Kick'N Dirt with Mike and The Kevins

Should 2025 Change the Way We Plan for 2026?

Episode Summary

The first Kick'n Dirt episode of 2026 takes a deep dive into one of the strangest, most challenging growing seasons Nebraska producers have seen in decades. Host Mike Wardyn is joined by Pioneer field agronomists Jake Hawks, Kevin Kowalski, Calvin Rupe, and Kevin Keller to break down what really happened in 2025 — from the driest planting window in 130 years to record rainfall, intense disease pressure, and a cloudy finish that robbed crops of yield.

Episode Notes

Listen for: 

The 2025 Weather Whiplash

• One of the driest planting seasons on record, followed by heavy rains, humidity, and flooding.

Disease Pressure Across Nebraska

• Southern rust outbreaks and why 2025 was so severe
• Tar spot expansion, especially in eastern Nebraska
• Ear rots driven by late-season humidity and fog
• Why southern rust is more aggressive than tar spot

Fungicide Strategy

• R1 vs. R3 timing: what worked best
• When a second fungicide pass makes sense
• Why waiting too long costs yield
• Hybrid tolerance vs. chemical protection

Nitrogen & Fertility Decisions

• Early-season drought causing growers to pull back
• How lost N and sulfur hurt disease resistance
• Why “defense mode” can leave yield on the table

Kernel Weight & Late-Season Stress

• Why great ear counts didn’t turn into great yields
• The importance of sunlight during grain fill
• “Third and fourth quarter” of corn development

Herbicide Injury & Crop Stress

• Dicamba, growth regulators, and rapid weather swings
• Twisting, stunting, and plant metabolism overload
• Why pre-emerge weed control matters more than ever

Soybean Diseases in 2025

• Why white mold didn’t explode despite perfect conditions
• Sudden death syndrome showing up
• Low levels of bacterial and foliar disease

Hybrid Selection & Placement

• Disease-tolerant vs. susceptible genetics
• Why seed choice is critical as diseases intensify

Application Methods

• Aerial, ground rig, drones, and pivot chemigation
• Why uniform coverage matters more than the tool

Planning for 2026

• Don’t farm “average” — every year is different
• Why flexibility beats rigid plans
• How to prepare if southern rust shows up again