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Last week, I shared my experience in early January where I spent a few days in Des Moines learning from the Axis Seed genetics teams about the new products they have to offer for 2024 testing. These products could launch in Axis Seed – Red Barn’s product line for planting as early as 2025 or 2026. It’s a lot of information to comb through, but the bottom line remains: selecting the right hybrids ultimately comes down to both agronomic traits and yield. I have visited with many of you since our Axis Seed launch about the many new pieces of the seed business that we now control locally. Of all of these pieces, the ability to choose products based on our local needs is by far the most exciting to me. Product selection is the number one thing I, as the Independent Regional Company (IRC) owner and your seed salesman, can do to impact yield and profitability on your farm. It’s a critical decision, and I appreciate you allowing me to help you with this process each year. To demonstrate the diversity of products we have access to for testing, I would like to introduce you to the Axis Seed – Red Barn 2024 Experimental Hybrid Class. What is the Axis Seed – Red Barn 2024 Experimental Hybrid Class? The 2024 Axis Seed – Red Barn Experimental Hybrid Class is made up of 16 hybrids coming from four different genetics providers. Fifteen hybrids in this test class have never seen commercial production. The class ranges in maturity from 102 RM to 115 RM and has hybrids with nine different trait combinations for both above- and below-ground insect protection. With exciting, new things happening in the trait combination world, we are looking at: One new product with the VT4PRO trait stack which combines the above-ground protection of Trecepta with the newest corn rootworm protection of RNAi Technology Five new new hybrids with PowerCore Enlist technology Three new hybrids with Agrisure Artesian water optimization traits One hybrid with DroughtGard VT2PRO technology for drought tolerance technology and above-ground insect protection Below you will find a listing of the new hybrids based on their maturity class. We look forward to “Dialing in the Data” on these hybrids and with any luck seeing them grown on your farm in the near future! Remember, if you are interested in being one of our testing partners, or know of another grower who would do an excellent job of hybrid testing, we are looking for partners for strip-trials and show-trials. You can learn more about our robust local testing program by clicking here .

Good weed control practices are integral to a successful system that produces a top crop each year. In this EZ Ag update, Matt Long shares his two favorite pieces of advice for efficiently and effectively managing weeds which include: Spray early, spray often. How to use a hundred-dollar bill to pinpoint the right time to spray. Contact us today & ask about our Max Yield System© , so you can always plan ahead and have a cropping plan!

As we wrap up the planting season and the corn pops up in rows, it’s time to pivot toward one of the most critical, but often underutilized, parts of the Max Yield System: Post-Planting Management . This is the 5th Factor in our Top 5 Factors to Produce a Top Crop , and it’s the phase where informed decisions can truly separate good fields from great ones. In many ways, this is where you begin to manage the crop that’s already in the ground, not just hope it turns out okay. Why Post-Planting Management Matters At Axis Seed – Red Barn , we believe that yield is not made in one pass ; it’s the result of layered, intentional management all season long. While planting sets the foundation, it’s what we do in the weeks immediately following that planting pass that can either amplify or limit the crop’s potential. This period is not the time to go on autopilot. Instead, it’s time to walk your fields, evaluate emergence, and start making crop-by-crop, field-by-field decisions based on real potential, not assumptions. Start with Net Effective Plant Stand (NEPS) The first step in managing the crop post-plant is evaluating what came up. A Net Effective Plant Stand (NEPS) assessment goes beyond a basic stand count. It helps you understand: How many plants truly emerged. The spacing and uniformity of that emergence. Where planter performance, residue, seed-to-soil contact, or early stress may have created gaps or weak points. Use NEPS evaluations to sort fields into two simple categories: Fields with strong emergence and high yield potential . Fields where emergence was spotty and yield potential is already compromised . With that data in hand, you can make better decisions on where to push and where to protect. Push Where Potential Exists Where your planting pass was a success—uniform spacing, even emergence, and healthy color—you have the opportunity to push the crop harder. These are the fields where added investment can pay real dividends. One of the best tools during this stage is BW Fusion’s FullSun , a nutrient technology designed to build a bigger “factory” by enhancing: Leaf development for more photosynthesis. Root structure to uptake more nutrients and water. Stalk strength to support bigger yields and stand through harvest. The more efficient the factory, the more product it can push into the ear come grain fill. In a strong field, FullSun is like adding horsepower to a high-performance engine, it helps the plant maximize what it’s already set up to do. Protect and Limit Losses Where Needed In fields where the NEPS evaluation shows a less-than-ideal stand, it doesn’t mean the crop is a loss, it just means your strategy should shift. Instead of pushing a weak field harder, focus on protecting what you have and reducing further stress. This is where BW Fusion’s Relax RX shines. Applied with your herbicide pass, it helps reduce plant stress and keeps plants healthy while your herbicide eliminates weeds that are competing for sunlight, moisture, and nutrients. Often we see in compromised stands, weeds will happily fill the gaps and rob yield from neighboring plants. Keeping them in check, while helping your corn stay stress-free, is a vital part of preserving yield where conditions aren’t ideal. Timing is Critical Every pass across a field is an opportunity or a liability. With input costs where they are today, we have to be smarter than ever about when, where, and how we invest. Post-planting is when we begin to see early returns on decisions made at planting, and it’s when we can course-correct. Waiting too long to act—whether it’s applying nutrients, spraying for weeds, or managing stress—limits your ability to capture potential. Your best fields might need more investment, and your weaker ones may need protection, but none of that happens without evaluation . The Max Yield Mentality The Max Yield System teaches us that there’s no silver bullet. Producing a top crop is about stacking smart decisions from seed to harvest. That includes: Choosing elite genetics with proven local performance. Placing those genetics precisely with the right population and fertility. Supporting them post-plant with the right tools to push or protect, based on real-time field data. Post-Planting Management is your first chance to validate or adjust your season’s strategy. Take the time to walk fields. Perform NEPS evaluations. Talk to your Axis Seed – Red Barn team about where you should be pushing yield and where you should be managing risk. By investing where it matters most, you’ll not only grow your crop, you’ll Grow Your Legacy .

Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple Welcome back to the EzAg Podcast, where innovative farming meets practical solutions. I’m your host, Matt Long, and today we’re diving into a topic that every grower faces sooner or later. What do you do when your plans fail? Now, let’s be honest, plans don’t always fail entirely. More often, conditions outside of our control force us to re-evaluate and adjust our plans to fit a new reality. That’s not failure, that’s farming. So today let’s walk through three common curveballs the season throws at us, and more importantly, how to pivot while still staying on track with our Max Yield System.  When Weather Disrupts Planting, Don’t Rush to Change Your Plan Let’s start with the big one: adverse weather. Whether it’s too wet to plant or so dry, your second guessing every pass, weather is one of the biggest variables that can force a change in your crop plan. It’s frustrating. Delayed planting always upsets the apple cart. But before you go switching hybrids or cutting maturities, take a step back. Ask yourself, “what fields are actually being impacted? What hybrids do we have in the plan there? And how many GDUs does that hybrid need to reach maturity?” Now, here’s where things get a little interesting. Corn adapts. Research from universities like Purdue and Iowa State shows that when corn is planted late, around or after June 1st, it starts to accumulate heat units faster. In fact, late planted corn tends to accumulate about 1.25 GDUs for every one actual GDU. That’s nature’s built-in adjustment system. So what does that mean for your plan? It means that you often don’t need to change maturities as quickly as you think. Yes, June corn might castle later, but with a compressed development cycle, you will still hit black layer before frost. Late planting isn’t ideal, but it’s also not a disaster. The takeaway is don’t abandon your plan too early. Adjust it with knowledge.  Pre-Emergence Herbicide Didn’t Happen? Here’s How to Recover Smart Another headache, you miss your window for pre-emergence weed control. Maybe it’s been too windy, too wet, or you simply ran out of time now that the corn is up and weeds are still growing in your field. Remember, don’t panic, this is where a post emergence herbicide strategy can come in, but timing matters even more now, so you need to do three things.  Identify what weeds are actually growing in the field. Know your corns growth stage Choose your herbicides accordingly. And here’s a pro tip we use in the Max Yield System. Your corn is developing its maximum ear size between about V6 and V10, so if you’re spraying herbicide mix on your corn around this time, you need to protect it. Applying a hot herbicide mix at this stage pulls energy away from that yield development. To counter that, we recommend adding BW Fusion’s Relax Rx to your tank mix. Relax Rx helps mitigate the stress from the herbicide pass and keeps the corn focused on building that ear, not just surviving the spray. That’s a simple Max Yield System move with a big payback.  Corn Didn’t Happen? Don’t Skip the Steps with Milo or Wheat And one final scenario for today, the plan was corn, but now it’s too late. Maybe you’re looking at switching to Milo, or maybe you’re looking at a preventative plant on corn and thinking about rotating the wheat. No matter the reason, crop switches happen. But here’s the key, just because you change crops doesn’t mean you should abandon the fundamentals. No matter the crop, the top five factors to produce a top crop still apply. So don’t rush it just because the calendar flipped. Ask yourself are soil conditions still fit for planting. Are you placing seed at the correct depth in spacing? Are you planting the right hybrid of variety for that field? And are you still sourcing high quality seed? And if you’re forced into the preventive plant situation, remember, don’t let your weeds rob your field of future yield. Keeping your field clean during this fallow period will set you up for successful weed control during your next crop. Every one of these things still matters. Switching crops is an adjustment, not a shortcut. Don’t race to the finish line.  Adapt, Don’t Abandon: How to Lead with a Max Yield Mentality Let me leave you with this reminder: when plans change, they rarely fail 100%. In fact, 80% or more of your Max Yield System plan, if it was made early and intentionally, will hold up all season. The most critical decisions you make aren’t the ones you make in June, they’re the decisions you make far in advance of planting. Developing a Max Yield System plan is a detailed and intentional process that you need to do early every year. So as your calendar flips to June, it’s time to put a July or August date on the books to start your Max Yield System plan for 2026. July and August are when you can build a solid cropping strategy based on your unique fields and goals while eliminating the emotion of weather, market prices, and this year’s yield roller coaster. And eliminating emotions is the only way to make a Max Yield System plan.The Max Yield mentality means making early plans intentionally, then being flexible enough to adapt them wisely, not abandon them, not react emotionally, just adjust. When plans fail or seem to, don’t throw in the whole system, stick to your foundation, make small informed changes when needed. And remember, without a plan, stress takes over and poor decisions follow. But with a plan, even when the weather or markets shift, you’re still in control.  Thanks for tuning in to the EzAg podcast. If you’ve got questions about building your Max Yield System or making adjustments to your plan as you face curveballs this spring, reach out to us here at Axis Seed Red Barn. Until next time. Remember, ag is easy when you tune in to the Ez Ag Podcast. That’s all for today. I’m Matt Long. Grow your yield, grow your legacy, grow strong with Axis Seed.

Post-Planting Management with the Max Yield System In the next few weeks as you wrap up spring planting it’s time to walk your fields and focus on the fifth factor of the Max Yield System’s Top 5 Factors to Produce a Top Crop — Post-Planting Management . One of the most overlooked yet critical steps in creating a Top Crop is evaluating your final corn stand. The Max Yield System teaches us that yield isn’t made in one pass—it’s the result of layered, intentional management decisions. Stand evaluations give you the first look at how your planting decisions set the foundation for the season. Start Simple: Basic Stand Counts In 30” rows, step off or measure 17’5” and count the emerged plants. Multiply by 1,000 to get plants per acre. Do this at several spots, counting 3 adjacent rows per location to get a good average in each location as well as the field. But while that gives you a population number, it doesn’t tell the whole story. Go Further: Net Effective Plant Stand (NEPS) To fully understand the crop’s potential, use a Net Effective Plant Stand (NEPS) evaluation between the V3–V6 stages : Score 1 for a full, healthy plant 0.75 for plants one leaf behind 0.5 for two leaves behind 0 for anything more than two leaves behind NEPS helps you see how even the crop’s emergence really is—because uniformity is a major driver of Max Yield . Add up your total score and divide by the total number of plants counted. A NEPS score 92–100% of your stand count means your field is positioned for Max Yield. Estimating Yield Potential Now use NEPS to project yield by multiplying your NEPS by the appropriate yield factor based on your environment: Fully Irrigated: 8–10 bu per 1,000 plants Limited Irrigation: 8–11 bu/1,000 (with a good flex hybrid) Dryland: 9–12 bu/1,000 (in good conditions) This step in the Max Yield System helps you fine-tune decisions on in-season inputs. When you know the field’s true potential, you can invest with confidence. Feed and Protect the Crop Once you’ve confirmed a high NEPS and yield potential, maximize it with strategic inputs: BW Fusion Full Sun – 64 oz at V3–V4: Increases photosynthesis and energy capture early in the season, especially effective in irrigated or limited water scenarios. BW Fusion Relax Rx – 16oz: Supports recovery after herbicide applications and stress events with targeted amino acids and nutrients. BW Fusion AmiNo – 32oz: Replaces inefficient nitrates with amino acids to help plants create proteins and sugars more efficiently, improving stress response and yield protection. The Max Yield System starts long before you ever put a seed in the ground, but it doesn’t stop there. Evaluating your stand is the first step in managing toward your full yield potential . Without a high NEPS, you won’t hit the highest yields. But with it—and with the right post-planting management—you’ve got everything in place to push your crop to the MAX.

Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple Hey everyone—welcome back to the EZ Ag Podcas t, where innovative farming meets practical solutions. I’m your host Matt Long, President of Axis Seed – Red Barn, and today, we’re going to be talking about a part of crop management that many folks skip over—but one that can help us make more informed in-season decisions that can have a huge impact on final yield. We’re diving into post-planting evaluations , and how the Max Yield System can help you turn spring emergence into more bushels in the fall. So let’s dig into it. Right now, most of you are still very focused on spring planting. And spring planting as we’ve talked about in the past is extremely important when you’re establishing the Max Yield potential in any field, think about it 80% of the Top 5 Factors to Produce a Top Crop deal with decisions and conditions that cannot be changed once the planter pass is complete. But today, as some of the dust settles from planting, it’s time to change our focus to the fifth factor of the Max Yield System’s Top 5 Factors to Produce a Top Crop –   Post-Planting Management . The Max Yield System reminds us that farming success isn’t about one big move—it’s a series of intentional decisions . And evaluating your stand is one of the first chances you get to see how your attention to detail during planting is performing. You’ve spent all winter fine-tuning your plans, you’ve spent the past few weeks focusing on the first four factors of the Max Yield System’s Top 5 Factors to Produce a Top Crop — now it’s time to evaluate what actually came out of the ground? But first for a quick refresher incase you missed it or haven’t been following along as closely:  The Max Yield System’s Top 5 Factors to Produce a Top Crop are: Factor # 1 : Soil Conditions at Planting Time Factor # 2 : Seed Placement Factor # 3 : Seed Quality Factor # 4 : Right Hybrid Right Field Factor # 5 : Post Planting Management And I can guarantee you one of the most overlooked and important pieces of the whole system is to create a detailed and written plan EARLY , meaning 6-9 months before planting season begins. Why? Because creating a detailed and written plan early gives you the confidence that you know what your goals are and how to achieve them. It relieves the stress of making off the cuff decisions and using shoot from the hip management strategies that never work quite a good as you think they will. And above all else it helps you harness the power of your crop to produce Max Yield.  So now I’ll get off my soap box and get back to today’s topic, Factor #5 Post Planting Management. Start Simple – Stand Counts Let’s start with the basics— stand counts . In 30-inch corn rows, step off 17 feet 5 inches . That’s the length you need to count emerged plants in order to figure plants per acre. Multiply the number of plants you count by 1,000. It’s simple math: count what’s up to get a rough population. Do this in multiple spots across the field, and for best accuracy, I like to count 3 adjacent rows in each location and average them together. But here’s the thing— stand counts alone don’t tell the whole story . Go Further with Net Effective Plant Stand To really understand what your crop’s capable of, you need to dig deeper—and that’s where NEPS , or Net Effective Plant Stand , comes in. NEPS looks beyond population. It looks at uniformity —and in the Max Yield System, uniformity is key to achieving Max Yield. You want to start doing NEPS checks around V3 to V6 , when plants have 3 to 6 leaf collars showing. Here’s how NEPS works, using the same 17’5” now look more in depth at the size and quality of each plant: Give each healthy, even plant a score of 1.0 Plants that are 1 leaf stage behind get a 0.75 Plants that are 2 leaves behind get a 0.5 Any plants more than 2 leaves behind , count as 0 Add up your total scores and divide by the total number of plants you evaluated. A NEPS score between 92% and 100% of your raw stand count means you’re looking good—and sitting on a lot of potential. Turn NEPS Into Yield Estimates Once you have a NEPS number, you can use it to estimate your potential yield . Here’s a quick rule of thumb: Fully irrigated corn : Multiply NEPS by 8–10 bushels per 1,000 plants Limited irrigation (with a good flex hybrid): Use 8–11 bu/1,000 Dryland when mother nature is cooperating and we have good growing conditions : Bump that up to 9–12 bu/1,000 Let’s say in a fully irrigated field your NEPS is 26,000 , you might expect anywhere from 208 to 260 bushels per acre— IF you protect and manage that stand well through the season. That’s the kind of data-driven decision-making the Max Yield System is built for. Feeding & Protecting for Max Yield So now that you’ve got your stand evaluated and your yield potential in mind—it’s time to protect that potential with the right post-planting inputs . Here are a few of my favorite tools from BW Fusion that fit right into the Max Yield System: Full Sun – Apply 64 oz at V3–V4 or later in the season at VT . This product enhances photosynthesis—helping your crop capture and convert more sunlight into energy. Great for irrigated and limited irrigation scenarios. Relax Rx – Use 16 oz to support your crop after herbicide applications or protect it from abiotic stress. Corn doesn’t metabolize herbicides for free—it costs the plant energy. Relax Rx helps speed recovery and keeps that plant growing strong. AmiNo – At 32 oz , this replaces traditional nitrate-based nitrogen with amino acids. That means less energy spent converting nutrients, more energy spent building proteins, sugars, and most importantly—Max Yield. With the Max Yield System, you feed based on potential , not emotion. NEPS tells you how aggressive you can be with inputs—and it helps ensure you’re not overspending on a crop that won’t pay you back. Final Thoughts – Max Yield in Motion So here’s your action plan: Get out and walk your fields Count your stands Evaluate NEPS between V3 and V6 Estimate yield potential And feed and protect that crop with products that deliver results Remember: you only get one chance at Max Yield . If your NEPS is low, you’ve got limited upside. But if your stand is strong and uniform, the potential is high—and that’s when the Max Yield System really starts to pay. Thanks for listening to this episode of the EZ Ag Podcast .  If you’ve got questions about evaluating stands, input strategies, or using NEPS on your own farm—reach out to us at Axis Seed – Red Barn.  Until next time — remember: Ag is easy… when you tune into the EZAg Podcast That’s all for today, I’m Matt Long, Grow Your Yield, Grow Your Legacy, Grow Strong with Axis Seed .

In agriculture, tradition runs deep. And for good reason, many of us learned to farm from the generations before us, inheriting not just land, but lessons forged by hard seasons, tough markets, and tight margins. But in today’s fast-evolving ag landscape, there’s one phrase that poses more danger to your bottom line than a drought or hailstorm: “This is how we’ve always done it.” That mindset may offer comfort, but it no longer guarantees results. In fact, doing what we’ve always done may be the very thing holding you back from reaching the next level of performance and profitability. Today, the most successful operations aren’t the ones chasing tradition, they’re the ones chasing yield. And that means embracing innovation at every level of the farm. It’s time to reframe the way we manage risk and reward. In today’s system, not evolving is the greatest risk of all. Let’s break down why, and how cutting-edge technology and partnerships can position your operation to thrive, not just survive. Tradition is Not a Yield Strategy Farming is full of decisions: when to plant, what hybrid to use, how much nitrogen to apply, when to spray, and so on. But too often, those decisions are made on gut feeling or by copying what worked in the past, regardless of whether the environment, genetics, or economics have changed. Take a moment to consider this: Every year, we’re expected to produce more with less . Less margin for error. Less available labor. Less time. And yet, many growers are still making critical crop decisions based on what they did 5, 10, or even 20 years ago. The problem is, the game has changed. Soil biology, weather patterns, pest pressure, and input prices don’t look like they used to. Our strategies shouldn’t either. The Max Yield System: Farming for the Future At Axis Seed – Red Barn, we’ve built our approach around one thing: helping farmers maximize yield through a systems-based strategy that integrates the best of today’s agricultural technology. It’s called the Max Yield System , and it’s not just a name, it’s a commitment to continual improvement and legacy-building performance. That system is powered by partnerships with five of the most forward-thinking companies in agriculture today: Pivot Bio, BW Fusion, Meristem Crop Performance, Lygos, and Axis Seed itself. Here’s how each of these partners helps break the cycle of “how we’ve always done it” and instead pushes your farm toward how we should be doing it . Pivot Bio: Gene-Edited Microbes That Replace Synthetic Nitrogen Every grower knows nitrogen is essential, but applying it the same way we always have is inefficient at best, and wasteful at worst. Pivot Bio offers a better path forward with its revolutionary gene-edited microbes that fix nitrogen directly in the root zone . These microbes deliver a more predictable, weatherproof nitrogen source that’s available when the plant needs it, not when conditions happen to cooperate. This is precision nitrogen management at its finest: less volatility, fewer leaching losses, and stronger ROI per pound of applied “N.” It’s not just a nitrogen source, it’s a nitrogen revolution. BW Fusion: Advanced Micronutrients and Biologicals That Drive Plant Health Micronutrients are no longer optional. Today’s high-yielding hybrids place massive demand on the soil, and without a targeted nutrition plan, you’re leaving bushels behind. BW Fusion combines data-driven insights with some of the most advanced micronutrient formulations and biologicals on the market. Products like AmiNo , RelaxRX, and FullSun don’t just feed your crop, they mitigate stress, fuel your crops’ full potential, and unlock the biology in your soil to work harder.. The result? Better nutrient uptake, stronger early growth, and a healthier plant from V1 to black layer. In other words: More bushels, more consistently. Meristem: Seed Treatments That Do More Than Protect Standard fungicide and insecticide treatments are no longer enough. To protect and enhance the potential of every seed you plant, Meristem Crop Performance delivers cutting-edge seed treatments that combine early-season defense with growth-stage enhancement. Their REVLINE™ series goes beyond protection, packing in biologicals, stress reducers, and root-promoting ingredients that give your seed the ultimate head start. From day one, you’re maximizing emergence, rooting, and stand establishment. And because success at harvest starts at planting, this is one upgrade you can’t afford to skip. Lygos: Amino Acid Polymers That Enhance Water Efficiency and Stress Tolerance Water is precious, whether you’re fully irrigated, limited, or dryland. That’s why Lygos is redefining how crops manage water through its amino acid polymer technology. These polymers improve the plant’s ability to retain moisture and regulate stress responses, especially during critical growth stages or environmental pressure. The endgame? More efficient water usage, better tolerance to heat and drought, and higher yield resilience when weather doesn’t cooperate (which it rarely does). In dryland and irrigated systems alike, this tech gives your crop more staying power. Axis Seed: Elite Genetics with Local Data Last but not least, your seed is your single most important input, and with Axis Seed , you’re not just getting elite genetics. You’re getting local testing, personalized placement, and data-backed recommendations tailored to your fields. Each hybrid is tested and verified in our region, under your soil types, water limitations, and disease pressures. No more guessing. No more gambling on big-brand hybrids that haven’t been proven in your ZIP code. When you pair elite genetics with precision management, you don’t just grow corn. You grow confidence. It’s Not About Doing More, It’s About Doing Better The trap of tradition tells us we need to farm harder to keep up. But in reality, we need to farm smarter. That’s what the Max Yield System is all about. By leveraging the best new technologies, local data, and trusted agronomic support, you’re not just making decisions, you’re making the right decisions. You’re not just reacting to the season, you’re planning for success. And you’re not just running a farm, you’re building a legacy. Grow Your Legacy, Not Just a Crop The truth is, your farm doesn’t need another average year. It needs a breakthrough. So ask yourself: What’s really holding you back? Is it the weather? The market? Or is it the comfort of old habits? This year, challenge the status quo. Break free from the cycle of “how we’ve always done it” and embrace the tools that will shape the farms of tomorrow. Because legacy isn’t built on tradition alone. It’s built on action, adaptation, and yield. #GrowYourYield  #GrowYourLegacy #GrowStrong with Axis Seed.

Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple Hey there, and welcome back to the EZ Ag Podcast , where innovative farming meets practical solutions. I’m your host, Matt Long and I appreciate you joining us again today. Remember, if you like what you’re hearing and don’t want to miss more content like this, like and subscribe before you leave.  In our last episode I leaned into a comment from a grower about how we make Ag sound so Easy,  And you know what? That’s kind of the goal. But the truth is farming will only be easy, if you harness the right system, and the right partners. When you do, ag can be a whole lot easier . At Axis Seed – Red Barn, we’ve built our business around one mission: helping growers maximize yield by implementing the Max Yield System. And today, I want to talk about how we do that. Specifically, how technology is the engine driving higher performance on your farm. Because the truth is, “Doing what we’ve always done” is no longer good enough. It’s easy to fall back on the familiar—same planting date, same hybrid, same fertilizer rate. But every year, the environment changes, the genetics change, the markets change. And if your strategy doesn’t evolve with it, you’re falling behind and leaving serious yield on the table. That’s why we don’t just sell seed, we help farmers build a better plan, one field at a time. The Max Yield System is about working smarter , using the best tech and tools available to make data-driven decisions that lead to real, measurable gains. Let’s break down how we do it. We’ve partnered with some of the most innovative companies in agriculture today to build a complete system that works together from seed to soil to harvest. 1. Axis Seed It all starts with elite genetics. We don’t push what’s popular. We test and place hybrids based on your fields, your conditions, and your goals. Every seed decision is backed by local data and agronomic insight. 2. Pivot Bio Instead of relying solely on synthetic nitrogen that may or may not be available when your crop needs it, we harness the power of gene-edited microbes from Pivot Bio that apply nitrogen right at the root . It’s stable, consistent, and weatherproof. 3. BW Fusion Your soil has untapped potential. BW Fusion helps unlock it with precision micronutrients and biologicals that improve nutrient cycling, plant uptake, and overall health. We use BW Fusion products to make sure your crop has what it needs, exactly when it needs it. 4. Meristem Seed treatments aren’t just about protection anymore they’re about performance. Meristem’s seed-applied products combine fungicides and insecticides with biologicals and growth enhancers that give each seed a stronger start and keep it performing throughout the season. 5. Lygos Their amino acid polymer technology is a game changer for managing water and stress. Whether you’re farming on dryland or full irrigation, Lygos helps your crop use water more efficiently and stay healthier during stress periods. But technology alone isn’t the answer. What sets Axis Seed – Red Barn apart is how we help you implement the Max Yield System in a way that fits your operation. We walk your fields. We gather your data. We build your crop plan before the season ever starts. Then we track performance through harvest and adjust for next year. It’s not a one-size-fits-all program, it’s a customized system that evolves with your farm. And when you partner with us, you get more than products, you get a team that’s invested in your success. At the end of the day, yield doesn’t come from luck. It comes from intentional decisions, made early and executed well. That’s what the Max Yield System delivers. We help you take the emotion out of the season. We help you stop worrying about what you can’t control, like weather and market prices, and focus on what you can : Your plan. Your seed. Your execution. Your yield. Because that’s how you build something bigger than a crop.That’s how you #GrowYourLegacy. If you’re ready to stop doing what you’ve always done…If you’re ready to Grow Your Legacy…If you’re ready to maximize yield and minimize regret… Give us a call at Axis Seed – Red Barn. Let’s get your Max Yield System in place today. Until next time — remember: Ag is easy… when you tune into the EZAg Podcast That’s all for today, I’m Matt Long, Grow Your Yield, Grow Your Legacy, Grow Strong with Axis Seed .

Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple The Secret to Easy Ag? Focus on What You Can Control Welcome to the EZ Ag Podcast, where innovative farming meets practical solutions. I’m your host, Matt Long, and today I’m going to lean into a comment I heard last week that honestly made me smile. A customer told me, “ I’ve been listening to your podcast and you make Ag sound so easy. ” And you know what? I do. Because it can be. Now I know what you’re thinking, “easy” isn’t exactly the first word that comes to mind when you’re buried in breakdowns, fighting unpredictable weather, or watching the markets bounce around like a kid on a trampoline. But stay with me, because there’s a truth here that might just change the way you approach your operation. Let’s talk about the two biggest variables that stress out farmers — weather and market prices. Sound familiar? They’re unpredictable. Uncontrollable. And yet, most of us spend more energy worrying about them than we do planning around the things we can control. But what if you flipped that mindset? Here’s the secret: Agriculture becomes easier when you eliminate the emotions around the things you can’t control , and instead focus your energy on what you can . That’s where the Max Yield System comes in. It’s not magic. It’s not theory. It’s just a smart, proven strategy, and it starts with something most farmers skip: Early Planning . Long before you plant a single seed, you should already know the goals and potential obstacles for each individual field on your farm. Not just, “hope, this one does better than last year.” I’m talking about a real, tailored plan that uses: Historical yield data Innovative products Proven management practices And a clear understanding of your fields — not just “average” ones The Max Yield System helps you map it all out. It puts you in the driver’s seat, not Mother Nature, or the markets. Because at the end of the day, your number one job is simple: Protect your yield at all costs . And that starts long before planting. Let me ask you something: What’s the number one variable in your farming operation? I’ll give you three guesses…It’s not rainfall. It’s not corn prices. It’s YOU . Your decisions. Your mindset. Your ability to stay focused and follow a plan. The Max Yield System was built to help you do exactly that. By simplifying your approach and focusing on the variables you can control, The Top 5 Factors to Produce a Top Crop . Let’s break down each factor. Top 5 Factors of the Max Yield System : Soil Conditions at Planting Time If you plant into poor conditions, you’re already behind. It doesn’t matter what seed you’ve got, soil temperature and moisture are the number one variables in producing a Top Crop. Seed Placement Depth, spacing, and consistency. Precision here pays dividends. Plant at a speed that allows your planter technology to perform. Consistent depth, spacing, and row closure are all key to producing a Top Crop. Seed Quality Not all seeds are created equal. You are planting the highest quality Axis Seed – are you protecting it? Is it stored and handled properly? Will your soil conditions and seed placement allow it to perform? Right Hybrid, Right Field This is big. A rockstar hybrid in the wrong environment is just wasted potential. And 75% of all hybrids never perform to their potential because they’re planted in the wrong field. Follow your Max Yield System Hybrid x Field plan and match the hybrid to the soil type, insect pressure, and disease potential of the field. Post-Planting Management Don’t go on autopilot after planting. This is where yield is either lost or locked in. Scout. Feed. Protect. Adjust. Schedule a Post Planting Report Card Visit with our team, check net effective plant stands – not just population. The beauty of this system is once your plan is in place, and your focus is locked in on the Top 5 Factors to Produce a Top Crop, the stress starts to fade. You’re no longer reacting to problems. You’re executing a plan. And that’s when Ag gets easy. Or at least, easier . So yeah when that customer told me, “ Matt, you make Ag sound so easy, ” I smiled, because I knew what he was really saying. He was starting to see the difference between farming with emotion… and farming with a system. Between hoping… and planning. Between reacting… and protecting yield with purpose. And that’s what we’re here to do. Every episode. Every conversation. Every step of the way. Thanks for tuning in to The EZ Ag Podcast. If today’s episode hit home with you, do me a favor, give our podcast a like or subscribe, and share it with a friend or neighbor. 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.

Still Beating the Same Drum – Because It Still Works Every spring, as farmers hit the fields, I come back to the same topic: the Top 5 Factors to Produce a Top Crop . And I get it—some of you might think I’m just beating a dead horse. But I’ll say this loud and clear: this horse is still very much alive and kicking . These five factors aren’t just talking points—they’re the backbone of a high-yielding crop, and every year I watch farmers violate one or more of them, often knowingly , and it costs them big. Face it, we are creatures of habit. We rely on what’s worked in the past, what Dad or Grandpa used to do, or what the neighbor swears by. But in today’s farming environment—where every bushel counts and margins are tight— doing things “because that’s how we’ve always done it” can leave serious yield and profit on the table . Let’s run through the Top 5 Factors again. Not because they’ve changed, but because they haven’t , and they still matter just as much—if not more—than ever. 1. Soil Conditions at Planting This is the #1 factor for a reason. You only get one shot to plant , and your yield potential will never be higher than the day you put that seed in the ground . I see too many farmers chasing a calendar date instead of watching soil temps and moisture. Planting too early, too wet, or into poor soil conditions crushes yield before the crop even starts growing. Don’t plant because it’s April 20th. Plant because your soil conditions are fit for max yield. 2. Seed Placement Seed placement is about giving every seed equal opportunity to grow, compete, and perform. That means consistent depth, spacing, seed-to-soil contact, and row closure . Why does this matter? Because even emergence equals even development . Which gives you uniform ear size, a longer grain-fill period, and consistent dry down , all of which contribute to Max Yield . Uneven emergence creates winners and losers in your field, it makes your crop compete against itself, and it hurts the overall potential of your crop. 3. Seed Quality At Axis Seed, we focus on providing the highest seed quality available , and that gives you an edge from the start . But let me be clear— high seed quality can’t overcome poor planting decisions . If your soil conditions are bad or your planter isn’t dialed in, you’ve already sabotaged that seed. Quality matters and helps you get the consistency needed to achieve Max Yield, but only when paired with execution . 4. Right Hybrid, Right Field This one gets ignored too often. 75% of hybrids don’t perform to their potential because they’re planted in the wrong field . It’s not just about yield—it’s about planting the right hybrid based on the soil type, pH, bu/1000 plants goal, and knowing your disease, weed, and insect pressures on a field x field basis. Your Max Yield System Hybrid x Field Plan is designed to put the right hybrid in the right field, Follow it. Early Planning = Intentional Planting. 5. Post-Planting Management When you’ve nailed the first four, this is where you begin to protect the yield you’ve established at the planter – at all costs. Think of post-planting management as your opportunity to preserve the crop’s potential . One misconception is that Post-Planting Management can increase yield, yield can never be increased after planting, it can only be preserved .  So now it’s time to scout your fields, manage weeds, diseases, and insects, and feed the crop for Max Yield. Making timely decisions is critical, creating a Max Yield System plan based on historical data and field specific goals and obstacles can help you focus your post-planting management. This is where yield and profit is either protected or lost . Every year, I have these conversations because the Top 5 Factors are still the difference-makers . They aren’t trendy or flashy, but they’re still critical . And year after year, when we look at the best fields—the ones that blew the top off the yield monitor, I can assure you The Top 5 Factors to Produce a Top Crop were in play . So no, I’m not beating a dead horse. I’m reminding you that the path to Max Yield doesn’t change—it just requires discipline, attention to detail, and the willingness to leave old habits behind. Grow Your Yield. Grow Your Legacy. Grow Strong with Axis Seed. Have questions or want help dialing in your Top 5 this spring? Let’s talk, reach out to your Max Yield System Advisor at Axis Seed – Red Barn today!

Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple Welcome to the EZ Ag Podcast, where innovative farming meets practical solutions. Thanks again for joining us. Remember to like and subscribe to our podcast, as well as follow us on our social media channels on X and Facebook. Now let’s dig in. Picture this, you’re on a fishing dock, watching the fishermen haul in buckets full of crabs. One crab tries to climb out, determined to escape, but just as it reaches the edge, the other crabs pull it back down. No crab escapes because the others won’t let them. They keep each other trapped. This is how it works in life and in farming. If you surround yourself with the wrong people, the ones who don’t challenge you, don’t innovate, or don’t push you forward, you’ll stay stuck in the same place. But when you surround yourself with the right people, the ones who elevate your thinking, help you grow, and push you toward success, then you rise above the bucket, you break free and reach your full potential. Jim Rohn once said, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” This idea applies to farming just as much as it does to life. If you surround yourself with the right five people, or in this case, the right five companies, you set yourself up for greater success.That’s why Axis Seed-Red Barn has surrounded itself with top companies in agriculture and created the MAX Yield System, the ultimate system for helping you increase yield, grow your farm, and leave a legacy.  Let’s talk about these five companies and how the MAX Yield System eliminates the crabs, elevates your operation, and helps you break free from the bucket once and for all. The power of the five you surround yourself with determines your success. If you’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with, think about who you choose to surround yourself with in farming. Are they helping you grow? Are they pushing you forward? Or are they holding you back? At Axis Seed-Red Barn, we’ve carefully selected five of the most innovative agriculture companies to surround ourselves with, and through the MAX Yield System, we help you utilize their products and innovations to increase yield, grow your farm, and leave a legacy. These five companies aren’t just suppliers, they’re partners in your success. The five companies represent the top tier of agricultural innovation, and we’ve brought them together in the MAX Yield System to provide you with the best tools for your success. The MAX Yield System breaks you free from the bucket.  So what exactly is the MAX Yield System? It’s more than just a collection of products. It’s a complete farming strategy designed to help you break free from outdated practices, inefficient inputs, and limiting mindsets.The crabs in farming come in many forms. Maybe it’s relying on the same genetics that aren’t performing anymore. Maybe choosing inputs that aren’t giving you a return on your investment. Maybe it’s surrounding yourself with people who say “that’s the way we’ve always done it” instead of asking “how can we do this better?”  The MAX Yield System eliminates these crabs by focusing on three core goals. First, maximizing yield potential. By integrating custom seed solutions, biologicals, polymer based technologies, high efficiency crop protection, and optimized nitrogen use, the MAX Yield System unlocks higher production without increasing input cost. Next, grow your farm. Farming isn’t just about this season, it’s about building a foundation for long term growth.The MAX Yield System gives you the tools, insights, and resources to make data driven decisions that drive yield. And finally leave a legacy. The most successful farms aren’t just focused on yield, they’re focused on building something that lasts. The MAX Yield System helps farmers increase yield, sustainability, and utilize efficient solutions that protect their land, improve their profitability, and create a lasting legacy for generations to come. So here’s the big question: who are your 5? Are you surrounding yourself with the right people, the right technology, and the right strategies to maximize your success? Or are you letting the crabs pull you back into the bucket? At Axis Seed-Red Barn, we filled our bucket with five companies, Axis Seed, BW Fusion, Ligos, Meristem, and Pivot Bio, to help you elevate your farm success. Because we know that success in farming depends on who you choose to work with. When you surround yourself with the right five people, your farm will reflect that success. The MAX Yield System is more than just a system, it’s a mindset, a commitment to smarter farming, and a path to greater profitability. It’s about breaking free from inefficiency, outdated practices, and limiting beliefs, and choosing to elevate your farm to its full potential. So don’t let the crabs hold you back. Take control, surround yourself with the best, and let Axis Seed-Red Barn help you break free and achieve your farming goals.  Until next time, I’m Matt Long. Grow your yield. Grow your legacy. Grow strong with Axis Seed.

Farming has always been about more than just today’s harvest—it’s about building a lasting legacy. The choices we make each season impact the future of our operations, shaping the opportunities we leave for future generations.  Today’s agriculture industry faces challenges, including unpredictable weather patterns, shifting market conditions, rising input costs, and increased pressures on productivity and sustainability. To meet these challenges, we must look beyond traditional practices and adopt innovative approaches that enhance yield and profitability. At Axis Seed – Red Barn, we recognize that maximizing yield requires more than simply increasing inputs—it demands an integrated approach. Our Max Yield System combines cutting-edge agronomic practices, data analytics, and breakthrough products and technologies. By leveraging real-time data and advanced analytics, growers can now make informed decisions faster, fine-tuning each aspect of their operations to achieve Maximum Yield. The Max Yield System isn’t just about technology; it’s about helping you create long-term value. With customizable plans that address your specific farms goals, this system helps farmers enhance productivity, reduce waste, and improve overall efficiency. The outcome is a measurable increase in yield, profitability, and sustainability. Ultimately, the goal is clear: helping farmers do more with less and achieve consistent, predictable success season after season. Investing in innovation today ensures you are not only growing healthier crops, but also nurturing a sustainable farming legacy for future generations. Are you ready to maximize your yield potential and build a legacy of success? Connect with Axis Seed – Red Barn, and let’s take your farm’s productivity to the next level together. -Matt Long