Farmers throughout the upper Midwest faced one of the toughest growing seasons in recent memory as southern rust swept across the region, creating disease pressure that even the most experienced farmers said they had never seen before.
That’s according to Wyffel’s Hybrid’s agronomy manager, Eric Wilson who covers southern Iowa and northeast Iowa and parts of western Illinois.
“This year’s southern rust outbreak was fueled by unusual weather patterns. Stronger southern winds carried spores into the region earlier than normal, while July and August brought consistent highs between 75 and 93 degrees and nights that rarely dipped below 70. Combined with high humidity, these conditions created the perfect environment for the disease to spread and left a mark on yields that will be remembered for years to come,” Wilson said.
However, there is good news.
While the challenge was historic for some, Wyffels Hybrids stood alongside corn growers with the agronomic insights, unbiased research and tools needed to help make sound management decisions.
Unlike tar spot, southern rust does not overwinter in Iowa. Instead, it requires a living host and typically blows in from Central and South America. In 2025, it arrived early and spread aggressively due to excessively hot and humid conditions.
Wilson indicated as producers look to the 2026 crop, southern rust will not likely inflict the extreme damage it did this year and therefore shouldn’t be the driving force in producer’s 2026 planting decisions.
“Hybrid decisions should be based on long-term performance, not just one challenging season. A proven hybrid remains a strong option, even if it struggled under this year’s extreme disease pressure,” Wilson advised.
Wyffels agronomists and Wyffels Seed Representatives work alongside each individual grower to provide the best possible recommendation for each unique acre.
By keeping the farmer’s bottom line at the center of every recommendation, Wyffels continues to help producers make hybrid and management choices that maximize profitability over time.
One way the company is doing that is through a new digital tool offering real-time harvest tracking. Each week, farmers receive a communication inviting them to share harvest progress, yield expectations. That data is compiled into a live, interactive map available on wyffels.com.
The tool not only allows farmers to see real-time results across their region and compare their experiences with others. “Growers want to know what’s happening around them,” Wilson said. “This map makes it easy to stay connected and share results.”
The interactive map also provides an on-the-ground counterpoint to USDA yield averages, which were debated heavily over the summer. Instead of waiting for national reports, farmers can now see local results as harvest unfolds.
The harvest map is updated weekly and paired with regular updates on social media and through the Wyffels Keeping It Independent Podcast. Episodes this fall have focused on southern rust, fungicide strategies, and early yield trends.
Real-time harvest reporting is just one of the powerful tools Wyffels offers to help corn growers boost their quality and yields. Agronomic calculators for drying costs, phantom yield loss and corn rootworm pressure are among the resources already available online.
Looking ahead, Wyffels plans to provide additional guidance on fertilizer strategies. With input costs high and commodity prices under pressure, the company is dedicating future podcast episodes to helping farmers balance profitability with building next year’s crop.
With agronomists who are focused exclusively on corn and provide practical, unbiased recommendations all season long without a corporate board setting priorities, the company can focus solely on what matters to growers, maintaining a farmer-first approach helping to build trust, solve problems, and drive results.
“Our mission is straightforward. We’re here to help farmers grow as much profitable corn as possible,” Wilson said.
