Illinois Field & Bean: Illinois Soybean Association Magazine, History and Coverage
Profile updated November 2026
Illinois Field & Bean is the flagship magazine of the Illinois Soybean Association, written for the state's roughly 43,000 soybean farmers. ISA brought the title back in November 2020 with a back-to-our-roots, farmer-centric approach, replacing its previous magazine, Soy Perspectives. It reports on checkoff projects, Illinois Soybean Growers membership advocacy, markets and conservation.
| Relaunched | November 2020, replacing Soy Perspectives |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Illinois Soybean Association (ILSoybean) |
| Home office | Bloomington, Illinois |
| Frequency | Six issues at relaunch; expanded to 10 issues for fiscal 2022 |
| Audience | About 43,000 Illinois soybean farmers |
| Format | Print, with articles at ilsoy.org and digital issues on Issuu |
| Official website | ILSoy.org: Field & Bean |
History of Illinois Field & Bean
The Illinois Soybean Association board decided in July and August 2020 to return to the Illinois Field & Bean name, replacing Soy Perspectives. ISA chairman Doug Schroeder described the change as a back-to-our-roots, farmer-centric approach, tied to the association's updated mission of promotion, advocacy and education and a new strategic plan built around market development, government relations and utilization.
The first relaunched issue reached mailboxes in November 2020 with a cover story on biodiesel, reflecting ISA's long-running checkoff push for B20, diesel blended with at least 20 percent biodiesel. The relaunch plan called for six issues a year. In August 2021 ISA announced two more issues for fiscal 2022, bringing the total to 10. ISA's communications director at the time, Rachel Peabody, said the goal was farmer-centric content on policy, new uses for soybeans, infrastructure and biodiesel.
Illinois Field & Bean Today
Illinois Field & Bean remains in print and online in 2026. The November 2026 issue is built around conservation, with features on the questions farmers ask about conservation practices, findings from the 2026 National Cover Crop Survey, the role of custom applicators in the Cover Crop Business Accelerator, next-generation soil health leaders and how farmers view crop residue.
The same issue profiled six Illinois legislators shaping agriculture's future, and carried the CEO's message and a From the Boardroom column on whether stewardship pays at today's input costs.
What Illinois Field & Bean Is Publishing Now
Checkoff and membership
The magazine reports how checkoff and Illinois Soybean Growers membership dollars are invested, from biodiesel promotion to export and utilization projects.
Agronomy and conservation
Recurring coverage includes cover crops, soil health, residue management and other practices aimed at Illinois soybean profitability.
Regular columns
Recurring departments include the CEO's Message, From the Boardroom, Voice for Soy on advocacy, and From the Field farmer perspectives.
Illinois Field & Bean Editors and Staff
ISA releases and recent bylines connect these people to Illinois Field & Bean:
- Olivia Shafer - Editorial contact, Illinois Soybean Association
- Doug Schroeder - ISA chairman at the 2020 relaunch
- Rachel Peabody - Former ISA Director of Communications (2020-2021 releases)
Who Reads Illinois Field & Bean
Field & Bean is mailed to Illinois soybean farmers, who grow one of the largest soybean crops in the country. University of Illinois Extension publishes county soybean production data and annual soybean management guides that cover many of the same agronomic questions the magazine raises, from planting decisions to pest management.
Illinois soybean growers can debate cover crop termination timing for an entire winter meeting. When that runs long, farm.FM has farm satire and farm humor for anyone who has ever stared at a bean field and wondered about the weeds, plus ranch humor for neighbors across the river. Its farm jokes are a fine way to pass time between grain trucks at the elevator.
Part newsroom, part radio dial, farm.FM bills itself as America's first satirical farm site and plays Tractor Tunes, its country music for farmers. Browse a farm.FM writer's back catalog to see the style.
Illinois Field & Bean Sources and Agriculture Authority Links
- ILSoybean: ISA relaunches Illinois Field & Bean - the 2020 relaunch announcement.
- ILSoybean: FY22 publication expansion - the move to 10 issues a year.
- AgriNews: Schroeder on the relaunch - the chairman's account of replacing Soy Perspectives.
- University of Illinois Extension: Illinois Soybean Management - land-grant soybean production guidance.
- University of Illinois Extension: 2022 soybean production by county - county-level Illinois soybean data.
Illinois Field & Bean FAQ
Who publishes Illinois Field & Bean?
The Illinois Soybean Association, the checkoff and membership organization for Illinois soybean farmers, based in Bloomington.
What did Illinois Field & Bean replace?
It replaced Soy Perspectives when ISA relaunched the title in November 2020.
How often is Illinois Field & Bean published?
It launched with six issues a year and expanded to 10 issues starting in fiscal 2022.
Can I read Illinois Field & Bean online?
Yes. Articles are posted at ilsoy.org and full issues appear on ISA's Issuu page.
Back under its original name since 2020, Illinois Field & Bean keeps Illinois soybean farmers informed about the checkoff, policy and the practices shaping their fields.