OGLESBY, Ill. – Illinois farmers, ag professionals, and community members gathered recently for the Oglesby Agronomy Summit, an educational event hosted by University of Illinois Extension. The summit featured research-based presentations on agronomic management, regulatory updates, weather extremes, and farmer well-being.
The program opened with “Bio‑what? Biostimulants, Biologicals, Biofertilizers: Reviewing the Market and Tips to Their Use,” presented by Dr. Connor Sible, University of Illinois Urbana‑Champaign Crop Sciences Researcher. Drawing on nine years of corn and soybean field trials, Sible reviewed how bio-based products differ, what research tells us about their effectiveness, and the key questions farmers should ask before adopting them on their operations.
Dr. Giovani Preza Fontes provided a nitrogen and sulfur management update, summarizing past and current Illinois research and highlighting considerations for nutrient management decisions in changing production and environmental conditions.
The summit also addressed the regulatory dimensions of agriculture. KJ Johnson, Illinois Soybean Association Director of Governmental Affairs, presented a Pesticide Regulatory Update for Illinois Farmers, outlining significant upcoming changes, including EPA herbicide and insecticide strategies, the influence of updated Endangered Species Act labels on on‑farm decisions, and anticipated changes to applicator license renewal and continuing education requirements.
Recognizing the importance of farmer well‑being, Cheyanne Dierickx shared Agricultural Mental Health: Extension Resources for Individuals and Communities, highlighting current research and resources available through Illinois Extension to support individuals, families, and rural communities.
Weather and climate challenges were the focus of “Dealing with Wind and Water in Illinois,” presented by Dr. Trent Ford. The session explored the four “Ds” impacting Illinois agriculture—derechos, dust storms, drought, and deluge—and discussed soil and water management strategies to reduce risk and build resilience.
“The Oglesby Agronomy Summit is about bringing research and real‑world application together,” said Emily Hansen, University of Illinois Extension commercial agriculture educator. “Our goal is to help farmers make informed decisions by sharing the latest science, regulatory updates, and practical tools they can use on their farms today and into the future.”
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 500 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through five program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, health and community wellness, and natural resources, environment, and energy.