September: Setting the Stage for Next Year’s Success

The “In-Between” Month

Kale Meendering, Agronomy Division | Pacer Technology, Inc.

September feels like a strange month in the crop world. The hustle of Spring is long gone, the chaos of harvest is just starting to knock at the door. It’s the ‘in-between!’ Not quite game day, but definitely the last chance to tweak the playbook. Some farmers and agronomists take this time to breathe. Others use it to sharpen their edge for next season. Guess which group wins?

The best operations I’ve been around view September as a prep month, not a pause month. They’re checking for standability, monitoring grain fill, noting which fields are burning up first, and already talking starter programs for 2026. These aren’t the farmers who hope for a better next year – they build a better next year.

Don’t Skip the Finale

I’ll say it: too many operations miss the opportunity to walk fields, note hybrid/variety issues, catch late-season deficiencies, and identify disease carry over risks. Scouting now allows us to not fly blind into 2026. And as for nutrient plans, “we’ll figure it out in December” is not a strategy.

A September that Paid Dividends

A few years back, I met a farmer in his field in early September who thought everything was fine. Yields looked solid, but we flagged some potassium deficiency in a few spots. We also noted early onset tar spot. That conversation caused a significant change in his fertilizer program and hybrid selection for the next year. Result? Over 11 bushel bump in corn and cleaner fields the next year. September isn’t for busy work- it’s for ROI work.

Data Doesn’t Lie

Research from multiple university trials show that fall soil sampling paired with in-season tissue sampling creates the most accurate nutrient roadmap. Why? Because you’re not guessing- you’re using what actually happened this season to set next years program. On top of that, late-season tissue samples can reveal a hidden hunger that yield maps don’t always explain. In regions dealing with tar spot, SDS, or root diseases, this is the time to log information and plan fungicide timing for next year.

Pro tip: If you’re looking to unlock your soils full potential and maximize yield, ask me about the Ample Family of biostimulants for season-long solutions!

Key Takeaway

The truth? Decisions made this time of the year shape Spring success. If you’re not looking, logging, and planning, you’re leaving bushels and profit on the table. This is the time to:

• Walk your fields

• Gather late-season tissue and disease data

• Start Fall fertility conversations with your customers/agronomists

When the combine rolls, you’ll be too busy to think about next year!

Harvest will likely start during this month. I wish all the farmers and agronomy centers a safe and prosperous harvest! I’ll see you in October for another edition of Finish Line Farming!