Are you prepared for the 2026 growing season?

It may seem like an eternity until spring arrives, but if weather cooperates, we could be dropping seed in the ground in as little as three months. Now is the time to finalize your agronomy plans for 2026 crop-year inputs so you can optimize yields by placing the right products on the right acres.

A good plan starts with seed. Most corn hybrids and soybean varieties reach their greatest yield potential when placed on the correct soils. Once seed placement is determined in your agronomy plan, we can move on to fertilizer. Are you fertilizing your fields in a way that truly optimizes your return on investment?

We offer variable-rate fertilizer applications based on soil sample results, yield data, CSRs, or any other method that makes sense for your operation. We can also customize rate zones by combining soil data and yield maps to better target fertility needs.

Next, we need to protect your crops from yield-robbing weeds by planning a solid two-pass chemical program. Using a pre-emerge application followed by a post-emerge product with residual activity helps you start clean and keep fields clean throughout the growing season.

Plant health is another key area to consider, including planning for fungicide and/or insecticide applications. Fungicide and insecticide on soybeans almost always provide a return on investment. With the movement of tar spot into our area, fungicide applications on corn could offer significant returns if the disease presents itself early in the season. The 2025 crop year showed some of the largest returns on corn fungicides ever, with returns exceeding five times the investment in many areas—even in today’s markets.

Now is the time to sit down with your local SFG CCA agronomist to complete your agronomy plan. While weather or other factors may require adjustments, having a solid plan in place will save valuable time at planting and help ensure the right products are placed on the right acres across your farm.