This is where the season starts to get real. Because once the crop is out of the ground, potential isn’t a guess anymore. It’s visible. The question is what your stand is Dryland acres are short on moisture. Irrigated ground has already seen pre water or is needing it before the planter rolls. And if we’re being honest, the general feeling right now is a little uneasy. The difference between an average crop and a high-yield crop is rarely luck. It comes down to decisions b

Post planting management involves protecting and pushing yield. There are many factors that go into this, including weeds, disease, insects, and abiotic stresses like heat and drought.

It’s been a warm, dry winter across our area, and as we head into planting, conditions aren’t exactly setting up ideal. Dryland acres are short on moisture. Irrigated ground has already seen pre water or is needing it before the planter rolls. And if we’re being honest, the general feeling right now is a little uneasy. The difference between an average crop and a high-yield crop is rarely luck. It comes down to decisions being made right now.

Let's talk about seed quality. Is this something you can see when it comes out of the bag? For the most part, the answer is no. Generally, if you're looking at corn seed coming out of the bag, it's been conditioned well, treated, and has a good look to it. You can't see whether that seed quality is going to match the conditions of your field.

As we turn the page to April and spring planting season quickly approaches, we're starting a three-part series on the Top 5 Factors to produce a top crop.

Decisions get made quickly. Conditions aren’t always perfect. The pressure is on to get the crop in the ground and keep things moving. But the growers who consistently raise top crops aren’t just reacting to the moment. They’re following a system.

The crop plan is really a diagnostic tool for what’s going on in the field. It helps us understand where we’re at today and what our goal is going to be over the next three to five years.

High yield crops do not happen by accident. The difference between average and elite growers is not luck. It is preparation.Here are the five parts of the Max Yield System every grower should have locked in before March 1st.

And now that the calendar has turned to 2026, it’s time to focus on what you need to do by March 1st to create Maximum Yield when the combines roll this fall. Here are the five parts of the Max Yield System every grower should have locked in before March 1st.

The 2025 season gave us a clear look at which hybrids excel under stress and which ones bring consistent top-end performance across Western Kansas. Below are the stand-out products and key insights from this year’s local testing program.

This season delivered the perfect conditions to put our lineup to the test, pushing top-end dryland yield potential while capturing valuable drought and pH performance in our plots. The 2025 season gave us a clear look at which hybrids excel under stress and which ones bring consistent top-end performance across Western Kansas.

In this episode of Stalk Talk, we’re digging into how soil testing fuels your fertility and biological plan. From conventional sampling to advanced biological and DNA analysis, knowing what’s in your soil is the key to smarter fertility decisions, stronger microbial activity, and higher yield potential. Because with Axis Seed – Red Barn, we don’t guess — we grow with data.

What if the key to lowering stress next season isn’t working harder, but planning smarter? In this episode of the EZ Ag Podcast, we’re diving into why Axis Seed, why the Max Yield System, and why early planning matters. Plus, don’t miss our October offer: free soil sampling and fertility consultations with every field enrolled in the Max Yield System with a commitment to Axis Seed. Grow Your Yield. Grow Strong. Grow Your Legacy.

The data is in—now it’s time to make the decisions that build yield. In this Stalk Talk, we show how to dial in your hybrid placement, fertility, and crop protection plans on a field-by-field basis to maximize ROI and reduce stress in 2026.

Early crop planning is key to higher yields, stronger ROI, and less stress. In this episode of the EZ Ag Podcast, Matt Long shares why starting your 2026 crop plan now helps lock in better input pricing, maximize hybrid performance, and make data-driven decisions using soil tests and local results. Plan ahead with Axis Seed – Red Barn to grow your yield, protect profitability, and build your farm’s legacy.

The earlier you start building your Max Yield System Plan, the more you can capture in yield and ROI. Step one is simple: create your Crop Plan. In our latest Stalk Talk, we’ll show you how this quick step lays the foundation for smarter seed, fertility, and crop protection decisions.

Fall is the ideal time to sample your soil and prepare for next season. Stable field conditions make sampling easier, and results arrive with plenty of time to plan fertility programs. You’ll see what nutrients remain after this year’s crop, and with fields accessible, all acres can be sampled at once. Fall soil sampling is a proactive, data-driven step toward higher yields and smarter input decisions.

Early planning builds higher yields and stronger ROI. At Axis Seed – Red Barn, we help you create field-by-field crop plans using local data, hybrid performance, and soil insights to maximize profitability. Don’t wait until after harvest—start now to lock in input savings, balance your hybrid portfolio, and set your operation up for success. Grow Your Yield. Grow Strong. Grow Your Legacy.

Early crop planning is key to higher yields, stronger ROI, and less stress. In this episode of the EZ Ag Podcast, Matt Long shares why starting your 2026 crop plan now helps lock in better input pricing, maximize hybrid performance, and make data-driven decisions using soil tests and local results. Plan ahead with Axis Seed – Red Barn to grow your yield, protect profitability, and build your farm’s legacy.

At Axis Seed – Red Barn, we believe local data beats national averages every time. Through regional trials, advanced soil DNA testing, and field-by-field fertility and biological plans, the Max Yield System helps farmers reduce risk, boost profitability, and grow stronger yields. Your farm is unique—your plan should be too.