The advantages of kickstarting your planning for the next season soon after harvesting crops can’t be overstated. “Right after corn harvest, everything is fresh in people’s minds,” says LG Seeds Agronomist Samantha Angotti. “Farmers saw how hybrids performed. They know what they liked and how performance varied compared with years past.”

Remembering those details can be challenging months down the road. That’s why Angotti urges farmers to work with their trusted agronomist now on a plan for 2025.

Key points

• Planning soon after harvest lowers the odds of something being overlooked or forgotten.
• Plans should include seed choices/placement, soil fertility and pH, and weed-control.  
• An agronomist can provide support with planning and throughout the growing season.

Choose hybrids early

Each season, it’s important to answer questions about how hybrids handled differing weather situations and how hybrid placement might improve, Angotti says. “Let’s sit down and pick the three or four hybrids that will work best for that farmer and get them placed where they need to be,” she says. “If you have some ground that’s more prone to stress, you want a hybrid that’s equipped to handle tougher acres, such as LG47C77.”

When comparing yield data, farmers should look at what performs in their specific region and soil type, as well as with their style of management. For instance, how they apply nitrogen matters. Some hybrids do better with split applications, while others work well with a heavier upfront load.  

Ratings for crop diseases should also come into play. Tar spot remains a concern for farmers in Angotti’s territory of Wisconsin and Minnesota. The 2024 season also drove home the importance of using effective seed treatments to protect against early seedling diseases. Phytophthora root rot caused yield loss in soybean fields in her area. 

“Once farmers lock in seed choices, they can make sure their all-around agronomy plans are in order,” Angotti says.

Soil health and weed control

Successful crop production starts with fertility. Angotti encourages farmers to look at their fertility plans from recent years and make sure soil samples are up to date. “Go through soil test results with an expert who can help make fertility recommendations,” she advises. Farmers should also pay attention to soil pH and whether they need to apply lime.

The next check is micronutrients. “Make sure those micros are where they need to be and at the right ratios, and make plans to add as needed, whether that’s in-furrow zinc or a dry boron application or some other means of helping the crop through the season,” Angotti says. 

A good weed control program is another must. “Talk to trusted representatives about herbicides and the best time to make those passes,” Angotti advises. “Decide whether you want to do a single pass or a pre- and post-pass system.”

Farmers should also start discussing whether it’s worth pursuing fungicides and/or foliars to push yields. “If you’re hesitant to try something new, do a side-by-side trial,” Angotti advises. “You’ll get a good look at how a product impacts your crops without the full-farm investment.”

Loop an agronomist into your planning

“Having an agronomist you know and trust working to construct a plan for getting the best yields possible is superior to a farmer trying to cover every aspect of his or her farm,” Angotti says. “You want to have somebody you trust who is focused specifically on getting the most out of the crops planted,” she says, likening it to a dairy having a nutritionist on staff.

Agronomists provide season-long support. “We watch crops go in and come out of the ground, scout throughout the year for plant diseases and possible herbicide needs and make sure timing is right,” Angotti says. “We help the farmer to make and follow through with plans.”

If you’re ready to get some plans in place for the 2025 growing season, reach out to your local LG Seeds agronomist.