Strengthen farm management decisions by attending the Northwest Illinois Agronomy Summit
University of Illinois Extension is holding the annual Northwest Illinois Agronomy Summit this winter to provide producers with the latest agronomic research updates and equip them with information that will empower them in their farm decision-making.
This year’s conference will feature research updates from University of Illinois, University of Wisconsin, and Iowa State University faculty specialists, highlighting best management practices in the areas of soil fertility, corn and soybean management, and weed control.
Continuing education units are available for Certified Crop Advisers at this in-person event. The event will be held at the Highland Community College Student Conference Center, located in Building H, Parking Lot A. The cost to attend is $25, and registration is required. Registration includes all presentations, light refreshments, and lunch.
For questions or to request accommodations, contact Nikki Keltner at nkeltner@illinois.edu and 815-235-4125.
Northwest Illinois Agronomy Summit Schedule
9:00 to 9:30 AM - Registration
9:30 to 9:40 AM - Welcome, Kathryn Seebruck
9:40 to 10:25 AM - SoilBNB: How to make your soils a host for microbes and reap the benefits - Marshall McDaniel, Iowa State University
- Playing on the trend of hosting people in Airbnbs (bed and breakfast), the session will talk about making soils a host for those wriggly and hard-to-see visitors. We know that the living organisms in the soil are important for a healthy soil. The details on how to make them happy and how measuring their benefits is critical to regenerative and sustainable agriculture.
10:25 to 11:10 AM - Foliar fertilizers: When do we see the best bang for the buck in soybean? - Mark Kendall, University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension
- Farmers have several opportunities to supplement their soybeans with foliar fertilizers throughout the growing season. Selecting the right nutrients and applying them at the right time are critical to gaining a positive return on investment with lower commodity prices. The session will look back at the most recent five-plus years of research to see where foliar fertilizers fit best in soybean production.
11:10 to 11:20 AM - Break
11:20 to 12:05 PM - Producer Enemy Number 1: The case against waterhemp - Kathryn Seebruck, University of Illinois Extension
- Frequently cited as one of the most troublesome weed species in corn and soybeans, waterhemp is as persistent as it is pervasive, earning its place at the top of many producers’ “Most Wanted” list. The session will profile waterhemp and detail its modus operandi to identify the best management practices that can and should be utilized to apprehend this tenacious weed.
12:05 to 12:20 PM - Exhibitor spotlights
12:20 to 1:05 PM - Lunch
1:05 to 1:50 PM - Managing waterhemp with cover crops - Dan Smith, University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension
- Cover crops established in corn and soybean crop rotations can have substantial impact on weed suppression in the Upper Midwest for corn and soybean crops. The session will discuss how using cover crops successfully in a current crop rotation can suppress weeds.
1:50 to 2:35 PM - Why do we fertilize? Reviewing corn and soybean nutrient needs and best fertility practices - Connor Sible, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Does the phrase “we’ve always done it that way” ring a bell? When it comes to crop nutrition, it can be easy to stick to what we know. However, it is always good to remind ourselves why we fertilize crops with the nutrients and methods that we do. This talk will review the nutrient needs and distributions for corn and soybean, identify the traditional focuses, and highlight new research on 4R practices to help optimize fertilizer use efficiency and return on fertilizer investment.
About Agronomy Summits
Expanding from one event in northern Illinois to now eight, Illinois Extension Agronomy Summits are touring throughout the state in winter 2026. Attendees can expect sessions filled with the latest research updates from crop science experts at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, Illinois Extension, as well as additional university and industry professionals.
Additional 2026 Agronomy Summit Locations
- Peoria Agronomy Summit | Jan. 12
- Southeastern Agronomy Summit | Fairfield, Jan. 22
- Southwestern Agronomy Summit | Waterloo, Feb. 3
- Oglesby Agronomy Summit | Feb. 5
- Joliet Agronomy Summit | Feb. 10
- Springfield Agronomy Summit | Feb. 17
- Clark County Agronomy Summit | Feb. 24