly higher yields, and almost always have lower overhead costs than their peers. These advantages enable them to innov

Ag Outlook 2020: Long-Term Bearish and Short-Term Bullish Steve Johnson, farm management specialist with Iowa State University Aired: December 2016 Overall, 2017 will be another down year despite more record yields, with USDA-ERS data predicting about a 15 percent drop in farm incomes, says Steve Johnson, farm management specialist with Iowa State University. “As we enter the fourth year of depressed prices, successful farmers are watching their margins, paying attention to cash flow and cutting costs.” Listen now to hear Johnson’s specific recommendations for managing costs, marketing your crops and “overcoming your financial emotions” to make better decisions for your operation. Key Takeaways: 1. Proactively manage your costs. Tighten up your record keeping and do the acre-by-acre calculations necessary to determine your production costs. Use those numbers to make strong management decisions. 2. Leverage yields to maximize profits. Your own numbers are more relevant than USDA averages, so they shoul

Mike Boehlje, distinguished professor of agricultural economics at Purdue University Aired: November/December 2016 With market pressure expected to continue for the next few years, Mike Boehlje, distinguished professor of agricultural economics at Purdue University, encourages growers to focus on what they can control—and remember that they have tackled tough economic times before. “It’s time to pull out the old playbook, dust it off and become better about minding the details and making precise management decisions as we did under previous economic pressures.” Economists are optimistic about the long-term future, maintains Boehlje. Until then, growers need to focus on reducing per-bushel costs to maintain profits and working capital. “Our analysis shows continued tight margins through much of this decade, unless something unexpected happens to soybean demand or big issues with supply,” says Boehlje. “Our recommendation is to focus is on controlling costs and being a best-in-class, low-cost producer.”

Illinois is the number one soybean-producing state in America, producing nearly 600 million bushels of beans on more than 10 million acres—and roughly 60 percent of those beans are destined for export markets. In this episode of ILSoyAdvisor.com Profitability Radio, we speak with ISA Trade Teams Lead David Headley about ISA’s effort to build global demand for Illinois soybeans.

As the weather gets cooler and the beans start to brown, harvest creeps closer and closer. In this latest podcast, CCA Soy Envoy Kevin Nelson talks about how farmers can know when their soybeans are physiologically mature and how moisture figures into harvest strategy. Physiological maturity for soybeans is achieved at the R8 stage, when 95 percent of pods are a mature brown color and the leaves have dropped, says Nelson. A quick test for harvest readiness is the bite test, where a grower can bite the bean to test for hardness. However, for more accurate readings, a handful of beans should be moisture tested. 13 percent is the optimum moisture for soybeans and it’s ideal to have all beans harvested close to that number. However, this can be a challenge. “Unlike corn, soybeans can change moisture fairly rapidly,” says Nelson. “They can dry down quickly and then pick moisture up again with humidity.” The best strategy to achieve maximum profitability is to figure out what the docking rating is for mois

There may be a new enemy for Illinois soybean farmers—and a stinky situation at that. Join CCA Soy Envoy Stephanie Porter in this latest podcast to learn about the pest to watch for this August—the stink bug. There are several different species of stink bugs, but the enemy for Illinois soybean farmers is the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug. Known as an agricultural pest, it commonly feeds on fruits and vegetables. However, it is quite the hitchhiker and will easily spread to other crops, such as soybeans. In soybeans, the stink bug will use its piercing, sucking mouthparts to poke through the pod and damage the beans, causing them to shrivel or flatten. This yield-robbing pest can be controlled with most insecticides, but growers need to watch for it and actively scout fields for its appearance. “Growers need to be looking now, in mid August,” says Porter. “We want to protect the pods against these critters.” Porter recommends that if there are four or more stink bugs in one net sweep, the grower should c

Managing soybean diseases starts with knowing what to look for locally. In this latest podcast, Beck’s Hybrids agronomist Chad Kalaher talks about soybean diseases that are common in Illinois and how to employ proper fungicide management. In all of Illinois Septoria brown spot is tagged as the number 2 yield robber in soybeans. It progresses from the bottom of the plant and is a disease that soybean farmers should look out for. In addition, northern Illinois farmers should watch for white mold, while Southern Illinois farmers should watch for frogeye leaf spot. It’s important to note that not all diseases come from fungi, but can instead be from bacteria and viruses. For example, soybean vein necrosis virus would not be controlled with a fungicide. Kalaher notes that in choosing which fungicide to use, it’s important to be cognizant of rotating modes of action to avoid resistance. “I liken it to herbicides,” Kalaher notes. “We need to use the proper chemistry.” The timing and mixes of applications will

It’s another record year for soybean acres planted, as 10 - 15 percent of planned corn acres were shifted to soybeans due to the spring weather conditions. This record doesn’t come without challenges, though. Many of those acres will need special attention throughout the growing season. Agronomy sales specialist Dawn Kielsmeier talks late-planted soybeans and how to best manage this year’s crop for a successful growing season. Kielsmeier estimates that 70 percent of soybeans in her growing area were planted later than normal. On top of late plants, due to the heavy May rainfall and June dryness many fields are showing uneven emergence and growing stages right now. To make up for lost calendar time, the best thing to do is make sure there’s good weed and disease control, Kielsmeier says. “We have to take care of what’s out there at this point,” says Kielsmeier. This season, in-season management will be very important to make sure the crop that is planted can thrive as much as possible. Dawn Kielsmeier

ISA is continuing its ILSoyAdvisor.com podcasts, connecting agronomy experts with Illinois farmers to share their insights, experiences and recommendations on growing high-yielding, profitable soybeans. Nick Marley, agronomist and Certified Crop Adviser, joins us this month to share his insight on the importance of evaluating early season plant health after emergence. “Did bean leaf beetles feed on the cotyledons? Is the hypocotyl hooking below the soil surface? There are symptoms both above and below ground to look for,” explained Marley. Listen in to learn more about recognizing symptoms, diagnosing problems, and overcoming obstacles in future years.

AgriGold central Illinois regional agronomist, Todd Steinacher, provides boots-on-the-ground insights to growers preparing for 2017 planting. “Anytime we put seed into soil, we really need to understand the conditions we’re putting it into and making it live through,” explains Steinacher. Growers need to consider soil temperature, soil moisture, and tillage practices as they ready the planter this spring. Be cautious of weather forecasts, “If we continue to see a cool, wet trend – don’t push it,” says Steinacher. Less than ideal soil conditions could lead to bigger problems down the road. And Todd recommends growers consider agronomic solutions to offset those factors that are out of your hands. CCA Todd Steinacher is an agronomist at AgriGold. He works with growers to better manage their nitrogen and weed control needs, along with understanding the best way to estimate cost to generate a strong ROI.

With market pressure expected to continue for the next few years, Mike Boehlje, distinguished professor of agricultural economics at Purdue University, encourages growers to focus on what they can control—and remember that they have tackled tough economic times before. “It’s time to pull out the old playbook, dust it off and become better about minding the details and making precise management decisions as we did under previous economic pressures.” Economists are optimistic about the long-term future, maintains Boehlje. Until then, growers need to focus on reducing per-bushel costs to maintain profits and working capital. “Our analysis shows continued tight margins through much of this decade, unless something unexpected happens to soybean demand or big issues with supply,” says Boehlje. “Our recommendation is to focus is on controlling costs and being a best-in-class, low-cost producer.” In this episode of ILSoyAdvisor Profitability Matters radio, Boehlje shares his top tips for maintaining solid finan

Overall, 2017 will be another down year despite more record yields, with USDA-ERS data predicting about a 15 percent drop in farm incomes, says Steve Johnson, farm management specialist with Iowa State University. “As we enter the fourth year of depressed prices, successful farmers are watching their margins, paying attention to cash flow and cutting costs.” Listen now to hear Johnson’s specific recommendations for managing costs, marketing your crops and “overcoming your financial emotions” to make better decisions for your operation.

As trade facilitator for the Illinois Soybean Association, Eric Woodie spends his days working to generate beneficial partnerships with stakeholders across trade, transportation, infrastructure and other industries to create changes that will positively impact Illinois soybean growers. With more than a decade of experience in export trade, foreign markets, and inland logistics, Woodie’s skillset was a perfect match for ISA. “I handle the practical stuff,” says Woodie. “Aligning the right people to get projects going that ensure we’re getting soybeans into critical markets and working hard to minimize or remove any challenges for Illinois farmers.” Listen now to hear more about how Eric and the ISA team are working diligently on behalf of Illinois growers.

In both good times and bad there are commonalities among the farmers who tend to be most profitable. Last year a study sponsored by ISA and the Illinois Soybean checkoff program explored the on-farm practices that led to healthier bottom lines. Gary Schnitkey, agriculture and consumer economics professor at the University of Illinois, and his team of researchers found that certain habits of the most successful farmers set them apart. “The most resilient farmers are able to mitigate risks, make informed, cross-functional decisions and operate with lower overall costs than their peers,” says Schnitkey. Listen now to hear more on these fascinating findings.

Kris Reynolds, CCA and resource conservationist for the Montgomery County Soil and Water Conservation District, reviews the fundamentals of cover crops in this podcast. He explains what farmers should consider when selecting a cover crop, and emphasizes the importance of management when incorporating cover crops into their operation. He notes there will be a learning curve when trying something new, but encourages growers to continue experimenting with cover crops to see the full range of benefits to soil health.

Ivan Dozier, state conservationist for the Illinois Natural Resources Conservation Service, delves into the basics of organic matter, including short-term versus long-term organic buildup. He explains the benefits of the mulch effect, which include preventing erosion, suppressing weeds, improving tilth and helping soil maintain moisture. Growers can see the benefits of the mulch effect in as little as a year, which is why many farmers are adopting conservation practices on their acres.

Steve Baker, president of Springfield Plastics Inc., reviews saturated buffer strips in this podcast. He explains the difference between a traditional and a saturated buffer strip. He notes that saturated systems have been researched in a wide geography and most vegetation types can use this nitrogen. Baker encourages growers to do research on their own farm and experiment with this practice to see the costs they could save.