CropLife Retail Week: Talking with IFCA’s Jason Solberg

In this episode, Editor Eric Sfiligoj chats with Jason Solberg, the new interim President at the Illinois Fertilizer & Chemical Association (IFCA), about industry topics and the organization’s upcoming annual meeting in Peoria, IL.

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*Below is a partial and edited transcript:

Eric Sfiligoj
Hello, everyone. Welcome to another edition of CropLife Retail Week. I’m Eric Sfiligoj, editor of CropLife and CropLife IRON. I’m here with a special guest to kick off the new year, Jason Solberg from the Illinois Fertilizer & Chemical Association. Jason, welcome to the program.

Jason Solberg
Thanks, Eric. I really appreciate you having me.

Eric Sfiligoj
Great to have you here. As we start the new year, you’re stepping into a new role as interim president and CEO. For viewers who may not know you, can you give us a little background—where you grew up and how you came to join IFCA?

Jason Solberg
Of course. I was recently named interim president. I’m originally from Bloomington, Illinois, where IFCA’s offices are located. I attended Illinois State University and earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental health and safety.

As I was finishing college, I had an internship with Dan Schaefer, who is on staff at IFCA. At the time, he had just been hired to lead nutrient stewardship efforts. Dan was working on projects with ag retailers, university personnel, and researchers focused on best management practices. I spent my internship—and the first couple of years afterward—working with IFCA in the field, conducting research.

Over time, I gravitated more toward the office and moved into a hybrid role that combined research with developing and managing other IFCA programs and trainings. I’ve essentially been doing that ever since. I’ve still maintained a strong working relationship with Dan and continued some field involvement, but much of my focus has been on programs, training, and compliance under IFCA regulations. That’s what I’ve been busy with for the past 12 years or so.

Eric Sfiligoj
Wow, very good. Before we completely close the book on 2025, IFCA does a lot of work on behalf of its members and ag retailers. Can you talk about one or two major accomplishments from 2025 and why they matter?

Jason Solberg
One of the biggest accomplishments was the passage of the bill related to continuing education credits for pesticide licensing. Going forward, once the program is implemented, applicators will still need to pass the exam initially to obtain their license. However, instead of retaking the exam every three years, they’ll be able to earn continuing education credits—similar to how Certified Crop Advisors operate.

Every three years, applicators will need to earn 15 credits by attending meetings and staying up to date through active learning. This allows them to renew their license without retaking the exam. We’re very excited about this change.

That said, the Illinois Department of Agriculture will be administering the program, so they need time for software, funding, and rulemaking. While the bill has passed, the program won’t roll out in 2026. The earliest realistic timeframe is fall of 2027. Initially, it will apply to general standards, with additional categories following later.

In connection with this, IFCA is also developing an applicator training program at our office. Our new building includes a training room, and we have a committee working on materials. We’re hoping to roll out this additional training in 2026, and it will count toward credits for certification renewal.

Eric Sfiligoj
I’ve been to that facility before, especially during the summer show. It’s a great space, and if you’re ever in Bloomington, it’s definitely worth checking out.

Jason Solberg
Absolutely. One of the best parts of our move is that we now have more space. Members frequently use our office for meetings, and we’re centrally located with a large meeting room. We always encourage members to contact us if they need a place to meet—especially if they’re bringing together staff from different parts of the state. It’s part of what we offer as a membership benefit.

Eric Sfiligoj
Besides training and the education bill, is there another top-of-mind goal as we head into 2026?

Jason Solberg
Getting that education bill passed took a lot of effort, and K.J. Johnson on our staff did a phenomenal job seeing it through. Looking ahead, much of our focus will be defensive. We expect to see proposed legislation that may not always make sense for the industry.

Our role will be to work with other groups and lawmakers to ensure that any legislation is practical and grounded in real-world industry knowledge. There will be many conversations at the Capitol this upcoming session to make sure proposed bills make sense for ag retailers and the broader industry.

Eric Sfiligoj
Very good. Now that we’re into January, people are looking ahead to the growing season, and winter trade shows are in full swing. IFCA’s annual meeting is coming up shortly after Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Can you give us a preview—what, where, and why it’s important to attend?

Jason Solberg
We’ve held our annual meeting during the week of MLK Day for many years. This year it’s January 20–22 at the Peoria Civic Center. We’re always excited about it—it takes a lot of energy and effort to put on the show.

When it comes to why people should attend, there are two main reasons. First, our convention committee works closely with members to understand what’s most important agronomically, politically, and from a market perspective. The agenda and speaker lineup directly reflect what our members tell us they want to learn about.

Second, you won’t find many other opportunities where every corner of the industry is represented in one place. That includes exhibitors on the trade show floor, expert speakers, regulators, and attendees from all sectors of the industry. Whether you have questions, want to network, or need to conduct business, you can do it all there.

On the trade show floor, you’ll find manufacturers, suppliers, equipment providers, storage and transportation companies, ag retailers, and state regulatory representatives. Our sessions are broken out by agronomic, regulatory, and applicator training topics. It’s truly a one-stop opportunity to get answers, expand your network, and stay informed.

Eric Sfiligoj
And of course, on the fun side, there’s the auction.

Jason Solberg
Yes. There are two parts—the silent auction and the live auction. The live auction takes place Wednesday at 3:45 p.m. on the trade show floor. Our members do an incredible job donating items each year, and all proceeds support our Ag-Solve PAC.

The funds help us continue representing the industry moving forward into 2026. There’s always a wide variety of items—tickets, larger purchases, and unique offerings. It’s lively, there are hundreds of people on the floor, and it’s always a great time.

Eric Sfiligoj
I’ll also add that this year will be the first time IFCA hosts the presentation of the CropLife IRON Product of the Year trophy during the show. That award, voted on by our readers, will be presented live during the auction on Wednesday, January 21. If you want to see who takes home the trophy, you’ll have to be there.

Jason Solberg
That’s going to be great.

Eric Sfiligoj
For folks interested in attending, where can they find registration information?

Jason Solberg
Everything is on our website. There’s a convention tab where you can register, view the agenda, see hotel room blocks, speaker bios, and the trade show floor map with exhibitor listings. You can plan ahead for who you want to visit.

People can also call our office with questions—we’ve been getting calls nonstop the past few weeks. We’re always happy to help, but registration should be very simple online.