Corteva Agriscience Expert Warns 2026 Will Be Challenging, Urges Growers to Prioritize Pre-Emergence and Product Stewardship

The 2026 growing season is shaping up as a tough test for producers across every commodity. Corteva’s expert warns that short‑term savings on weed‑control products can quickly become expensive post‑application costs, especially in soybeans where tool options are already limited. By front‑loading budgets with effective pre‑emergence herbicides and solid seed selections, growers can reduce later interventions and protect yield potential. This approach aligns with a broader crop protection portfolio that balances cost, efficacy, and long‑term sustainability.

Investing in seed quality, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium remains critical when margins are tight. A $300‑$400 per acre input spend must be justified by comparable returns, and multi‑mode‑of‑action (MMA) strategies are the most reliable way to achieve that. Corn has demonstrated success using MMA herbicides, resulting in fewer complaints, while soybeans often revert to single‑mode tactics, exposing crops to weed pressure, disease harborage, and insect buildup. Smart growers will also calibrate fungicide timing, applying only when weather, pathogen load, and host susceptibility align, rather than defaulting to routine double‑sprays.

Stewardship and resistance management are the final pillars of a resilient 2026 plan. Overreliance on a single chemistry accelerates resistance across fungicides, insecticides, and herbicides, eroding the toolbox that took a decade or more to develop. By integrating multiple effective modes, collaborating with competitors, and preserving active ingredients, growers safeguard the next ten years of crop protection options. The message is clear: thoughtful upfront investment and disciplined stewardship now prevent costly tool loss later.