After weeks of heavy rainfall across much of the Corn Belt, many growers are facing the same challenge: everything seems to need attention at once.
Weeds are getting ahead. Nitrogen applications remain unfinished in some fields. Disease pressure is building. Fungicide decisions are approaching quickly. And narrow application windows make it nearly impossible to tackle everything at the same time.
So where should you start?
During our recent webinar, In-Season Agronomic Observations: Listening to What the Crop Is Telling Us – Part 2, Advanced Agrilytics agronomists discussed the importance of prioritizing management decisions based on field conditions—not simply reacting to the latest weather forecast.
Every Decision Doesn’t Carry the Same Weight
One of the biggest themes throughout the discussion was that successful in-season management is doing the right things at the right time.
As Advanced Agrilytics Regional Agronomy Lead, Aaron Gault explained, “We’ve got quite a few scenarios… with a lot of different planting dates and a lot of different stages. I see it being a pretty complex year on really timing out the best levers to pull.”
That complexity means growers need to evaluate each field independently. A field nearing tassel has very different priorities than one planted weeks later.
Rather than following the calendar, evaluate crop stage, field conditions, and yield potential before deciding where to invest your next pass.
Priority #1: Don’t Let Weed Control Slip
While disease concerns are growing, the panel agreed that weed control remains the most immediate priority in many soybean fields.
Waiting another week may seem insignificant, but as weeds grow they compete for even more water, nutrients, and sunlight while becoming more difficult to control.
Gault noted, “Right now, for us, controlling weed issues is probably number one.”
Clay Crouse shared multiple field examples showing measurable yield reductions where herbicide applications were delayed, forcing later rescue applications that impacted reproductive nodes and ultimately harvest performance.
When application windows are limited, timely weed control often provides the greatest opportunity to preserve yield potential.
Priority #2: Finish Nitrogen Applications Where They Still Matter
For later-planted corn, nitrogen management remains another high priority. However, timing still matters.
Applying nitrogen immediately before another significant rainfall event can reduce efficiency and increase the risk of additional losses.
Instead, growers should evaluate:
- Crop growth stage
- Rainfall forecast
- Application method
- Existing nitrogen availability
- Yield potential
The goal isn’t simply finishing applications, it’s maximizing nitrogen availability when the crop needs it most.
Priority #3: Make Fungicide Decisions Based on Risk, Not Fear
Tar spot has become one of the biggest concerns for Midwest corn growers, and early lesions are beginning to appear in some areas. But seeing one lesion doesn’t necessarily mean every field requires an immediate fungicide application.
Instead, the Advanced Agrilytics team encouraged growers to consider:
- Disease presence
- Crop growth stage
- Weather conditions
- Hybrid susceptibility
- Product residual
- Overall return on investment
The discussion emphasized that fungicide timing is often more important than simply choosing the newest product.
Protecting the crop before disease moves aggressively through the canopy can help preserve photosynthetic capacity and support grain fill.
Remember: Weather Isn’t Predictable—Your Environments Are
One quote from the webinar captured the philosophy behind Advanced Agrilytics’ approach. Precision Agronomist Mark Semple explained, “Weather’s not predictable, but our environments are.”
While no one can control rainfall or temperature, Advanced Agrilytics proprietary layers can identify the areas of a field that consistently experience nitrogen loss, waterlogging, disease pressure, or stress. The dry acres always dry out first, and the wet acres always stay saturated longer, no matter the amount of rain.
Those predictable environments allow management decisions to become more precise and more profitable. Rather than making blanket decisions across every acre, prioritize investments where they’re most likely to generate a return.
Stay the Course
When seasons become challenging, it’s tempting to cut inputs or assume the crop has already reached its yield ceiling.
The Advanced Agrilytics team cautioned against that mindset.
Gault closed the webinar with a reminder that resonates every season, “There’s still some really good crop out there… It’s understanding where we can prioritize the dollars we’re going to spend to protect and maintain what I still think can be a tremendous yield.”
Even in a difficult year, there are still management decisions that can positively influence crop performance. The key is identifying which decisions matter most, and making them at the right time.
Watch the Full Webinar
Want to hear the complete discussion? Watch In-Season Agronomic Observations: Listening to What the Crop Is Telling Us – Part 2 to hear Advanced Agrilytics agronomists discuss crop conditions across the Corn Belt, nitrogen management, disease pressure, fungicide timing and practical strategies for protecting yield throughout the remainder of the growing season.