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2026 seed choices underway: agronomist stresses importance of the right traits

2026 seed decisions are happening now on many corn and soybean farms.

Riley Sandmeyer is an agronomist with Minnesota-based New Vision Cooperative and says it’s critical the right hybrid or variety is selected for each field.

“For instance, I understand the traits are a little bit more expensive, but what you really want to do is look at like your insect pressure for corn. How many rootworms? What was the feeding pressure? To determine if you really need to go out with that higher trait (package).”

He tells Brownfield crop diseases are top-of-mind following heavy pressure this year.

“And working with your local agronomist, they’ll have all the data right in front of them. They’ll have their characteristic charts and everything like that, and you really want to look for that right hybrid that’s got that disease package in there and what those ratings are to see how is that tar spot rating? How is the southern rust rating?”

Sandmeyer says standability is another consideration for corn as farmers plan for the next growing season.