In this episode of the Field Advisor podcast, Kelsey talks with Illinois Soybean Association Outreach Agronomist Stephanie Porter, CCA, about the soybean diseases farmers should watch for in their fields this growing season. They cover scouting tips, weather impacts, and the importance of timely fungicide applications. Stephanie highlights key diseases such as frogeye leaf spot, septoria leaf blight, red crown rot, and sudden death syndrome (SDS), emphasizing accurate diagnosis and the role of research in managing these issues. The conversation also touches on insect management — particularly Japanese beetles — and other lessons from this growing season.
For more information on diseases and other tools, visit the Crop Protection Network. SDS Image Credit – Daren Mueller, Iowa State University, Bugwood.org
Kelsey Litchfield is the Agronomic Outreach Manager for the Illinois Soybean Association. In her role, she manages Field Advisor's media platforms and assists the agronomy team with events and field days.
A native of Rio, IL, Kelsey earned her bachelor’s degree from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2017 where she double majored in Agricultural Communications and Broadcast Journalism.