Keeping It Independent

New Wyffels Hybrids Agronomy Manager Mike Witt is a self-described "talker". While he enjoys getting behind the podcast microphone, he insists it isn't his natural habitat. With the planting season quickly approaching, he's excited to get out in the field and meet Wyffels growers all across western Iowa. In the latest episode of "Keeping It Independent", host Eric Wilson introduces Mike Witt - the newest member of the Wyffels Product and Agronomy team. With over two decades of experience in the agricultural industry, Mike brings a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm to his new role. This episode dives into his background, his vision for agronomic service in western Iowa, and the exciting relationships he plans to forge. Links discussed in this episode: Our Corn Products - Wyffels Hybrids Request our Product Guide Wyffels Hybrids Trial Results We want to hear from you. Have questions you want us to address on future episodes? Ideas for how we can make this better? Email us at agronomy@wyffels.com. Wyffels Hybrids. Fiercely independent, and proud of it. ► Let’s Connect Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WyffelsHybrids X: https://www.x.com/WyffelsHybrids Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wyffelshybrids/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wyffelshybrids

Seed corn package diversity is more than relative maturity. Hybrids build yield in a variety a ways - ear length, ear girth, kernel weight. It's important to know how each product gets to the finish line and what package can work best on your acres. On today's podcast, the Wyffels agronomy managers discuss our yield component trials. Wyffels has conducted research to better understand how individual hybrids express the yield components. Hybrids are planted at low and high populations to determine how hybrid yield components change, or "flex", in response to stress. Ears are collected to determine how the girth, length, and kernel weight are affected by stress. Differences are converted to a percentage to show how each yield component influences total ear flex by product. You can find-tune management to protect genetic yield potential by knowing how hybrids respond to stress. Links discussed in this episode: Our Corn Products - Wyffels Hybrids Request our Product Guide with Yield Component Information. Between the Rows® - Fungicide Use on Wyffels Hybrids Wyffels Hybrids Trial Results We want to hear from you. Have questions you want us to address on future episodes? Ideas for how we can make this better? Email us at agronomy@wyffels.com. Wyffels Hybrids. Fiercely independent, and proud of it. ► Let’s Connect Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WyffelsHybrids X: https://www.x.com/WyffelsHybrids Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wyffelshybrids/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wyffelshybrids

It's mid-December and we're still talking fungicide. Why? After what we saw in 2025, it requires a deeper dive before 2026 decisions are made. Fungicides are a valuable tool for raising high yielding corn. The benefits include increased yield, improved plant health and better standability at harvest. All hybrids can respond positively to a properly timed fungicide application, especially in environments that favor the development of leaf disease. On today's podcast, the Wyffels agronomy team reviews multiyear data, explores best practices for ROI, and offers thoughts on strategy for 2026. Links discussed in this episode: Between the Rows® - Fungicide Use on Wyffels Hybrids Wyffels Hybrids Trial Results Between the Rows® - Southern Rust We want to hear from you. Have questions you want us to address on future episodes? Ideas for how we can make this better? Email us at agronomy@wyffels.com. Wyffels Hybrids. Fiercely independent, and proud of it. ► Let’s Connect Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WyffelsHybrids X: https://www.x.com/WyffelsHybrids Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wyffelshybrids/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wyffelshybrids

So, what just happened? With corn harvest in the rearview, the Wyffels Agronomy team is ready to break it all down. Today's podcast reviews the 2025 growing season in Wisconsin, Illinois, and eastern Iowa. What went right? What impacted performance? What lessons can we take from it going forward? Listen to Part 1 - South Dakota, Minnesota, and western Iowa HERE. Links discussed in this episode: Between the Rows® - Fungicide Use on Wyffels Hybrids Wyffels Hybrids Trial Results Iowa Environmental Mesonet We want to hear from you. Have questions you want us to address on future episodes? Ideas for how we can make this better? Email us at agronomy@wyffels.com. Wyffels Hybrids. Fiercely independent, and proud of it. ► Let’s Connect Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WyffelsHybrids X: https://www.x.com/WyffelsHybrids Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wyffelshybrids/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wyffelshybrids

So, what just happened? Today's podcast focuses on the 2025 growing season in eastern South Dakota, southern Minnesota, and into Iowa. To the north, corn growers saw favorable conditions and record yields, but Iowa fields struggled with Southern Rust and other challenges due largely to high temperatures and extra rain. With corn harvest in the rearview, the Wyffels Agronomy team is ready to break it all down. They take a look at the factors that influenced hybrid performance, and share what lessons can be applied going forward. Part 2 of our mini-series will cover Wisconsin, Illinois, and eastern Iowa. Links discussed in this episode: Between the Rows® - Fungicide Use on Wyffels Hybrids Wyffels Hybrids Trial Results Iowa Environmental Mesonet We want to hear from you. Have questions you want us to address on future episodes? Ideas for how we can make this better? Email us at agronomy@wyffels.com. Wyffels Hybrids. Fiercely independent, and proud of it. ► Let’s Connect Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WyffelsHybrids X: https://www.x.com/WyffelsHybrids Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wyffelshybrids/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wyffelshybrids

Harvest is in full swing across the Corn Belt! And yield results are looking extremely variable. A wild season of heat, drought, excessive rainfall, and other environmental challenges have made for a unique corn harvest. On this week's podcast, the Wyffels agronomy team discusses harvest progress, yield component analysis, fall fertilizer, and more. Links discussed in this episode: Between the Rows® - Fungicide Use on Wyffels Hybrids Between the Rows® - Ear Rots and Kernel Molds Wyffels Harvest Progress Report Map We want to hear from you. Have questions you want us to address on future episodes? Ideas for how we can make this better? Email us at agronomy@wyffels.com. Wyffels Hybrids. Fiercely independent, and proud of it. ► Let’s Connect Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WyffelsHybrids X: https://www.x.com/WyffelsHybrids Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wyffelshybrids/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wyffelshybrids

Harvest is coming in hot! Combines are rolling in parts of the Corn Belt and we're seeing a mixed bag of results. Southern Rust, drought, extreme heat, fungicide decisions, and more are impacting yields in significant ways. On this week's podcast, the Wyffels agronomy team discusses disease management, early harvest returns, and what we should (and should not) take from 2025 as we look ahead to 2026. Links discussed in this episode: Between the Rows® - Fungicide Use on Wyffels Hybrids Between the Rows® - Ear Rots and Kernel Molds Wyffels Grain Drying Calculator We want to hear from you. Have questions you want us to address on future episodes? Ideas for how we can make this better? Email us at agronomy@wyffels.com. Wyffels Hybrids. Fiercely independent, and proud of it.

Yield is important, but so is ROI. When budgets get tight, what are the best management decisions for your corn acres? What tools and tips make those decisions easier? On this week's episode, the Wyffels agronomy team discuss what corn growers can do to finish 2025 strong, management suggestions as we look ahead to 2026, and they give a brief update on current crop conditions. Links discussed in this episode: Wyffels Yield Calculator Wyffels Grain Drying Calculator Between the Rows® - Corn Pollination and Grain Fill Between the Rows® - Southern Rust

After a blazing hot summer, what's next for the corn crop as we head into September? How does this time of year impact yields and harvest timing? On this week's podcast, the Wyffels agronomy team discusses disease pressure, grain fill, and what to expect ahead of harvest. Links discussed in this episode: Wyffels Yield Calculator Wyffels Grain Drying Calculator Between the Rows® - Corn Pollination and Grain Fill We want to hear from you. Have questions you want us to address on future episodes? Email us at agronomy@wyffels.com. Wyffels Hybrids. Fiercely independent, and proud of it. ► Let’s Connect Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WyffelsHybrids X: https://www.x.com/WyffelsHybrids Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wyffelshybrids/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wyffelshybrids #Corn #SeedCorn #Agronomy #Agronomics #Midwest #Farming #rowcrops #fungicide #tarspot #podcast #farmtalk #agribusiness #grainfill #pollination #seedcorn #harvest2025 #southernrust

August is coming in hot! After an "extreme" start to pollination with high temps and lots of rain for much of the Corn Belt, we're entering an uncertain period. Will we see extra special yields come harvest? Or will the wild weather deny us? On this week's podcast, the Wyffels agronomy team discusses pollination, grain fill, and the late season fungicide decision. Links discussed in this episode: Wyffels Yield Calculator Between the Rows® - Corn Pollination and Grain Fill Between the Rows® - Fungicide Use on Wyffels Hybrids We want to hear from you. Have questions you want us to address on future episodes? Ideas for how we can make this better? Email us at agronomy@wyffels.com. Wyffels Hybrids. Fiercely independent, and proud of it.

August is shaping up to be a game of disease whack-a-mole. Recent heat and rain in the Central Corn Belt have fueled Southern Rust development, but the upcoming cool-down looks ideal for tar spot. Are you prepared to manage it all? On this week's podcast, Wyffels Agronomy Managers Eric Wilson and Jared Goplen talk about late summer disease threats, and touch on the impact of recent storms. Now’s the perfect time to scout for disease and assess fungicide needs. Links discussed in this episode: Crop Protection Network - Fungicide Efficacy Between the Rows® - Southern Rust Between the Rows® - Tar Spot Between the Rows® - Damage from Summer Storms We want to hear from you. Have questions you want us to address on future episodes? Ideas for how we can make this better? Email us at agronomy@wyffels.com. Wyffels Hybrids. Fiercely independent, and proud of it.

It's the story of July. There’s been a lot of chatter in the field this week about corn pollination. While no Wyffels products are currently experiencing this issue, it remains something to monitor amid the Corn Belt's high temperatures. On this week's podcast, Wyffels Agronomy Managers Robby Meeker, Ryan Gentle, and Eric Wilson talk us through what's happening, what it looks like, and what you can expect as a result. Now’s the perfect time to get out and see how your crop is progressing. Links discussed in this episode: How to Check Corn Pollination - Video Between the Rows® - Tar Spot Between the Rows® - Corn Pollination and Grain Fill Wyffels Hybrids - Corn Rootworm Map We want to hear from you. Have questions you want us to address on future episodes? Ideas for how we can make this better? Email us at agronomy@wyffels.com. Wyffels Hybrids. Fiercely independent, and proud of it.

July weather in the Corn Belt? Let’s just say…temperamental. Storms here. Dry there. Lots of heat. Foggy mornings. Mother Nature is throwing everything at us, and it could lead to a tricky end to the growing season. On this week's show, the Wyffels agronomy team covers disease management, wind damage from recent storms, and closes out the episode with a corn rootworm pressure check-in. Links discussed in this episode: Between the Rows® - Damage from Summer Storms Between the Rows® - Tar Spot Between the Rows® - Fungicide Use on Wyffels Hybrids Crop Protection Network - Crop Disease Forecasting Tool Wyffels Hybrids - Corn Rootworm Map We want to hear from you. Have questions you want us to address on future episodes? Ideas for how we can make this better? Email us at agronomy@wyffels.com. Wyffels Hybrids. Fiercely independent, and proud of it.

Things are heating up as we enter the heart of the growing season. Corn is growing rapidly and disease is popping up in fields across the Central Corn Belt. On this week's episode, the Wyffels agronomy team is digging into everything you need to know when it comes to making that fungicide decision. They also take a closer look at tar spot and gray leaf spot - how common it is, what kind of damage it can do, and what you can do about it. Links discussed in this episode: Between the Rows® - Tar Spot Crop Protection Network - Crop Disease Forecasting Tool Iowa State University - "Tar Spot in Central Iowa Should Not be a Surprise" We want to hear from you. Have questions you want us to address on future episodes? Ideas for how we can make this better? Email us at agronomy@wyffels.com. Wyffels Hybrids. Fiercely independent, and proud of it.

As summer heats up, the corn is growing fast and corn rootworm hatching has reached its peak. In today's episode, the Wyffels agronomy team tackles best practices for monitoring and managing corn rootworm pressure. Plus, they take a look at hail damage's impact on yield, and give a quick update on tar spot popping up on the fringes of the central Midwest. Links discussed in this episode: Between the Rows® - Monitoring CRW Populations Iowa State - Rootworm Eggs Reaching Peak Hatch Wyffels Hybrids - CRW Monitoring Map We want to hear from you. Have questions you want us to address on future episodes? Ideas for how we can make this better? Email us at agronomy@wyffels.com. Wyffels Hybrids. Fiercely independent, and proud of it.

With planting season all but wrapped up across the Corn Belt, our attention shifts to post apps. The Wyffels agronomy team discusses best practices for managing early corn and seeing it through its "ugly duckling" phase. Links discussed in this episode: Between the Rows® - Herbicide Injury in Corn Is It Herbicide Injury or Environmental Leaf Wrap? - Video Keeping It Independent - "All Things Post Applications with Kurt Maertens, BASF" Why is My Corn so Yellow and Floppy Right Now? - Video We want to hear from you. Have questions you want us to address on future episodes? Ideas for how we can make this better? Email us at agronomy@wyffels.com. Wyffels Hybrids. Fiercely independent, and proud of it.

As planting season winds down for much of the Central Corn Belt, new challenges arise. Wyffels Hybrids agronomy managers Ryan Gentle and Eric Wilson dive into crusting issues, rotary hoeing, replant considerations, and more. They also do a quick check in on southern Illinois where persistent rains have made for a slow and tricky planting season. Links discussed in this episode: Between the Rows® - Replant Considerations Wyffels Hybrids - Corn Replant Calculator Using Stand Counts to Assess Corn Replant - Video Wyffels Hybrids - Planting Progress Report We want to hear from you. Have questions you want us to address on future episodes? Ideas for how we can make this better? Email us at agronomy@wyffels.com. Wyffels Hybrids. Fiercely independent, and proud of it.

We get it. No one wants to read all the planter user manuals. That's why at Wyffels, we've done some of the work for you. This week on "Keeping It Independent," the Wyffels agronomy team covers planter optimization and provides a Midwest corn planting update. Accurate singulation and seed placement are critical to maximizing corn yield. A planter that is properly maintained and set up will help optimize accuracy, but changing field conditions and seed sizes will require in-field adjustments. Links discussed in this episode: Between the Rows® - Optimize Plantability Evaluating Seed Corn Planting Depth & Seed-to-Soil Contact - Video Wyffels Hybrids - Planting Progress Report Wyffels Hybrids - Our Corn Products We want to hear from you. Have questions you want us to address on future episodes? Ideas for how we can make this better? Email us at agronomy@wyffels.com. Wyffels Hybrids. Fiercely independent, and proud of it.

Just when you think it's time to plant, Mother Nature has other ideas. Corn planting got off to a strong start across much of the Corn Belt in mid-April, but recent rains have slowed down progress. This week's weather was expected to be favorable, but spotty showers could delay work and compromise soil conditions. The Wyffels agronomy team discusses the 2025 Planting Progress Report, weather trends, the Growing Degree Unit (GDU) calculator, and the state of Midwest corn planting as we approach May. Links discussed in this episode: Wyffels Hybrids - Planting Progress Report Wyffels Hybrids - Growing Degree Unit (GDU) calculator National Water Prediction Service Between the Rows® - Choosing the Right Planting Rate Between the Rows® - Optimize Plantability Wyffels Hybrids - Our Corn Products We want to hear from you. Have questions you want us to address on future episodes? Ideas for how we can make this better? Email us at agronomy@wyffels.com. Wyffels Hybrids. Fiercely independent, and proud of it.

Planting season is here! Well, almost. The planters might not be rolling for most of the Corn Belt yet, but it's the perfect time to make sure everything's ready for go-time. On this week's episode, Wyffels agronomy managers Eric Wilson, Ryan Gentle, and Robby Meeker discuss current conditions, early corn planting considerations, and Wyffels' tools and resources for the spring. Links discussed in this episode: Wyffels Hybrids - Corn Rootworm Monitoring Program Between the Rows® - Early Planting Considerations Between the Rows® - Choosing the Right Planting Rate Between the Rows® - Optimize Plantability Wyffels Hybrids - Our Corn Products University of Illinois - WARM ISU Soil Moisture Network We want to hear from you. Have questions you want us to address on future episodes? Ideas for how we can make this better? Email us at agronomy@wyffels.com. Wyffels Hybrids. Fiercely independent, and proud of it.