This article originally appeared in the December 2026 issue of Illinois Field & Bean magazine.

In recent issues of Illinois Field & Bean magazine, we introduced a new Field Advisor column in which researchers share updates from projects funded by the Illinois Soybean Checkoff. Our goal isn’t just to tell you what your checkoff dollars support, it’s to show the results of that work and how those findings can make a difference on your farm.

Recent articles highlighted the kind of practical, data-driven information these projects deliver. Dr. Andrew Margenot and Heidi Allen studied soil health in “Is Your Soil Breathing? What CO2 Can Tell Us About Soil Health,” while Dr. Nathan Schroeder’s “Phantom of the Field: Soybean Cyst Nematode” detailed soybean cyst nematode test results from Illinois fields and encouraged farmers to take advantage of free sampling offered through the checkoff-funded program. The October issue featured a comprehensive list of projects being funded through 2025-26, highlighting our continued commitment to transparency and practical impact.

But the conversation doesn’t stop there.

Photo: Illinois Soybean Association

For those who want to dig deeper into agronomic data, learn from top researchers and sharpen their management strategies, mark your calendar for the Field Advisor Forum coming Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, at the Atkins Golf Club at the University of Illinois in Urbana.

You might think, “It’s just another winter meeting.” It’s not. The Field Advisor Forum is designed to bridge the gap between research plots and farmer decision-making. Funded by the Illinois Soybean Checkoff, this event connects farmers, industry and researchers who are all working toward the same goal: turning data into better production decisions.

This year’s agenda is packed with expertise from across the Midwest and the country, including:

• Shaun Casteel, Purdue University, will share his latest soybean research and management strategies.
• David Kohl, Professor Emeritus at Virginia Tech, will help attendees understand how to “thrive in economic chaos.”
• Stephanie Porter, CCA and Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) Outreach Agronomist, will present results from the 2025 ISA OnFarm Trial Network sulfur trials.
• An integrated pest management panel with Dr. Nick Seiter, Dr. Boris Camiletti and Dr. Aaron Hager will unpack 2025 growing season observations in plant diseases, entomology and weed management.
• Andrew Margenot, University of Illinois, will discuss updated liming recommendations for Illinois soils.
• Rachel Vann, University of Illinois, will explore late-season soybean management.
• Jacob Dickey, WCIA meteorologist, will share weather observations and long-range outlooks relevant to Illinois producers.

The Field Advisor Forum is your chance to hear directly from the experts, ask questions and walk away with actionable takeaways to use on your operation next season and beyond.

Can’t make it to Urbana? No problem. Select presentations will be streamed live on Field Advisor’s YouTube channel and Facebook page, allowing you to participate from your home, shop or office.

Click this link to register and join us for a day of learning and connection. Because when it comes to soybean management, the Illinois Soybean Checkoff is making sure research doesn’t stay in the lab, it reaches the field.