Scouting Fields in August Helps Farmers Evaluate Seed Performance

As summer comes to an end, farmers are evaluating their seed performance through key indicators like disease pressure, insect activity, and plant stress. This evaluation not only helps them make in-season decisions but also informs their seed choices for next season.

CROPLAN Seed suggests that growers carefully record the hybrid and varietal performance against pest, disease, and environmental stressors in their fields. They can also evaluate localized trial data to gain a more complete picture of seed performance.

When scouting fields in August, farmers should look for three key late-season indicators: standability and plant health, disease and insect pressure, and nutrient deficiency.

Standability is a major indicator of issues that can arise in both corn and soybean acres. In corn, if plants are root-lodged or goosenecked, investigating the cause can help prevent problems next season. Common causes include root rot, corn rootworm pressure, and poorly set roots.