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Miss the timing, miss out on bushels: What 2025 trials have told us
Farmers across the Midwest are gearing up for the 2026 growing season. With forecasts pointing toward wetter conditions later in the season, farmers could be experiencing increased disease pressure – emphasizing proactive management and, more importantly, precise fungicide timing.
That’s why new insights from trials of Forcivo™ fungicide are changing the conversation. The 2025 season delivered the kind of environment where fungicides have an opportunity to prove their value. With elevated disease pressure across key growing regions, Forcivo fungicide demonstrated a 17 bu./A yield advantage over untreated acres and a 3.3 bu./A advantage over competitive products.
“Last year, we had the kind of disease pressure where you really found out what your program could do. Where Forcivo was applied, we saw a noticeable difference and not just in plant health, but in the yield monitor at the end of the season,” said Eric Scherder, U.S. crop protection technical lead with Corteva Agriscience.
Those results reinforce what many agronomists already know: In high-pressure years, fungicides are not just a defensive tool but also a yield-building strategy. Beyond yield gains, Forcivo showed strong disease control across major foliar threats. Trials have demonstrated significant reductions in diseases, such as southern rust and northern corn leaf blight, both of which can rapidly reduce yield potential if left untreated.
While product performance is critical, timing is what ultimately determines success.
“Traditional fungicide programs have often relied on calendar-based applications,” Scherder said. “But disease development doesn’t follow a calendar; it follows weather patterns, humidity and plant stress. In wet years, especially, disease can establish earlier and move faster, shrinking the window for effective control.”
That is why it is important to have a plan. Applying fungicide too late means you’re chasing disease instead of preventing it. Forcivo fungicide is designed to deliver both preventive and curative activity, thanks to three modes of action, including a novel SDHI active. But even with strong chemistry, the biggest advantage comes when applications are made ahead of disease escalation, ultimately protecting the crop during critical growth stages when yield is being built.
Early season fungicide timing isn’t a stand-alone decision; it’s part of a broader strategy. Successful disease management starts with strong genetics, continues with in-season scouting and is reinforced with timely fungicide applications. When these elements work together, growers can better manage risk and protect yield potential.
In tighter economic years, it’s natural to look for places to trim input costs, but fungicide applications are one area where pulling back can cost more than it saves. When disease pressure builds, even small yield losses can quickly outweigh the upfront investment, especially at today’s grain prices. Skipping or delaying an application might feel like a way to protect margins, but it often leads to lost bushels that can’t be recovered.
“Products such as Forcivo fungicide, when applied at the right time, are designed to protect yield potential and help ensure every acre has the opportunity to perform,” Scherder said. “With broad-spectrum control and up to 30 days of residual activity, Forcivo fungicide provides extended protection through key growth stages, giving growers added confidence when conditions favor disease development.”
The takeaway from 2025 trials is clear: Timing isn’t just important; it’s a true difference-maker. In high-pressure years, waiting too long to act can cost bushels that simply can’t be made up later. But when fungicides are applied at the right time, they don’t just protect yield; they also help maximize it. As growers head into a season that could favor disease development, the focus should be on staying ahead of pressure, not reacting to it. Because when every bushel counts, the right product matters and the right timing matters even more.
For more information about Forcivo fungicide, visit Corteva.com/us or reach out to your local ag retailer.
Forcivo™ is not registered for sale or use in all states. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. Always read and follow label directions.
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