The 2026 Growing Season in Review
South Central, Central, and Western Minnesota
One word describes the 2026 growing season: unexpected! In summary, the weather we experienced delivered yield results that weren't necessarily predictive of past management, soil type, or drainage level. As one grower shared, their yields were generational, if not historic.
Of course, record-level yields were not universal. Some areas saw nary a drop of rain in June and July, and yields sufficient to pay the bills were not to be had.
Weather is the topic that encompasses agriculture. When it rains; how much it rains; soil temperatures and moisture; how cold or hot it is, and when the respective temperature (day/night) is received; windy days; heavy dew days; sunshine and, of course, the build of good growing days that take us from planting until harvest.
The 2026 growing season also featured variable rainfall. Nearly all reporting stations in our Area reported below-average rainfall during June, July, and August. The blessing for nearly all was that we made it through May and early June without saturated soils; rooting for both corn and soybeans was exceptional!
Row-crop resiliency came down to well-managed soils: we had excellent Nitrogen mineralization and Phosphorus availability. Some growers did end up on the short side of Potassium (K) availability, either due to insufficient fertility or very dry soils that limited root growth and subsequent K uptake.
It's necessary that we reflect on management issues, weather factors, and the role they played in the yields achieved on our farms. Look at the data provided here and ask questions before you define an answer. Why? Our growing environment in 2026 once again affirmed that Mother Nature’s influence is a, if not the primary, factor in the yield equation. It's always a professional debate, but I believe it still accounts for 50+% of the yield equation.
Key Events and Observations
- Excellent opportunities for successful and complete primary tillage in the Fall of 2025
- Alleviation of compaction and solid residue management
- Overall excellent planting windows in late April and the second week of May.
- Most geographies with the soil-water profile “adequate” ahead of emergence
- April – May precipitation
- Exceptionally good seed-to-soil contact and moisture to drive germination
- Limited excess precipitation led to accumulation of nitrates and salts on the “shoulders” of the landscape
- For soybeans, drier conditions enabled untethered rooting > something we haven’t seen for a while
- High nighttime temperatures during the pollination period. Late-planted corn and soybeans both benefited
- Less smoke in the air as well
- Lower impact of South and Southeast delivered storms (wind) carrying fungal pathogens > less
- Common Rust
- Southern Rust
- Tar Spot
- Above average GDUs in July and August
- The clock for growth was advanced 10-14 days going into late August
- Many reporting stations found record GDUs from May 1 to September 30
- For soybeans, absence of saturated soils going into reproductive stages
- Unimpeded, the roots chased moisture
- Low to truly little White Mold
- Harvest started “early” relative to the calendar and then lagged on with rain delays and extra bushels to manage
2026: Conditions/Events That Contributed
Locally to Lower/Higher Than Expected Yields
Lower Yields:
- Tillage and planting into not quite “fit” soils; roots unable to explore the full soil profile
- Pushing the spring actions to chase a planting date was not beneficial, again
- Overemphasis on P management; insufficient K management
- Potassium (K) deficiencies noted in corn due to insufficient soil moisture
- Very dry mid-season, which limited root growth and access to K in the soil
- SCN populations are still higher than we desire for long-term yield stability, but without major chlorosis (IDC) conditions due to soil pH (high salts and excess nitrates persisting in 2026), apparent impact was less on soybean yields
- Too rapid maturity and drydown of both corn and soybeans
- Loss of net yield to very dry grain
- Increased harvest losses – both equipment and plant physiology
Higher Yields:
- Additional availability of N due to high mineralization and lower loss to leaching
- A split N application and a supplemental N application delivered yields
- Mother Nature provided the additional nutrients for corn yields, especially N and S, to provide above-plan yields on many farms > a great reminder!
- For soybeans, ability to timely and effectively manage PRE or early POST herbicide applications
- Just enough late-season precipitation for final reproductive growth and grain fill in soybeans, which helped soybean pod fill and seed size
- Newer generation Enlist E3 soybeans with Peking SCN source of resistance performed
Positive Actions Looking Ahead
- Balanced nutrient profile in soils, including soil pH and K availability
- Soil testing and fertilizing crop needs (soil test recs) paid off, in spades
- Nitrogen sidedress of corn per PFR Proven™ data, before V4 growth stage
- Some areas with properly applied anhydrous in Fall 2025 also saw a huge bump
- Less so with Fall 2025 urea, whether protected or not
- Timely applications of PFR Proven™ fungicides
- Corn before R2 >>> 20+/- bpa advantages;
- Soybeans before R4 >>> 2+/- bpa increase
- Inclusion of full-season corn hybrids and soybean varieties in the production package
As Farmers At Heart, you persisted despite the factors out of your control. Like any other year, the importance of a diversified portfolio- maturities, insect and herbicide traits remains.
At Beck’s, choices are what set us apart in the industry. A diverse germplasm lineup from several leading industry providers across our corn and soybean offerings is powerful. The 2026 harvest data in this performance book tells the story of a diversified portfolio’s strengths. We strongly encourage you to look at multi-year data for your area!
Please check out https://www.beckshybrids.com/Yield-Data for additional harvest results in your area.
Thank you for your interest in Beck’s. We look forward to the opportunity to serve you in 2027 and beyond!
Mike Blaine | Field Agronomist
Climate data is available at https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate