Start Clean, Stay Clean in 2026

With spring rapidly approaching and the corn market not showing much strength, many farmers are looking for ways to trim expenses for the 2026 growing season. One question I continue to hear is, "Do I really need to spend money on a pre-emerge herbicide, or can I just add residual to my post application?" It is a fair question, especially in a year where every input dollar is being scrutinized more closely than usual.

The short answer is yes to both. Many fields across our trade territory are dealing with weed populations that are already tolerant or resistant to several post-emerge chemistries. Take waterhemp, for example, where in many cases there may be only one effective post-emerge option left, and even that can vary depending on geography.

While tillage can control early-emerging weeds, the continued shift toward no-till systems means we are relying more heavily on herbicides to do the job. With very little new chemistry expected to hit the market, aside from some new premixes, it is more important than ever to protect what we have. That starts with using multiple effective modes of action throughout the growing season.

Many of today’s top-performing pre-emerge products already include more than one mode of action, which makes them a strong foundation to build from. Starting clean with a solid pre program sets the stage for success and reduces early-season competition. Following that with a timely post-emerge application helps control escapes and keeps fields from getting away from you.

Adding another layer of residual at post gives you extended control and additional modes of action working later into the season. That kind of layered approach is what keeps resistant and tolerant weed populations in check over time. It also helps reduce the selection pressure that leads to even tougher weed problems down the road.

Can you skip a pre-emerge pass for a year or two? Maybe, and some operations will try it when margins get tight. But eventually, it will catch up, and when it does, you are not just fighting weeds, you are dealing with populations that are harder and more expensive to control.

A solid two-pass program is not just a cost, it is an investment in keeping your fields clean and your chemistry working for the long haul. Cutting that corner might save a few dollars this season, but it often creates bigger problems in the years ahead. Talk to your local SFG agronomist about building a program that fits your acres and protects your yield potential in 2026.