Syngenta Thrive

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How do you take a shortcut without cutting too many corners? When considering ways to eliminate tasks or save money, it’s important to look at the big picture to be sure it doesn’t actually end up costing you more in the long run.

Take herbicides, for example. Increasingly, many soybean growers choose to skip preemergence herbicides and rely solely on post-emergence applications for soybean weed management. No doubt, choosing the best seed variety with the right trait package is crucial for producing a high-yielding crop. These technologies have been game changers for growers, allowing them to push the limits of their fields’ yield potential by pairing high-performing traits with industry-leading herbicides.

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Growers may need to make as many as three passes with post-emergence herbicides, and that may not even be enough control if weeds have been allowed to take hold.

Here’s the problem, though. Many growers are finding that skimping on preemergence applications creates more problems than it solves. Growers may need to make as many as three passes with post-emergence herbicides, and that may not even be enough control if weeds have been allowed to take hold.

Five Reasons To Not Skip Preemergence Herbicides

While certain seed purchases dictate which post-emergence herbicides to use, it’s important to still take a full-season approach that includes preemergence residual herbicides. Here are five benefits of including preemergence residual herbicides in your program every year:

1. Better Weed Control

If you choose to use a budget preemergence herbicide or skip this crucial application altogether, you’re likely to end up with a lot of weed breaks, including tough-to-control weeds like waterhemp. Once these weeds break through, getting them under control can be difficult. It’s common for growers in these scenarios to make two or three post-emergence applications; and even then, they still may not get full weed control.

2. Higher Yields

Weeds reduce the crops’ access to sunlight, water, space and nutrients; and this adds up to lower yields at the end of the season. In no-till soybeans, Michigan State Extension has observed yield losses of up to 7 bushels per acre if weeds are not controlled until the unifoliate stage (VC) compared with controlling early-season weeds prior to or at planting. Additionally, waiting to control these weeds until the V1 stage (first trifoliate) can reduce yield by approximately 0.5 bushels per acre per day.

3. Better Budgeting

While you may hope to cut costs by skipping preemergent applications or opting for budget herbicides, this approach often has the inverse effect and ends up costing more. That’s because skipping this crucial foundation application introduces the need for more post applications than were originally planned, which adds an extra expense in herbicide costs as well as gas, labor, and equipment wear and tear. It is often more cost effective to invest in a high performance preemergence residual herbicide as part of a complete herbicide protection program.

4. Less Crop Damage From Post Passes

Post applications should be made sparingly, as they can inadvertently cause crop damage by knocking off valuable pods or running over entire plants. Making a pre-emergent application gets the herbicide in the ground before plants reach this vulnerable stage and reduces the potential for late-season crop damage, helping your fields reach their full yield potential.

5. More Predictability

From weather to commodity prices, there are many things about farming that can’t be controlled. By putting this preemergence application down, you can rest assured knowing you will have fewer weeds to contend with later in the season. That means more time for other priorities instead of making multiple unplanned post-emergence trips.

Solutions for Full-Season Weed Control

It’s a fact: A planned preemergence residual herbicide is a good investment, and skipping this crucial step or compromising on product quality can have big late-season repercussions. For better weed control and maximum yield potential, Tendovo® soybean herbicide used preemergence and adding Dual Magnum® herbicide to your post-emergence plan should be essential pieces of your weed management program.

Tendovo offers excellent weed control as well as the flexibility to farm the way you like. Regardless of which trait it’s paired with, Tendovo provides outstanding residual control of more than 70 weeds. Additionally, it can be used on any soil type with proven crop safety An added benefit of Tendovo is that it helps soybeans close the canopy faster, keeping rows covered and acting like a “fourth mode of action.” Faster canopy means more energy for pods, and that propels higher yields.

Patrick Ligon, an Illinois retailer, has seen the benefits of Tendovo first-hand from both a weed control and crop safety perspective. “I’ve noticed Tendovo herbicide holds a lot longer than other herbicides,” he says. “When I go in for that post pass, those weeds are a lot smaller and easier to kill. Additionally, the crop safety with Tendovo has been miles ahead of other herbicides I’ve used. My stand count has consistently stayed in that range we’ve been shooting for.”

For full season weed control and higher yielding crops, don’t skimp on your preemergence application. Your future self will thank you.

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Sometimes, a gift can change your life in ways you never imagined. In 2018, that’s what happened to Iowan farmer Ben Van Roekel.

“I was watching some farming videos on YouTube and said offhand to my then girlfriend, now wife, that I could make a video like that,” he says. “For my next birthday, she bought me video editing software and a GoPro.”

Seven years and a lot of hard work later, Van Roekel is now known online as @iowANFarmer on YouTube, with more than 75,000 followers joining him on his farming journey.

“I just kind of did it. Becoming a YouTuber wasn’t really a thing then like it is now. It was a trial that worked out — a happy accident,” he says.

This spirit of entrepreneurship and experimentation helped Van Roekel find success in more ways than one.

Grower Turned YouTuber

Van Roekel has farming in his blood. He cherishes his childhood memories of farming with his dad.

“I was helping my dad farm since the time I was able to put the clutch down on a tractor,” he says.

Today, he’s been farming corn and soybeans in southern Iowa for 10 seasons and recently diversified his farm’s production to include oats, grasses and hays. Three years ago, he added in an agritourism business, offering pick-your-own apples, pumpkins and cut flowers.

His YouTube channel, @iowANFarmer, shares his day-to-day work on the farm with the goal of showcasing what younger farmers have to offer the industry and giving those outside agriculture a glimpse into what a farmer’s life is like.

“In southern Iowa there’s corn everywhere, and there are still people who think the field corn is all sweet corn,” he says. “I’m touching people on social media and teaching them about farming.”

Van Roekel sees YouTube and other social media channels as resources for all to learn from, including those already in the industry.

“Maybe you’re watching somebody do something and catch a little tidbit about how they might do it differently from you,” he says. “There’s a whole wealth of information you can use to educate yourself. It’s all there for you to learn at your fingertips for free.”

Van Roekel’s Advice: Be Willing to Experiment

In both farming and YouTube, Van Roekel is always willing to try new things. He conducts trials each season on his row crops to find new ways to push higher yields and a better return on investment, and suggests that others do the same.

“As a producer, I believe that one of the things that we get stuck on is, ‘This is the way we’ve always done it.’ How do you know that you’re right unless you’re testing if you’re right?” he says. “If there’s a chance to do a trial where I get to see something on the farm firsthand, I do it.”

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Every time the young guys ask, ‘How do I get into farming?’ I say, ‘Find a niche to try and be profitable.’ And that’s still my advice.

Ben Van Roekel Iowa Grower

Experimentation is how he ended up in agritourism.

“I grow about half an acre of experimental corn/soy crops — I call it my ‘fun plot’, and one year I thought, ‘Why don’t we grow something else there?’ So I grew pumpkins,” he says.

Shortly afterward, he purchased 27 acres to open “Papo’s Pumpkin Patch,” which includes pumpkins, a corn maze, games, cut flowers and more. Trying something outside of row cropping is a piece of advice he’s preached and stands by.

“Every time the young guys ask, ‘How do I get into farming?’ I say, ‘Find a niche to try and be profitable.’ And that’s still my advice,” Van Roekel says.

Van Roekel’s Philosophy: Enjoy the Journey

Van Roekel wouldn’t be where he is without taking risks, and it’s important to him to be in the here and now.

“I try to make the right decisions for the future, but I don’t want to be so focused on the future that I miss the journey,” he says.

He’s grateful for the opportunities that both YouTube and agritourism have given him and looks forward to finding out what the future has in store.

“Being able to go and experience other parts of agriculture has been extremely beneficial for me,” he says. “What makes me excited for the future are the opportunities and the challenges. You’re not excited about the heartaches, but you’re excited for the successes. It’s all just part of the ride.”

You can follow Van Roekel on YouTube or Facebook at @iowANFarmer and on Instagram at @_iowanfarmer_.

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Finding reliable farm labor is a challenge these days. Worker shortages combined with hiring competition means that growers need to stand out. So, what can growers do to attract engaged, productive employees who are in it for the long haul?

Be Specific When Recruiting

Be sure to write a job ad that’s really tailored to the job you’re trying to fill, rather than grabbing something that’s “close enough” from the internet. Anyone who reads your job post will get a sense of your personality and the overall vibe of your operation, so let that shine through when you write it.

To begin, write down a list of the job duties. Be sure to also include:

  • Physical requirements of the job
  • Requirements for prior training or experience
  • Job schedule
  • Hourly pay or salary range (This is especially important in a competitive job market.)

Consider Pay and Benefits Perks

Competitive pay is a given. If you don’t know the going rate or range for the role you’re trying to fill, research salary benchmarking data or consult industry surveys to gauge how competitive you are. This doubles as a good opportunity to review other financial impacts on your operation, including:

  • What your costs and cash flow are
  • When your labor needs are greatest
  • Whether one full-time or two part-time hires would best meet your needs

You might also consider how perks like meals, housing, transportation or flexible scheduling could help stretch the payroll. Extras like these also make employees feel valued, often resulting in a stronger connection to the operation.

Post the Job in Unexpected Places

When you’re ready to post the job, think outside the box. AgCareers.com and AgHires.com are good options for some roles; also share the job description with FFA chapters, college career service offices, Reddit posts, Slack groups and X.com.

Other high visibility ideas include:

  • Post a “We’re hiring!” line prominently at the bottom of every page on your website (if you have one) and link it to the job description.
  • Call out the job post on your LinkedIn and other socials media accounts.
  • Invite employees to share openings with their networks if they’re comfortable doing so.

Spreading the word the old-fashioned way has its place, too: Word of mouth and flyers on bulletin boards are still solid options to ensure all your bases are covered.

Prep for the Interview Process

Once you’ve identified your candidates and set up interviews, review their resumes and make notes of specific questions you’d like to ask. The interview should be held in a quiet place where both of you can focus on getting to know each other. Do your best to ask questions that prompt a story or example, rather than just yes or no. Active communication will be important on the job, so it needs to start in the interview.

Some sample interview questions are:

  • Can you describe any previous experience you have working on a farm?
  • What interests you about this type of work?
  • Tell me about a time you had to solve a problem on the job. What steps did you take?
  • Are you comfortable working outdoors in all kinds of weather and handling physically demanding tasks?
  • How do you prioritize your work when there are multiple tasks to complete?
  • Can you give an example of how you’ve worked as part of a team?
  • What steps do you take to ensure safety on the job?
  • Have you operated any farm equipment or machinery before? If so, which ones?
  • How would you handle a situation where you noticed something unsafe or out of place?

Make the First Day a Success

You’re almost at the finish line. You’ve made an offer, your choice of candidate has accepted, and you’ve agreed on a start date. Now, prepare them for a good first day by following up with information they may not have thought about asking for.

You can email the information and include workplace basics like where to park, what to wear and where they can leave their lunch and belongings. Provide clear instructions on what documents to bring on the first day, a general outline of orientation and training activities and worksite policies.

On their first day, greet new employees promptly and warmly. Introduce them to other workers and family members. Treat each new employee with respect from the very beginning, and you’ll both be off to a good start.

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Nematodes and Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) consistently rank as some of the top causes of soybean yield loss. Soybean growers asked for improved protection for heavy pressure situations, and Syngenta answered with the development of Victrato® seed treatment.   

Victrato works to safeguard against Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) and multiple nematode species, including Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN), root knot, reniform, lance and lesion. The seed treatment also protects soybeans throughout all nematode life stages: eggs, juveniles, and adults — providing the most robust, all-encompassing protection available. 

The brand’s new active ingredient, TYMIRIUM® technology, is a carboxamide SDHI molecule that combines potency and targeting. Its unique structure-based design enables Victrato to zero in on pests with an exact receptor match so it doesn’t harm beneficial organisms in the soil.   

Victrato is the first federally labeled seed treatment management tool for Red Crown Rot. In addition, it brings early-season suppression of foliar soybean diseases, such as frogeye leaf spot, Septoria brown spot and target spot. 

In more than eight years of nematode trials, Victrato delivered a 3.3 bu/A increase over the base treatment alone, outyielding the base 84% of the time. In comparison, ILEVO® seed treatment only outyielded the base in 70% of trials, with an average increase of only 1.9 bu/A1. In 23 SDS trials, Victrato outyielded ILEVO by 4.8 bu/A and Saltro® fungicide seed treatment by 2.8 bu/A2.

“With Victrato, we’re helping soybean growers stack the deck against even the heaviest nematode and SDS pressure,” says Katie Jaeger, Syngenta Seedcare product lead. “Victrato will offer that step up to tackle the toughest acres and help growers get the most out of their seed investment.”

To learn more, visit SyngentaUS.com/Victrato to see its strong performance in action.

1Base Treatment = CruiserMaxx® APX or CruiserMaxx Vibrance®. Syngenta trials 2015-2022 under moderate-to-high nematode pressure: FL, IA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MI, MN, NC, ND, NE, OH, SD, WI; Victrato (0.075 mg ai/seed) trials n=101, ILEVO (0.15 mg ai/seed) trials vs Base n=88. 

2Field trials (n=23); IA, IL, KS, KY, MI, MN, TN and WI 2018-2021 

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Threats from seedborne and soilborne pests can begin once you plant your cereal crop. These threats can impact stand, emergence, and yield potential. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency registered CruiserMaxx® Vibrance® Elite seed treatment, a premix that protects against seedborne and soilborne diseases with two modes of action on Pythium, Fusarium and Rhizoctonia, which helps manage disease resistance. It also has activity on a broad spectrum of insect pests, including aphids and Hessian fly.

CruiserMaxx Vibrance Elite offers proven results from advanced components:

  • Vayantis® seed treatment is a solution for high-pressure Pythium situations, including metalaxyl and mefenoxam-resistant isolates.
  • Maxim® 4FS seed treatment offers an additional mode of action on Fusarium as well as protecting against other seed and soilborne fungi that cause damping-off, seed decay, seedling blight and snow mold.
  • Vibrance® seed treatment delivers best-in-class Rhizoctonia activity and Rooting Power that leads to strong roots and improved plant stands.
  • An increased rate of Cruiser® 5FS seed treatment provides early-season insect protection and the Cruiser Vigor Effect, which helps enhance germination, increase vigor, improve stand establishment and deliver better yield potential.

CruiserMaxx Vibrance Elite helps produce stands that will deliver to your bottom line. In in-house trials of Pythium-inoculated winter wheat, results showed an average of 18% greater plant stand and a 3.3 bu/A yield increase than treatments where the combination of mefenoxam and ethaboxam were used for Pythium control.1

You can count on CruiserMaxx Vibrance Elite to protect the genetic potential of each high-value seed. It will be available for use on both the winter and spring 2026 wheat crops.

To learn more about the benefits of upgrading to CruiserMaxx Vibrance Elite, talk to your Syngenta representative.

1 Averages from two Syngenta in-house trials: USND0T2012023; Garden Plains, KS. USNW0T0032023; Saint James, MI.

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The biggest farming business trend of 2025 is the marriage between agriculture and technology to maximize resources from the front office to the back 40. At the same time, back-to-basics regenerative practices are also gaining ground, improving soil health, climate resilience and CO2 levels. So, where will ag go in 2026?

Agritech Platforms Streamline Office Time

The first ag management platforms got their start in the early 2000s and developed steadily as technology advanced. Now, they’re more robust than ever, using integrated technology to optimize all areas of production and financial technology — aka “fintech” — to streamline front-office functions. Digital payments allow growers to send or receive money in real time, while parametric insurance payouts, which are prearranged payments triggered by specific events or parameters, allow for rapid and transparent claims settlements. Some fintech providers offer innovative financing packages that bundle essential inputs and training, simplifying access to resources.

These do-it-all platforms are a trend that’s here to stay, according to AgriTech Tomorrow, which reports the global agritech platform market will see a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.5% between 2024 and 2032, thanks to increasing investment and development in the ag space.

Drones Enhance Farm Precision

It didn’t take long for drones to find their place in farming once they were approved for general use. Since then, tech innovations have made them increasingly capable and precise. Drones have progressed from scouting and field mapping to applying crop protection products, fertilizer and other inputs.

They also are becoming crop planters. Equipped with seed pod shooters capable of fast, precise seed distribution over large areas and difficult terrain, drones designed for the job plant grains and vegetables and can be customized for different seed types and sizes.

Online Learning for Farm Financials

For growers who need to implement or update their financial management practices, The Ohio State University has established Farm On, a 10-module online course to equip new and established farmers with financial, legal and risk management tools needed for a profitable and responsible farm business. Virtual lessons are taught by professors from Ohio State’s farm management program, who also offer live office hours via Zoom.

Farm On is offered in January and July, and completion of the course meets requirements for the U.S.D.A. Farm Service Agency’s Direct Farm Loan Programs and the Ohio House Bill 95 Beginning Farmer Tax Credit program.

Regenerative Practices Lead to Market Growth

Regenerative farming practices that help protect and improve soil, water, wildlife and pollinator habitats are not only popular, but essential to food production. No-till and cover cropping help protect and maintain soil, provide a significant carbon sink by sequestering atmospheric carbon, and can offset on-farm carbon emissions.

The global regenerative market was valued at $12.66 billion in 2024 and is expected to rise to $57.16 billion by 2033. North America held a 36.1% revenue share of the global market in 2024, according to data from Grand View Research.

Robotics and Automation for the Future of Farming

The availability and reliability of autonomous machines aren’t just for mega farms anymore. They’ve sparked a trend in midsized farming operations, too. Self-driving tractors, robotic planters and harvesters offer efficiency and 24/7 activity, while robotic fruit pickers fill labor gaps in specialty crops.

With the cost of labor rising, robotics and automation could be crucial to food system stability and the viability of American agriculture in this decade and beyond. The autonomous farm equipment market is forecast to grow at 15.8% CAGR from 2024 to 2032.

 

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It’s always a race. against time, against the weather and most importantly – against weeds. Using the correct herbicide with a crop safener can help pave the way to clean, healthy and profitable fields.  

Weeds continue to outsmart the most effective herbicides in the market today. In fact, 40 percent of corn growers say Palmer amaranth and waterhemp are difficult to control with current preemergence corn herbicides.*  

To combat these tough-to-control weeds, growers may consider turning to corn herbicides that contain pyroxasulfone, a Group 15 herbicide. However, most of these formulations lack a crop safener, which could put your crop at risk. 

Some pyroxasulfone-containing corn herbicides can cause crop injury, leading to: 

  • Stunted corn 
  • Buggy whipping 
  • Shepherd’s crook  
A graphic shows the difference between different types of corn injury: buggy whipping, shepherd's crook, and stunted corn
Crop injury can cause buggy whipping, shepherd’s crook and stunted corn.

Safeners Help Protect Corn From Crop Injury

Growers choose herbicides with crop safeners to ensure the herbicide is tough on weeds but gentle on the crop. But herbicide safeners are not all the same, and they work in many different ways.  

Storen® corn herbicide is the first and only pyroxasulfone-containing corn herbicide that contains a crop safener. MetaSafe™ is a patented crop safening technology that is designed to safen pyroxasulfone for use in corn. MetaSafe technology works by enhancing a naturally produced enzyme in the corn plant called Glutathione-s-Transferase (GST). This enhancement of the GST enzyme helps break down and metabolize pyroxasulfone.

MetaSafe Formulation Technology

Mark Kitt, corn herbicide technical product lead at Syngenta said, “We understood growers were looking for more robust preemergent residual corn herbicide formulations to help them manage ever-evolving weed species.” He continued stating, “When we saw an opportunity to bring pyroxasulfone to the corn market, we wanted to ensure the best potential outcome for the American corn grower, which meant finding a way for it to be used for to maximize crop safety.” 

Under cool and wet environmental conditions, MetaSafe increases the Glutathione-s-Transferase (GST) enzyme by 10,000,000 X to help the corn plant metabolize pyroxasulfone. Simply put, MetaSafe works by increasing the number of enzymes in the corn plant that break down pyroxasulfone, which reduces the potential for crop injury. 

A graphic showing how MetaSafe technology works to protect crops from injury
MetaSafe works by increasing the number of enzymes in the corn plant that break down pyroxasulfone, which reduces the potential for crop injury.

Storen has four active ingredients – bicyclopyrone, mesotrione, S-metolachlor, and pyroxasulfone – that work together, resulting in fewer weed escapes, less weed interference and reduced weed seed production. Storen delivers the longest-lasting residual weed control by providing consistently clean rows up to three weeks longer than other leading corn herbicides.** 

In a survey of more than 1,100 growers and retailers who tried Storen during its first two seasons on the market, Storen received a 4.5 out of 5 customer satisfaction rating. 

“Storen is safe on my corn crop and works great,” says Ronald Dozler, a grower from Albion, Nebraska, who used Storen this season. 

Dan West, a grower and retailer from Sherrill, IA, who also used Storen this season agreed. “I love that you can go pre or post with great crop safety,” he says. 

*Syngenta market research, 2022. n=302. 

**Storen length-of-control advantage based on 2022 Syngenta and university replicated trials comparing Storen to Resicore®  and TriVolt®. 

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“That’s cool — I want to do that!”

Ever watched someone do something and have that thought?

For some, that “something” is skydiving or playing the guitar. For others, it’s dunking a basketball or showing livestock.

For Brian Brown, first it was farming.

Growing up, Brown followed his dad everywhere on their farm near Chillicothe, Ohio. He always wanted to farm. Like countless little boys, he thought big machines were cool. He watched his dad drive their equipment, and thought, “I want to do that, too.”

Today, Brown farms with his dad, Bob, and his brother, B.J., comprising Brown Family Farms. He and B.J represent the fourth generation of the family to farm in southern Ohio. They raise about 3,500 acres of corn, soybeans and wheat and share decision-making in their general partnership.

Vlogging a New Path

In 2018, several years after joining his dad on the farm, Brown started watching vloggers who focused on his outdoor hobbies. He enjoyed how they shared their experiences and knowledge, and thought, “I want to do that, too.”

“If something works, I want everyone to know,” he says. He decided to create his own vlog. “I started filming while farming to practice, because I had little time for my hobbies.”

Brown posted those practice videos. People started watching. He realized he hadn’t seen many vlogs about farming, so the YouTube channel he tentatively named “Brian’s Outdoor Videos” became “Brian’s Farming Videos“.

“Lots of people don’t know what we’re doing on the farm day-to-day,” he says. “I want to tell them.”

Today, he regularly posts videos for his audience of about 179,000 YouTube subscribers. He also posts regularly on Facebook and Instagram, and occasionally on X.

Innovative Mindset

Brown Family Farms tried new things long before “Brian’s Farming Videos” gained traction.

Brown’s grandfather owned a 25- or 30-foot truck in the 1940s and 50s, a big machine at the time. As the only farmer in the area with this, he would haul for others.

His dad, Bob, started strip-tilling in the mid-1990s, well before anyone else in the area. A Successful Farming article shared his experience broadly with other farmers.

More recently, the Browns started using technologies like autosteer, variable-rate fertilizer and prescription planting, which enhanced their operation.

When Brown Family Farms needs new equipment, they commonly try out machines equipped with the latest technology.

With that attitude, Brown says his dad didn’t comment when he started talking to a video camera while they were working.

“He was a good sport about it,” he says. “If something is good for agriculture or the farm, he’s a fan. Now, he watches our videos more than anyone.”

Showcasing Big Iron

Like most farmers, Brown hasn’t outgrown his childhood fascination with farm equipment — a shared family interest. Bob Brown chronicles the history of the family farm based on what equipment they used when. He considers the Farm Progress Show a summer vacation. Brown and his dad attend the Ohio Farm Science Review and National Farm Machinery Show together every year.

Four months after Brown started his YouTube channel, they had the chance to try the first Fendt® IDEAL® combine.

“Their marketing team noticed my channel, our equipment, and that I was posting consistently,” he says. “They hosted a demo at our farm for several area farmers.”

Brown filmed and posted the experience and farmer reviews.

Then he took his camera to the Ohio Farm Science Review and interviewed equipment company representatives about updates and new machines. He posted those conversations, as well. And discovered the sweet spot between his passion for farming, big equipment and telling others about what works.

Now, he and his family regularly demonstrate innovative equipment — like a combine steered via joystick instead of a wheel — to help others decide if they want to try that, too.

“We’ve had several opportunities to test new equipment,” Brown says. “We discuss demo opportunities and take advantage of those that make sense for our farm.”

Beyond equipment, he only accepts ag industry sponsorships for products they already use. For non-ag products, he chooses to feature those that genuinely catch his interest or that he might use anyway.

Balancing Act

Brown applies that approach to all aspects of “Brian’s Farming Videos”.

“I am a farmer first,” he says. “I don’t ever want to sacrifice farming for filming.”

As he gained experience, he has learned when to turn the camera on and when to keep it off. He aims to capture highlights and minimize editing time. That allows him to prioritize farm work and family time, like coaching baseball and softball for his kids, while still posting videos consistently.

“I’ve been surprised by how many people enjoy bench-watching us farm,” he adds. “They get invested in each season and ask lots of questions.”

Brown educates viewers while sharing the daily challenges and successes of grain farming. He often keeps the camera on when things go wrong or tensions are high, as that’s when he’s most likely to catch funny or entertaining moments.

His dad and brother help out as needed, because the channel has become part of Brown Family Farms.

“When my work is monotonous, I will give Dad or B.J. a camera and ask for specific footage to show what else is going on,” Brown says. “Dad will take a camera anytime. B.J. will take one, though he doesn’t always remember to use it.”

His wife Kayla, their kids, ages 12, 10 and 6, their farm employee and seasonal help regularly show up on camera, as well.

Brown has grown from a boy following in his father’s footsteps to a farmer living and sharing his dream. He keeps showing and telling the story of daily farm life because people keep watching and commenting, “That’s cool – I want to learn more about that.”

Fendt® is a registered trademark of AGCO GmbH. IDEAL® is a registered trademark of AGCO Corporation.

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Even the best-planned corn harvest can lose bushels if small details slip through the cracks. Combine settings, crop conditions and weed pressure all play a role — and with tight margins, every adjustment matters. Here are four simple ways to hang onto more of your yield this fall:

  1. Header settings matter more than you think. A lot of loss happens before the corn even gets inside the machine. If deck plates are set too wide or chains are pulling too fast, ears fall. That loss adds up, especially in fields with downed corn. Take a minute at the start of the day to check spacing, speed and head height. If the corn is leaning, slowing the gathering chains and lowering the head usually helps you pull in more.
  2. Change your settings throughout the day. What worked in the morning might not work by afternoon. Moisture shifts, hybrids behave differently, and no two fields run the same. If you’re seeing cracked grain or throwing kernels out the back, stop and fine-tune. Small tweaks can save a lot of bushels.
  3. Pay attention when the combine is slowing down. Dragging through patches of lodged corn is often a sign of disease pressure or weak stalks late in the season. That slows harvest and leaves grain on the ground. A strong fungicide program can help maintain stalk integrity through the finish. The Cleaner & Greener* fungicide portfolio is built to support plant health, keeping plants green, and standability, helping more corn stay upright and make it to the grain bin.
  4. Watch for weed escapes and seed spread. Weeds left standing at harvest drop seed and build pressure for next season. Pay attention to where weed escapes happen throughout the season and which weed species you’re dealing with. This information can help guide your herbicide strategy for the season ahead. For fields that need help preventing tough, late-emerging weeds, Storen® corn herbicide consistently delivers long-lasting residual to help keep fields clean well into the season. If more bushels in the bin is your focus, Acuron® corn herbicide helps ease early pressure so the crop can focus on growth and grain fill.

*No claim is being made herein about the environmental attributes of any product. References to “cleaner and greener” indicate plant-health benefits (e.g., less disease and increased crop efficiency and productivity) from foliar fungicides and the visible color of the plants.

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In agriculture, where margins are thin and markets are volatile, return on investment (ROI) is crucial for every decision. Yield is an important piece of the puzzle. Andy Dole, a sixth-generation farmer from Illinois, knows this well. That’s why he and other growers seek opportunities to trial products on the farm.

“It’s about pushing top-end yield potential in a way that is financially efficient,” Dole says.

Small scale trials on the farm let growers test out new products and see firsthand what yields the most. From there, they determine which decisions provide the best ROI for their operation.

Other factors, like input costs, should be considered; but experts recommend concentrating on yield to benefit your bottom line.

“When we focus on trying to maximize ROI, the inputs that provide the most yield are really what pays the bills,” says Dean Grossnickle, technical development lead at Syngenta.

That’s exactly the information growers look to gain from these trials.

“We’ve found out from using Trivapro fungicide that not only are we getting better disease control, but we’re also finding greener stalks at the end of the year and better standability,” says Dustin Weber, a Nebraska-based grower. “That leads to higher yields.”

More Growers See Trial Data In Action

Syngenta saw the impact of on-farm trials and started the Better Yield is the Better Deal™ In Action initiative in 2024. The goal of the program is to help more growers trial products and witness the effect these products can have on an operation’s ROI potential. The results had some growers reconsidering their programs.

“We have never used Syngenta crop protection products on our farm ― we mostly use generics,” says Caleb Krupicka, a 2024 participant based in Nebraska. “The trials we did this summer have us debating if that’s the best thing to do.”

In an end-of-program survey, 73% of 2024 In Action participants said in 2025 they would use at least one product they’d trialed, citing product performance, clean fields and yield bumps as reasons for their decision.

Looking Ahead

The 2025 growing season is well underway, and Syngenta has launched the second year of its In Action trial initiative to show a new group of growers that Better Yield is the Better Deal. The 2024 initiative was piloted in the Midwest but has now expanded to include Southern and East Coast states. On-farm trials are in progress on over 4,000 acres of land across 120 operations.

Follow along with our interactive map and evaluate the data for yourself. If you’re interested in performing your own trial or want to learn more about the data behind Syngenta products, reach out to your local Syngenta representative.