Harvest Isn’t the Finish Line: Planning for the 2027 Crop
Written by: Corteva Agriscience
One crop in the combine, another season already on the brain. That’s harvest season for farmers, and while the 2026 crop is still coming out of the field, many of the decisions that could shape 2027 are already being made.
Once the combine leaves the field, fall offers a valuable window to take stock of what happened this season and make decisions that can help set up next year’s crop. Residue, weed pressure, soil conditions and fertility needs can all help determine what makes the most sense for each acre.
Residue is a good place to start. A high-yielding crop can leave a lot of material behind, and farmers need to decide how much management it requires. Mechanical stalk sizing, vertical tillage or conventional tillage may make sense in some fields, while others may benefit from leaving more residue in place. The goal is to manage residue in a way that supports nutrient cycling while creating good planting conditions next spring.
Cover crops are another option to consider. They can help protect the soil and suppress some winter annual weeds, but they shouldn’t replace a strong weed control program. Instead, cover crops and herbicides should work together to help you manage weeds to reduce pressure heading into the next growing season.
Fall is also an important time for nitrogen management. When conditions are right, fall applications can help spread out the workload and give farmers more flexibility in the spring. But timing matters. Waiting for appropriate soil temperatures can help reduce the risk of nitrogen loss.
Farmers should also consider the nitrogen source they’re applying. Anhydrous ammonia, UAN, urea and liquid manure each require different management strategies. N-Serve® nitrogen stabilizer can help protect fall-applied anhydrous ammonia, while Instinct NXTGEN® nitrogen stabilizer can be used with UAN, urea and liquid manure applications.
Before closing the book on 2026, take a good look at what each field is telling you. Weed pressure, residue levels, crop performance and nutrient needs can all help guide decisions for the season ahead. A few thoughtful decisions this fall can help protect valuable inputs and give the 2027 crop a stronger start. And as those plans take shape, Corteva Agriscience is ready to help with the agronomic expertise, crop protection, and nitrogen management solutions farmers need to make every acre count.
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