Illinois Extension Agronomy Summit Discusses Best Management Practices for Corn and Soy

Feb 17, 2025

By Emily Hansen

University of Illinois Extension hosted the inaugural Oglesby Agronomy Summit on January 23, 2025 at Illinois Valley Community College. Expanding from one event in northern Illinois last year to six this year, the Agronomy Summits are intended to provide farmers and agronomists with the latest information from University of Illinois Crop Sciences researchers.

Illinois Extension has worked to increase ag staff numbers throughout the state to reach more local farmers and open communication channels. With those channels established, events like Agronomy Summits can be more customized, and staff can deliver updates on relevant topics that farmers are experiencing on their farms today.

The event was attended by farmers, agribusiness representatives, and local agency staff alike. Participants heard the latest research updates from University of Illinois experts on best management practices for corn and soy growers. Dr. Gary Schnitkey, ag economics professor, discussed different management strategies that farm businesses can consider in years with low returns. Dr. Boris Camiletti, plant pathologist, discussed the main diseases impacting corn and soybeans in Illinois and how to manage them to maintain yields. Dr. Connor Sible, crop production researcher, reviewed the key considerations related to fertilizer management, row spacing, and variety selection that provide the greatest successes for growers. Luke Bergschneider, a soil researcher, discussed ongoing research projects at the University that will improve phosphorus and potassium management and recommendations for Illinois growers. Finally, Dr. Chance Riggins, crop sciences professor, discussed his work with industrial hemp and the future of this specialty crop in Illinois.

Participants walked away with the tips and tools needed to manage their farms in years with unpredictable weather, disease issues, and low incomes. Local Illinois Extension staff were happy that they could bring this event to growers in Bureau, LaSalle, Marshall, and Putnam counties. “The Oglesby Agronomy Summit was a huge success,” said Emily Hansen, Commercial Agriculture Educator. “It was great to meet with local growers and share the latest University research and resources with the community.”

Source : illinois.edu

Video: Turning Plant Defense Into a Management Strategy

Turning Plant Defense Into a Management Strategy

Understanding how a plant responds to stress is one thing.

Using that knowledge to make better management decisions is another.

Systemic acquired resistance, or SAR, is the plant's more direct defense response. When stress or infection occurs, the plant begins signaling throughout its system and preparing defensive compounds.

But if we know that response exists, can we help prepare the plant before the stress arrives?

The answer starts with understanding what triggers the response and what the plant needs to carry it out.

The Trigger and the Fuel

Salicylic acid plays an important role in triggering the SAR pathway.

Think of it as turning the truck on.

The engine may be running, but it still needs fuel to do the work.

In this case, manganese plays an important role in supporting the enzyme systems involved in the plant's defensive response.

This makes manganese status an important part of the conversation. Whether a producer is using tissue testing, sap analysis, or simply scouting for visible deficiency symptoms, the goal is to make sure the plant has adequate manganese available.

Manganese is required in relatively small amounts, but that does not make its role small.

If the plant receives a signal to defend itself but lacks the nutrition needed to support that response, it may struggle to carry out the process efficiently.

The trigger matters.

The fuel matters too.

Prepare Before the Stress Arrives

The best time to think about stress management is before the plant is overwhelmed.

Once a crop is already struggling, management can quickly turn into a game of catch-up.

This is similar to nitrogen management. Once a plant becomes severely deficient, correcting the problem does not necessarily erase the time and yield potential already lost.

Plant defense can work the same way.

Low-rate, targeted approaches designed to support the SAR pathway may fit best ahead of an expected stress event rather than after significant damage has already occurred.

That requires producers to think about predictable stress.

We may not know exactly what the weather will do tomorrow, but we generally know summer heat is coming. We know certain field conditions increase disease pressure. We know a herbicide application can temporarily stress a crop as the plant processes the chemistry.

Even a properly timed and labeled herbicide application can create a temporary response in the plant.

That does not mean the herbicide is bad.

Weeds can create significantly more yield loss than the temporary stress caused by controlling them.

The question is not whether we should eliminate every stressor.

The question is whether we can better prepare the plant to manage necessary and predictable stress.

Not All Stress Is Bad

Stress is a normal part of plant growth.

A perfectly stress-free environment does not exist in the field.

In fact, some stress is necessary for normal plant development. A plant responds to wind, temperature, moisture, sunlight, and countless other environmental signals throughout the season.

The environment is stress.

The plant's job is to manage it.

Problems begin when the stress load becomes greater than the plant's ability to respond.

Extreme heat, drought, high salt concentrations, disease pressure, and even certain management practices can add to that load.

This is where understanding SAR becomes useful.

Instead of waiting until the plant is visibly struggling, producers can begin identifying periods when stress is likely and make management decisions around those windows.

ISR Starts With the Soil

While SAR is a more direct defense response, induced systemic resistance, or ISR, brings the conversation back to soil health.

The longevity of a farm is closely connected to the health of its soil.

Carbon plays a major role because it supports biological life within the soil. Bacteria, fungi, and other organisms interact with plant roots and influence how the plant grows, accesses nutrients, and prepares for stress.

This is why soil health cannot be reduced to one product or one application.

It is a system.

Keeping living plants in the field longer can support biological activity. Cover crops may fit some operations. Better water management can improve soil conditions.