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Highlights from 2025 — A season for learning, planning and preparing
More farmers than ever before are now planting soybeans earlier than corn. With commodity prices pushing farmers to scrutinize every input, it is no surprise that some scaled back herbicide and fungicide programs this year. But when Mother Nature turned on the sprinkler, many farmers worried about weed flushes waiting when fields finally dried out.
“I’ve spoken to a few farmers who moved down the herbicide and fungicide brand ladder this year or went with a single mode of action for their preemergence residual application,” said Brad Burkhart, market development specialist with Corteva Agriscience. “After rains significantly delayed field access and held up post applications, many of those farmers were second-guessing that decision.”
Like a nitrogen stabilizer protects a fertilizer application, a strong residual herbicide protects yields against tough weeds such as waterhemp and ragweed until post applications can be made.
“If waterhemp gets over 6 inches, you’ve pushed yourself into a tough weed control corner,” Burkhart said. “I saw this in several areas where quality inputs were not used for early season residual weed control. Farmers who stayed with a proven product dealt with smaller weeds that were easier to control when they were able to make that post pass.”
More modes of action, better results
As the Enlist® weed control system continues to expand across the Corn Belt, more farmers are tank-mixing glufosinate with Enlist One® herbicide to enhance weed control. This winning combination has been proven to deliver more effective control of tough weeds like Palmer amaranth, waterhemp and kochia than just glufosinate or glyphosate alone.
“Farmers who chose to go with glufosinate often had to come back with glufosinate and Enlist One,” Burkhart said. “Weeds, such as waterhemp, continue to evolve, becoming more resistant to certain chemistries with each subsequent generation. That’s why I always advise going with two modes of action.”
Burkhart also reminds farmers to mark the application date on a calendar when applying a preemergence residual with multiple modes of action. If weather limits field access, those multiple groups can provide 21 to 28 days of extended and effective weed control.
“I frequently see farmers hesitant to make weed control applications until they actually see a weed flush,” Burkhart said. “The most effective weed control efforts I see are made on bare dirt, layering residuals and always using a Group 15. Get weeds early. If you wait, it’s too late.”
Disease pressure brings a new control option
In 2025, farmers and retailers across the Midwest reported higher disease pressure fueled by prolonged periods of rain and high humidity.
“I saw more southern rust this year than I’ve seen since 2015,” Burkhart said. “Northern leaf blight and southern rust were also problematic across multiple growing regions. Luckily, we have a new fungicide launching in 2026. It's a three mode-of-action premium fungicide with a novel SHDI that has proven in trials this past season to protect against southern rust along with other key diseases.”
Forcivo™ fungicide delivers consistent performance across shifting disease environments, helping growers stay ahead of fast-moving pathogens.
It might make sense going with a lower-cost fungicide on less productive acres or on fields with lower disease pressure, but Burkhart always advises using a premium fungicide, such as Forcivo fungicide, on fields with a history of pressure or where yield potential is high.
Visit Corteva.com/us or connect with your Corteva Agriscience sales representative to learn how crop protection solutions can help maximize yield potential.
Following burndown, Enlist Duo® and Enlist One® herbicides with Colex-D® technology are the only herbicides containing 2,4-D that are authorized for preemergence and postemergence use with Enlist® crops. Consult Enlist® herbicide labels for weed species controlled. Enlist Duo and Enlist One herbicides are not registered for use or sale in all states and counties; are not registered in AK, CA, CT, HI, ID, MA, ME, MT, NH, NV, OR, RI, UT, VT, WA and WY; and have additional subcounty restrictions in AL, GA, TN and TX, while existing county restrictions still remain in FL. All users must check “Bulletins Live! Two” no earlier than six months before using Enlist One or Enlist Duo. To obtain “Bulletins,” consult epa.gov/espp/, call 1-844-447-3813, or email ESPP@epa.gov. You must use the “Bulletin” valid for the month and state and county in which Enlist One or Enlist Duo are being applied. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency if you have questions about the registration status of Enlist® herbicides in your area. ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. IT IS A VIOLATION OF FEDERAL AND STATE LAW TO USE ANY PESTICIDE PRODUCT OTHER THAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS LABELING. ONLY USE FORMULATIONS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY LABELED FOR SUCH USE IN THE STATE OF APPLICATION. USE OF PESTICIDE PRODUCTS, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, 2,4-D-CONTAINING PRODUCTS NOT AUTHORIZED FOR USE WITH ENLIST CROPS, MAY RESULT IN OFF-TARGET DAMAGE TO SENSITIVE CROPS/AREAS AND/OR SUSCEPTIBLE PLANTS, IN ADDITION TO CIVIL AND/OR CRIMINAL PENALTIES. Additional product-specific stewardship requirements for Enlist crops, including the Enlist Product Use Guide, can be found at www.traitstewardship.com. 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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