As farmers wind down the harvest season, it may be tempting to take a break and relax. But before the 2026 growing season fades into memory, retailers have an opportunity to work with customers to review the year and begin preparing for 2027.
Taking time to evaluate the season while the details are still fresh can provide valuable insights into decisions about seed, management practices and product placement for the coming year.
“It’s important to review the overall performance of the year,” says Danny Brummel, retail business manager for Brevant® seeds in Illinois. “You’ll want to review what decisions were made throughout the year and learn what worked and what didn’t work. Then you can look for opportunities that they might have for improvement on their farm.”
During this review, Brummel suggests looking at seed performance along with the many management factors that come into play on a farm. Examining fungicide application timing, the nitrogen rate used and more can help retailers get a solid picture of what happened throughout the season to better understand performance.
“When you’re looking at performance, you’re trying to understand the why,” he continues. “You’re trying to figure out what part of the outcome was driven by genetics versus what was driven by management decisions as well as environmental conditions.”
Looking at multiple years of data also helps put the most recent season into perspective. Comparing results across different growing conditions can help identify trends and separate one-year anomalies. Because every year is different, a historical view can best help farmers mitigate risks wherever possible.
“The next step is to determine what the farmer’s goals are for the following season,” Brummel says. “You’ll need to work with them to determine where they want to invest their resources and where they want to go with their operation. Once you have this information, then it’s time to start developing a plan.”
When developing a plan, retailers have a unique opportunity with the farmer because they know every part of the acre — not just seed, but fertilizer, crop protection and more. Knowing this background and having insight to the farmer’s management practices will help in developing a solid plan. Combining knowledge with an understanding of the farmer’s goals can help create a more complete approach for each acre.
“Painting the whole picture when developing a plan is critical,” Brummel says. “You’ll want to review hybrid and variety placement in each field and plan for what products should go where. Identifying multiple hybrids or varieties will help set the customer up for the best year possible. But it’s not just about picking the right products; it’s also important to know what management practices will bring the farmer the most success with the selected product portfolio.”
Once the plan is developed, retailers should take time to review the details with their customers and ensure everything is in place for spring. That includes confirming seed supplies, finalizing product placement and establishing a timeline with the customer.
When spring arrives, decisions often need to be made quickly. Taking care of as many details as possible during the winter can help retailers and farmers enter the next season with a clear strategy while leaving room to adjust when conditions change.
“At the end of the day, the goal is not to chase this year’s winner or abandon products based on one disappointing season,” Brummel says. “The goal is to really understand what happened this year and utilize that knowledge to place products more effectively while trying to reduce variability and ultimately put your customers in the position to have the greatest ROI possible.”
By using past performance data along with management practice insights, retailers can help customers move into 2027 with a solid plan that sets them up for a successful year ahead.
As retailers continue supporting their customers into next season, they can visit Brevant.com for additional resources and information.
™ ® Trademarks of Brevant seeds and its affiliated companies. ©2026 Brevant seeds. 0034276 BR (11/26) CAAG26BREV01765
