Wisconsin Harvest Recap: Insights from the 2025 Growing Season

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.01:04 — Meet Mike BronskiMike shares his background, including nearly a decade with Pioneer, his prior retail agronomy experience, and a glimpse into his personal interests (including snowmobiling).02:38 — Snapshot of the 2025 Growing SeasonMike 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.05:13 — Corn Management: What Worked and What Didn’tA deep dive into nitrogen timing, placement, manure valuation, disease pressures, and the year’s “death by a thousand cuts” effect across multiple pathogens.08:53 — Biggest Challenges & Bright SpotsFertility emerges as the top challenge, while strong stand establishment becomes one of the year’s major wins.12:30 — Weather’s Influence on 2025 OutcomesThe 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.21:18 — Regional Differences Across WisconsinDisease patterns varied dramatically, especially southern rust near the Mississippi and Wisconsin Rivers. Mike discusses disease heat maps and where proactivity outperformed ground-truth scouting.23:12 — Southern Rust: What Growers Need to KnowMike explains why southern rust exploded in 2025, the conditions that enabled it, and how growers should think about hybrid selection in 2026 without overcorrecting.27:06 — Product Standouts: SoybeansTop performers include 004s, 9806s, 8308s, 05G60s, and the powerhouse 16Z25—with placement notes, white mold considerations, and where varieties shined.32:26 — Product Standouts: CornFrom 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.45:16 — Planning for 2026Key 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 strategies49:39 — Looking AheadMike reflects on what keeps him inspired—Wisconsin growers, teamwork, resiliency, and the pace of genetic and agronomic advancement.51:22 — Final Takeaways & Wrap-UpErica 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.