Critical Post-Harvest Agronomic Decisions to Set the Stage for 2026
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The 2025 growing season was defined by its variability. Favorable planting conditions gave way to significant heat and moisture stress during critical pollination and grain fill stages, impacting kernel size and overall yield potential. As harvest approaches, it is imperative to shift focus to end-of-season agronomic practices that not only maximize the current crop's potential but also lay the groundwork for a successful 2026 season.
Brianna Gehrig, a retail sales agronomist for Brevant® seeds in Illinois, outlines three key agronomic priorities for the fall.
The goal of harvest timing is to find the optimal balance between allowing grain to dry down in the field and mitigating risks of yield loss from delayed harvesting.
Target Moisture: Agronomists generally recommend beginning corn harvest when grain moisture is between 24-25%. Harvesting in this window helps minimize mechanical harvest losses and reduces the risk of stalk lodging and ear drop. While allowing corn to dry further in the field can lower drying costs, this strategy risks losses from stalk lodging, ear rots, and pest damage.
Physiological Maturity: Once corn reaches physiological maturity, or "black layer," it is no longer accumulating dry matter. From this point, it's a matter of moisture loss. The rate of dry-down is influenced by weather, with warm, dry conditions accelerating the process. It's crucial to prioritize harvesting fields with early-maturing hybrids or those showing signs of weak stalks to prevent standability issues.
The combine provides a unique vantage point for initial field assessments, but detailed post-harvest scouting is essential for informing 2026 management decisions.
Disease and Stalk Integrity: High humidity and late-season rains in many areas created ideal conditions for diseases like Tar Spot, Goss's Wilt, and various stalk rots such as Anthracnose and Gibberella. Evaluate stalk integrity by performing push or pinch tests on a representative number of plants (e.g., 100 plants per field) to identify fields prone to lodging that should be harvested first. Noting which diseases are present will directly inform hybrid selection for 2026, prioritizing genetics with stronger defensive ratings.
Pest Pressure: For corn-on-corn acres, assessing corn rootworm (CRW) pressure is critical. Perform root digs and use the 0-3 node-injury scale to quantify the level of damage. This data is vital for determining the need for a robust CRW management strategy next year. For areas with significant pressure, selecting a hybrid with multiple modes of action, like Brevant® brand Vorceed® Enlist® corn, is a key consideration. Vorceed Enlist corn utilizes RNAi technology, which has been shown to reduce adult CRW emergence by approximately 99%, helping to lower future populations.
Weed Escapes: Note any weeds present at harvest, as this can indicate gaps in your herbicide program or the presence of herbicide-resistant populations. This information is critical for planning a more effective pre- and post-emergence program for the next season.
Fall is the ideal time to manage the high volume of residue left after corn harvest. Proper residue management can improve soil health, nutrient cycling, and the ease of spring planting operations.
Mechanical Management: Practices like chopping stalks or performing vertical tillage help size residue, which increases its surface area and promotes faster microbial decomposition over the winter. Effective breakdown of residue is crucial, especially for rotated acres going to soybeans, as it prevents "hairpinning" by the planter, ensuring good seed-to-soil contact and uniform emergence.
Biological and Nutrient Management: Corn residue contains valuable nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium that are returned to the soil as it decomposes. Leaving residue on the surface also helps reduce soil erosion, conserve moisture, and increase soil organic matter. In some cases, farmers may consider cover crops, which can help accelerate nutrient cycling, prevent erosion, and improve soil structure.
To discuss your field-specific results and create a tailored agronomic plan for the 2026 season, contact your local Brevant seeds representative. Find your local team at https://www.brevant.com/team.html.