Farmers across the Midwest are already looking ahead to spring, and corn and soybean growers say now is the time to get serious about weed control.
With input costs still high and margins tight, agronomists warn that early-season weeds can rob fields of moisture, nutrients, and yield potential long before the planter rolls. That’s why many producers are spending the winter months building a proactive weed-management plan.
“It’s been an interesting year. Obviously, there’s a lot of financial pressure on producers. Yields look pretty strong. Obviously commodity prices aren’t where we want them. It’s really difficult as we get into 2026, people were really looking at making sure that they’re able to maximize the inputs that they put into the field, making sure that they’re able to maximize profitability and opportunity. So from a standpoint of our company profile, we were really lean into our pre march herbicides, especially in the spring on corn and soybeans. The next largest investment that they’ll have is in their seed. So when you think about that, making sure that whatever, whether it’s corn or soybeans, when you’re planting, that you’re not having that competition for the nutrients you’ve already put down with weeds. And one way to do that is use pretty much herbicides.”
Says Will Griffin with Valent USA who encourages growers to take a layered approach starting with strong pre-emergence herbicides that provide residual protection, followed by timely post-emergence applications.
Griffin adds, “Those issues that we saw later in the season are mainly around a lot of the fungicide. But a lot of that it’s really working on that early plant health and making sure that those crops are coming out strong. They’re growing actively. They have a strong root system. All of those things help lean into. And I’m not saying prevent, but it’s, you know, if you’re a healthy human, you’re less susceptible to infection. If you’re a healthy plant, you’re less susceptible to infection. So whatever we can do from a herbicide perspective to make sure that that crop is clean on the front.”
As growers keep an eye on the calendar and the weather outlook, weed control remains one of the most important steps they can take to set up a healthy, productive planting season. And for many, thoughtful preparation now could make all the difference when the combines roll next year.
