As farmers begin looking ahead to the 2026 growing season, agronomic planning is already underway, even as questions linger about spring weather and planting windows.
In an interview with the American Ag Network, Grant Mehring, a technical agronomist with Bayer, said early February is a key moment for producers to evaluate a handful of management decisions that could make a measurable difference next year.
Mehring works primarily with DeKalb corn and Asgrow soybeans and covers southeast North Dakota and parts of Minnesota. He said while most farm-level plans are already in place, there is still room to fine-tune decisions heading into spring.
“We have the opportunity to think about changing one to two or three things on our farm next year,” Mehring said, noting that wholesale changes across dozens of practices are unrealistic. Instead, he encouraged producers to focus on targeted adjustments that have shown consistent returns.
One of the biggest trends Mehring highlighted is earlier corn planting. He said producers who have planted corn in the April 20 to 25 window, near the start of the crop insurance period, have often seen stronger yields compared to later-planted acres on their own farms.
Alongside planting timing, Mehring emphasized the importance of what he called “free and cheap” improvements, including proper crop rotation, planter setup, planting depth, and speed.
Disease and insect pressure remain central concerns in his territory, particularly as corn yields continue to outpace soybeans. Mehring said corn rootworm has become one of the most significant yield threats, with some growers experiencing losses of up to 100 bushels per acre.
“This is an insect that lays its eggs on a corn plant,” he said, explaining that the larvae feed on roots, leading to lodging and reduced yields. Because regrowing roots is more costly for the plant than producing leaves, damage can quickly compound.
To manage rootworm pressure, Mehring said many conversations this year have centered on traited corn options from Bayer, including VT4Pro, SmartStax Pro, and SmartStax hybrids, as well as in-furrow insecticides when additional protection is needed. He added that rootworm pressure is expanding northward and westward, increasing its relevance for more growers.
On the disease side, Mehring said tar spot is gaining attention across the broader Corn Belt and southern Canada. While it is not yet at actionable levels in southeast North Dakota, he said increased scouting later in the season will be critical if the disease begins to move closer.
Another concern is Fusarium crown rot, a disease complex caused by multiple fungal pathogens. Mehring said the disease can remain latent until later in the season, when hot and dry conditions during drydown trigger stalk and crown issues that lead to lodging and yield loss.
“These are some of the most prominent things in corn right now that people are talking about,” he said.
On the soybean front, Mehring said there are no major near-term trait launches for 2026. Bayer’s Viconic soybean trait, which would allow five over-the-top herbicides, remains on a longer timeline pending regulatory approvals, with broader commercial availability expected later in the decade.
In the meantime, he said soybean yield potential in his region remains challenging, making early planting and favorable August rainfall critical. He added that fungicide applications may offer modest yield gains but have not dramatically raised the yield ceiling.
Lower soybean yields have contributed to renewed interest in canola across parts of North Dakota. Mehring said Bayer’s canola breeding program, which has a strong footprint in Canada, has produced hybrids that are performing competitively in regional trials.
The company offers LibertyLink and TruFlex LibertyLink canola options, and Mehring said growers willing to manage harvest carefully can see solid results.
“As long as you’re kind of willing to harvest slow and harvest slower and then slower yet, you can actually have some pretty good success in canola,” he said.
Mehring said canola has become a larger part of his own agronomic focus as growers diversify rotations in response to yield and market conditions.
The issues surrounding planting timing, insect management, disease pressure, and crop diversification are shaping many early conversations as farmers prepare for the 2026 season.
Listen to Corryn La Rue’s interview with Mehring here.
