It’s Decision-Making Time
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As the combines roll to a halt and the dust settles on the 2025 harvest, the focus for future-thinking farm operations immediately shifts to the horizon: the 2026 growing season. While this past year may have rewarded a positive mindset and diligent management, the agricultural landscape is in a constant state of flux.
Navigating the inherent uncertainties of commodity markets, financial policies, and unexpected opportunities is critical for sustained profitability. To prepare for the year ahead, it is essential to move beyond reflection and actively plan for the possibilities.
We think you and your decision-making team should consider some of these WHAT IF’S:
1. What if corn goes to $5.00+ cash price?
2. What if soybeans go to $12.00+ cash price?
If you maintained a positive and money-making attitude throughout the 2025 growing season, did the “extra” things, and had a little luck with weather, those prices put you in a very good position now and going into 2026.
3. What if a third interest rate reduction occurs in late 2025 and those continue into 2026?
That totally changes the interest rates on your operating line, other purchases like machinery, land, etc.
4. What if you are approached about farming significantly more acres in 2026 from a retirement or other situation?
All the above scenarios are key reasons to have an advisory council of money-makers to guide you through those and other key input decisions for 2026 and beyond.
Here are some other suggestions for better profitability going forward:
- Look extensively at plot data and full field data for yield, test weight, plant health/standability, and other advantages AgVenture brand seed brings.
- Consider taking advantage of any early pay discounts on seed if your cash positions allow. If not, look at other finance options.
- Look at supplying most of your phosphorus needs especially in corn via starter fertilizer delivered with the planter (10-34-0, 8-19-3, 9-18-9, 3-18-18, 6-24-6 are just a few options to deliver very available nutrients near the root system). $950/ton dry phosphorus is a very serious obstacle to profitability and is also very inefficient to broadcast.
The mindset you adhere to at the beginning of the growing season and then maintaining that mindset throughout has potentially serious yield impacts on every growing season. Always know that reducing input costs only works if yields don’t go backwards! If you don’t believe that, just ask someone who listened to a money-saver and didn’t use corn fungicides in 2025, or were talked into a single pass of a “generic” product that ran its course in 14 days.
Reach out to your AgVenture representative and challenge them to challenge you!
Jerry Hartsock & Dakota Miller
Cutting Edge Consulting