Pioneering Wisconsin's Ag Future

In this episode, Pioneer Territory Manager Alex Weldon and Pioneer Field Agronomist Aricka Wech pull back the curtain on how corn hybrids and soybean varieties are selected, tested, and ultimately brought to market — or phased out

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Cold soils. Wild weather swings. Tight margins. 

Timing Is Everything — Applying too early or too late reduces effectiveness. Products must align with specific plant growth stages and hormone activity to deliver ROI. Mis-timed applications = missed yield opportunity. 

Focus on Stress Mitigation Early — Early-season stress (cold, wet soils, uneven emergence) is one of the biggest yield limiters. Biologicals can help protect the crop during conditions you can’t control. 

Use “Rider” Applications to Maximize Efficiency — Many biologicals are designed to be added to existing passes (in-furrow, seed treatment, fungicide applications).This reduces cost and increases adoption efficiency—no extra trip required. 

Watch for Early Warning Signs in the Field — Yellowing plants, purple corn, and uneven emergence are key stress indicators. Always rule out agronomic issues (depth, compaction, etc.) before adjusting inputs. 

Understand Product Types (and Expectations) — Synthetic growth hormones: More consistent, predictable ROI. Live biologicals: Can deliver big gains, but results vary depending on soil biology. 

ROI Can Be Significant — When Applied Correctly - Seed treatments and in-furrow products showed strong returns (up to ~12:1 and 5–6:1 in trials). Success depends on matching the right product to the right problem. 

Think of Biologicals as a Tool, Not a Replacement — They complement fertility and crop protection programs—not replace them. Best used to enhance performance under stress conditions.

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After two challenging seasons marked by heavy seed production, shifting weed pressure, and extended emergence windows, the message is clear: start clean, stay clean, and spray dirt.

In this episode of Pioneering Wisconsin’s Ag Future, powered by Pioneer Agronomy, host Alex Weldon sits down with Corteva Agriscience Corteva Agriscience Crop Protection Territory Manager Jeremy Hunt and TruChoice Engagment Lead Conner Geurts to help growers plan smarter, more proactive weed control programs for 2026.

According to this team of agronomists: robust pre-emerge + layered residuals = long-term success. The foundation of resistance management starts with a strong pre-emergent program followed by timely post applications. With weeds like waterhemp emerging over a 2–3 month window, a single pass won’t hold. Layering residuals and overlapping applications helps maintain control throughout the season.

During this episode, the team also emphasizes that timing is everything. If you’re debating whether to spray this week or next week — go now, and don’t overlook the details. Success can hinge on proper water volume, correct adjuvant packages (MSO, crop oil, etc.), and following label guidance as regulations evolve. 

Cutting rates or skipping a burndown may look good on paper in January, but June rescue treatments often cost two to three times more.

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From soybeans that exceeded expectations to a corn crop heavily shaped by nitrogen management, southern rust, and local variability, this episode delivers local agronomic insights to help growers plan for a successful 2026 season.

Mike shares his background, including nearly a decade with Pioneer, his prior retail agronomy experience, and a glimpse into his personal interests (including snowmobiling).

Mike breaks down the 2025 season by crop—highlighting impressive soybean performance, localized white mold pressure, and more variable results in corn due to nitrogen management and weather.

A deep dive into nitrogen timing, placement, manure valuation, disease pressures, and the year’s “death by a thousand cuts” effect across multiple pathogens.

Fertility emerges as the top challenge, while strong stand establishment becomes one of the year’s major wins.

The group unpacks how cool early weather, delayed GDUs, mid-summer heat, and a fast finish affected maturity, test weight, and harvest moisture across the state.

Disease patterns varied dramatically, especially southern rust near the Mississippi and Wisconsin Rivers. Mike discusses disease heat maps and where proactivity outperformed ground-truth scouting.

Mike explains why southern rust exploded in 2025, the conditions that enabled it, and how growers should think about hybrid selection in 2026 without overcorrecting.

Top performers include 004s, 9806s, 8308s, 05G60s, and the powerhouse 16Z25—with placement notes, white mold considerations, and where varieties shined.

From early maturities to full-season power players, the team breaks down high performers like 78150, 70834, 85199, 87340, 92399, 9466, 96567, 98125, and 02405. Surprises, placement tips, and disease interactions included.

Key recommendations include:
– Don’t make knee-jerk decisions based solely on 2025
– Prioritize fundamental fertility
– Leverage variable rate seeding
– Maintain seed treatments
– Strengthen weed control strategies

Mike reflects on what keeps him inspired—Wisconsin growers, teamwork, resiliency, and the pace of genetic and agronomic advancement.

Erica summarizes three core lessons: avoid recency bias, focus on foundation agronomy, and remember that weather remains the ultimate wildcard. The hosts close with gratitude and a safe-harvest sendoff.

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Hosts Alex Weldon (Pioneer Territory Manager, Northeast WI) and Aricka Wech (Pioneer Field Agronomist, Southwest WI) sit down with Haily Sand (Nutrient Management Specialist and GPS Specialist with Source Laboratories), to talk soil tests, nutrient prioritization and practical ways to stretch fertility investments without sacrificing yield.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

🌽 A quick 2025 harvest recap: corn, beans, and field conditions across Wisconsin

🧪 Why soil testing this fall is more important than ever in a tight-margin year

📉 How to decide when (and what) fertilizer applications are truly worth it

🧭 The nutrients to prioritize: why potassium is the “gatekeeper” of the plant

💰 Liming strategies and why lime is “the cheapest fertilizer”

🌧️ Managing nitrogen losses and the role of stabilizers or split applications

💩 Using manure effectively in fall fertility plans

🌱 The ROI of cover crops: cost today vs. soil health tomorrow

📊 How soil test trends, yield maps, and technology can guide smarter fertilizer planning

🔁 Evaluating whether your farm is building, maintaining, or mining fertility

This episode offers local, data-driven advice to help Wisconsin growers make every nutrient and dollar count.
 

#fertility #nitrogen #potassium #soil #nutrients #yield #soiltest

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In this episode of Pioneering Wisconsin’s Ag Future, Pioneer Territory Manager Alex Weldon and Field Agronomist Aricka Wech sit down with nutritionists Pete Draymond, Duane Splain, and Eric Starting to discuss an emerging opportunity in dairy nutrition: feeding high oleic soybeans to dairy cows.

High oleic soybeans are gaining attention for their nutritional benefits, potential to improve cow performance, and impact on milk quality. The group dives into:

• How high oleic soybeans fit into dairy rations
• Nutritional differences compared to conventional soybeans
• On-farm results in milk yield, butterfat, and protein
• Challenges with sourcing, processing, and logistics
• Economics compared to bypass fats and other protein sources
• Future adoption trends and consumer demand

👉 Learn more from the Pioneer Agronomy Team: pioneer.com/podcasts

👍 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this episode with another farmer.

#Pioneer #Agronomy #DairyNutrition #Soybeans #Farming

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In this episode of Pioneering Wisconsin’s Ag Future, hosts Alex Weldon and Aricka Wech sit down with Bill Mahanna, Pioneer’s Global Nutritional Science Lead, to dig into the challenges and opportunities of the 2025 corn silage harvest.

Bill shares practical strategies for harvest timing, high chopping, bunker management, and inoculant use, while also offering insights on fermentation, dry matter losses, and the importance of working closely with your nutritionist this fall. 

Listen for tips on 👉 
✔️ When to harvest for maximum starch
✔️ High chopping & chop length strategies
✔️ Preventing dry matter loss & heating
✔️ Using inoculants to preserve feed quality

This episode is packed with timely, actionable advice to help Wisconsin dairy farmers prepare for silage harvest.

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The conversation digs into key insect and disease pressures—including corn rootworm, tar spot, gray leaf spot, northern corn leaf blight, and the emerging threat of southern rust—along with management strategies for today and hybrid selection decisions for next season. Aricka also shares observations on white mold, SDS, and weed escapes in soybeans, plus tips for spotting nutrient deficiencies in corn and beans.

Your To-Do's according to Aricka and Alex:

✔️ Scout, scout, scout—stay ahead of insects & disease

✔️ Evaluate fungicide timing & impact

✔️ Start planning hybrid & rotation strategies for 2026

Make sure to like and subscribe for more from Pioneering Wisconsin's Ag Future!

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In this episode:

• Common weed challenges and how to tackle them
• The benefits and application strategies of DuraCor®, Remedy®, and new Nova Graz™
• How to preserve desirable species like white clover
• Building a sustainable pasture management program
• Why timing and species-specific solutions matter

🔗 Explore more at corteva.us.com! 

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Listeners will learn how as-planted data unlocks actionable insights for variable rate seeding, scouting, and real-time decision-making. Ryan also discusses how predictive modeling is helping farmers better manage ROI, crop health and yield potential—plus what new innovations are on the horizon for Wisconsin growers.

🌱 Top Takeaways:
- How to use data to make in-season decisions that matter
- The future of reduced stature corn and non-GMO hybrid wheat
- Why never quitting on crop management—even in a tough year—can pay off

Subscribe, share with a fellow grower, and join us for a special bonus episode soon on Corteva’s range and pasture division! 

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