Corn growers are battling a barrage of threats to their yields—and one of the most aggressive is Southern Rust. That’s why CROPLAN® Seed has a strategy to keep this and other yield robbers in check.
“In 2025, growers were really faced with a second year of Southern Rust, and it was quite prevalent across the upper Midwest. So, that’s fresh on their minds. And that is influencing when they select corn hybrids for their resistance or their tolerance to southern rust,” says Jeff Osterhaus, Seed Portfolio Manager with CROPLAN® Seed.
He tells Hoosier Ag Today their new seed class offers growers a number of different traits that provide a greater tolerance to the different pressures impacting corn yields.
“As you look at the CROPLAN® lineup, it’s really about balancing a strong agronomic portfolio of products—from Southern Rust to Tar Spot, Phytophthora Root Rot—all those types of pest pressures that exist out there,” he says.
“In addition to the different traits that growers look for, specifically insect protection both above and below ground, with CROPLAN®, we have access to all the major genetic suppliers in the industry. So, we have traits that suit the needs and requests of every single grower out there.”
He says what sets CROPLAN®’s lineup of products apart from other seed products is the testing from their Answer Plot® Program.
“That gives us the insights around the management, both before and in-season around these hybrids, from placement on differing soil types, different yield environments, as well as in-season with a hybrids responsiveness to both nitrogen and fungicide to help the grower really dial in to get the maximum ROI without having to break the bank on investing in the crop this year,” he says.
For more information about the 2026 CROPLAN® Seed class, talk with your local Winfield United retailer—or visit CROPLAN.com.
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