Turn this year’s lessons into next season’s game plan
Learning is part of growing. Each season, Mother Nature provides countless lessons — allowing farmers to expand their knowledge and apply their learnings to the next crop. This year was no different. From untimely rains to fast-spreading diseases, there is no shortage of takeaways from 2023.
Craig Solomon, area product manager for Brevant® seeds, says lessons don’t always come from the challenging unforeseeable circumstances. They also can come from everyday experiences. So how can farmers turn their lessons into action? Solomon recommends starting with the local ag retail team.
A farmer in Nebraska won’t have identical issues to a farmer in Illinois. Similarly, a farmer in eastern Iowa won’t have the same experience as a farmer in the western part of the state. Whether it be from environment, weather or management style, each operation is different. Plus, there are going to be different priorities on every farm.
One way farmers can organize next season’s to-do list is to communicate with their ag retail team built with trusted seed advisers. Because ag retail has local expertise and offers season-long support, ag retailers can help identify fundamental issues and how to overcome them.
For instance, a producer who experienced significant yield loss in soybeans might prioritize combating soybean cyst nematodes over weed control. A farmer with significant tar spot damage might prioritize disease protection over drought tolerance. It’s all relative.
Solomon suggests retailers schedule time to sit down with their customers to discuss the highs and lows of the season, identify key issues and make a seed game plan.
“If we can take time to identify the key triggers that affect an operation, we’ll be more successful at positioning products that will perform on that specific farm,” Solomon said.
There is a lot of variability in farming, which can make preparing for the next season difficult. Farmers must consider soil type, trait packages, weed control systems and much more when making management decisions. One of the most unpredictable — and influential — considerations is weather. Although there is no way to predict weather patterns to a T, Solomon recommends looking at the averages.
“In my area around western Kansas, western Nebraska and Colorado, we went from having two years of drought to one of the wettest springs and nicest growing seasons we’ve had in a long time,” Solomon said. “It’s the opposite for eastern Nebraska, eastern Kansas and parts of Missouri. If we’re thinking about 2024, I wouldn’t expect those same growing conditions. Based on the averages, I would think we’re likely to see a shift in the weather pattern. Trust the long-term weather trends and plan for success.”
Despite not knowing what the next season will bring, Solomon advises farmers to prepare for a high-performing crop and avoid “drastic changes.” The lessons from 2023 don’t look the same for everyone, so the application will look different too. Farmers can tap in to their local retail team to help define what success looks like on their farm and how they can get there.
For more advice and information about what Brevant seeds has to offer for next season, visit with your Brevant seeds team or visit Brevant.com/technology.
™ ® Trademarks of Corteva Agriscience and its affiliated companies. © 2023 Corteva.