Mid Season Moves, Maximum Impact

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Welcome back to the EZ Ag Podcast, where innovative farming meets practical solutions. I’m your host, Matt Long, and today we’re diving into the midseason moves that matter most. From protecting pollination with fungicide and foliar nutrition, to fine-tuning irrigation during corn’s peak water use, now is the moment that defines your harvest—and solidifies your yield.

We’ll also talk about why this is the perfect time to start planning for 2026 while the lessons of this season are still fresh. And stick around, because I’ve got a special invitation for you that’ll bring all of this to life.

Let’s start there.

Monday, August 26th, you’re invited to our biggest event of the year:“Get Hitched with Axis Seed – Red Barn” right here in Leoti.

It’s more than a field day—it’s your chance to:

• See how the Max Yield System works and how using the Max Yield System on your farm will increase yield and reduce stress..

• Discover how using data can increase your success with biological fertility and build healthier soils while increasing ROI.

• Learn how a systems-based approach to cropping, fertility, and crop protection reduces stress and builds margin.

• And yes—you’ll take home a free hitch pin, because every successful farm needs a strong connection to Axis Seed - Red Barn.

  
  

We will share real-world data you can take back to your farm—plus a great meal, good conversations, and the best display of corn in the area.

So get hitched with us on August 26th—come for the free hitch pin, stay for the insights because Your Farm, and Your Future is Our Focus.

Now let’s get to protecting the yield you built.

Most of us are quickly approaching or just arriving at VT, and this is the most critical stretch for protecting your yield. This is when your crop is working hardest—pushing energy into pollination and kernel set. Your job now is to reduce stress and protect the investment you’ve made.

Fungicide is a top priority. If you’re seeing warm, wet, and humid conditions—fungal diseases like gray leaf spot, rust, and even southern rust are real threats. Spraying at VT to R1 protects your upper canopy, preserves photosynthetic power, and supports grain fill.

Insecticide is worth considering if you’re seeing beetle activity. Western bean cutworm and rootworm beetles love to clip silks—robbing pollination. If your scouting shows pressure, a tank mix makes a lot of sense.

And don’t forget about foliar feeding. Micronutrients like boron and zinc can make a real difference at pollination—especially if tissue tests or field history point to shortages. Keep the plant healthy and humming during its highest energy demand.

Water management is just as important right now. Match your irrigation to the crops' needs.

Corn is at peak water use—anywhere from 0.5 to 0.75 inches per day, depending on heat and wind. If you fall behind now, the plant won’t recover. Kernel count and depth are on the line.

Here’s the playbook:

• Water when there is room in the profile to minimize losses from runoff and evaporation.

• Focus on deep, infrequent soaks that push moisture to the full root zone.

Your goal is to keep the plant comfortable during pollination and through early grain fill. Think of it like stress-proofing your crop.

And here’s where great farms separate from good ones—early planning. Build your 2026 Max Yield System Plan while this crop is still growing.

The best 2026 plans starts now, not after harvest. You’ve got real-time data at your fingertips:

• Which hybrids are standing up to stress?

• Where did you have disease problems?

• What populations are over- or under-performing?

• How’s your fertility program really doing?

Now’s the time to start building a better plan—while the season is fresh in your mind.

With the Max Yield System, we go beyond genetics. We bring crop planning, fertility, and crop protection together into a whole-farm strategy that maximizes efficiency and yield potential:

• Field Specific cropping plans.

• Soil test-driven fertility plans.

• Seed treatments tailored to your field history and your goals.

• And data that fuels better decisions, season after season.

Which means your 2026 plan Maximizes Yield while reducing stress for both you and your crop.

Thanks for tuning into the EZ Ag Podcast.

If you remember one thing from this episode, it’s this: midseason management matters. What you do today will shape your yield this fall. And the best way to keep improving is to start planning with the lessons you learned from this season while you’re still in it.

Don’t forget, We’d love to see you August 26th, at our Field Day. Bring your questions. Bring a friend. Take home a hitch pin—and a whole new way of thinking about your farm, and your future.

Until next time, remember, ag is Easy when you tune into the EZ Ag Podcast. That’s all for today, I’m Matt Long, Grow Your Yield, Grow Your Legacy, Grow Strong with Axis Seed.