2025 Challenges and Planning

The final days of 2025 are closing in, and before long we’ll be turning the calendar to a new year. This season came with its share of challenges, but it also taught us a lot—especially when it came to disease pressure and how we manage it.

As chemical plans and prepay bookings have been put together, disease management has remained top of mind for many growers. Conversations around fungicide selection, application methods, and timing have been more frequent than ever. While we may not see another southern rust year like this one anytime soon, it will certainly be managed much more closely the next time it appears. From an ROI standpoint, this past season was one of the strongest I’ve seen in my career for that application.

Looking ahead to 2026, margins are shaping up to be razor thin. Getting the most out of every input will be more critical than ever. There are only so many areas where costs can be cut without negatively impacting yield. As plans are finalized, it may be worthwhile to invest in additional soil testing to better understand current nutrient levels and fine-tune input decisions on a field-by-field basis.

Compounding the challenge, most input costs are higher than they were last season, adding additional pressure when trying to fit plans within today’s cash flow realities. One thing is certain: 2026 will bring a new set of challenges. All we can do is prepare as well as possible and make informed decisions to put ourselves in the best position for success.