Seed selling starts from the combine cab
Riding fields at harvest is a great way to evaluate product performance and gather insights that inform next seasons’ seed decisions.
Dustin Teig, Brevant™ seeds retail product agronomist in central Iowa, said harvest is the ideal time to help farmers evaluate their crop, improve yields and increase profitability.
“Farmers and retailers can learn so much when they go across the field in the combine,” Teig said. “In some cases, it could be the first time they’ve gone across field since a fungicide was applied — and a lot has changed. A view from the combine can shed light on the season.”
Teig recommends evaluting stalks and standability as an indicator of potential pests and pathogens.
“You want to determine how the stalks are holding up. If a crop is not standing well after it dries down, it could indicate that a fungicide was needed,” Teig said. “For some farmers, a fungicide application is automatic each year, but many make the decision halfway through the crop cycle. Harvest is a good time to evaluate that decision and consider if a fungicide would have helped.”
Poor standability also could be caused by corn rootworm pressure. If corn rootworms are suspected, it’s best to pull stalks and examine roots. If root structures are damaged, you may recommend hybrids next season with below-ground protection, such as Brevant brand Qrome® products. These hybrids come fully equipped with a triple stack of defensive traits and dual modes of action to defend against above- and below-ground pests.
Teig also said harvest is a good time to evaluate how the crop responded to drought. Much of the Corn Belt experienced extensive drought in 2021, and the trend could continue into 2022. If so, consider how current hybrids performed under less-than-ideal conditions. Farmers may want to plant hybrids with better drought tolerance next season.
“It’s important to consider how hybrids performed across the field,” Teig said. “Did the crop struggle in the sandy parts of the field due to drought? For farmers suffering drought conditions, Brevant brand Optimum AQUAmax hybrids can help them make the best use of moisture.”
Other things to consider
Harvest is often the time to evaluate what didn’t go well during the season, but it’s also important to recognize what went well — and how big yield may have impacted fields. For example, scale-pushing yield may mean plants had high fertilizer uptake, so fields could need extra help before next season.
“If a farmer rang the bell with yield, it’s easy to celebrate in the moment. But we also need to think about what that means for the field’s fertility,” Teig said. “If a crop yields really well, you’ll want to look at fertilizer removal rates to determine what should be added to replenish the acre.”
Of course, riding the combine isn’t just about gaining agronomic information — it’s an excellent time to build relationships and have some fun. Don’t forget to surprise your customers with early morning coffee or pick up sandwiches for lunch. Small relationship investments at harvest can pay big dividends later. While you’re in the field, remember to take pictures with your smartphone of those high-yielding fields. You can share those photos during winter meetings or on social media to showcase product performance and your personal service.
For the exclusive first look at local yield results this season, you can sign up for the First to Know emails for Brevant seeds. As harvest picks up, you’ll get yield summaries delivered straight to your inbox.
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