Growers are facing many challenges this season, making it critical to protect yield potential and their bottom line in an environment defined by unpredictable weather and compounding disease risks. Syngenta is urging farmers to face those risks with a well-rounded approach.
Jesse Grote, Syngenta agronomic service representative
“My overarching message is don’t get caught up in just one disease and manage towards one, because I think that can lead us maybe to being reactive instead of proactive,” said Jesse Grote, an agronomic service representative for Syngenta in Iowa.
At Commodity Classic, Grote used the example of what he’s seen in Iowa recently. “In the last two years, we’ve had southern rust, and I can’t remember a time in my career that I’ve ever seen southern rust so bad. But it doesn’t overwinter once you get up north…So don’t only manage for rust,” he said. “We’ve seen that with tar spot. We used to call it tar spot tunnel vision.”
Last year, corn and soybean growers lost nearly 1.5 billion bushels to disease in the United States, with tar spot a persistent concern across the upper Midwest, contributing to 188 million lost bushels in 2025. Southern rust expanded farther north and appeared earlier than expected, while ear rots and mycotoxins are also becoming a larger part of disease planning conversations, according to Syngenta.
Kevin Scholl, agronomic service representative
With harvestable yield directly tied to profitability, Syngenta encourages growers to think beyond reactive disease control and toward season‑long risk mitigation. Miravis® Neo corn and soybean fungicide is designed to deliver consistent, broad‑spectrum protection — helping safeguard yield potential across a wide range of diseases and environmental conditions such as heat or drought.
Illinois agronomy rep Keven Scholl says the goal is to protect profit no matter what happens. “When you get this healthy soybean plant growing out there, protect it to the end. And so that means using a fungicide to be able to control any diseases that come in late and also have that plant health benefits to be able to control any stress,” said Scholl.
For corn, Grote says, “I would navigate towards getting that premium fungicide on at tassel time….So the best defense and the best ROI is going to be, when you think about fungicide, that premium Miravis Neo at tassel time.”
Learn more in these interviews:
Jesse Grote, agronomic service representative – How 2025 disease pressure is informing risk decisions for 2026
Classic26 – Jesse Grote, Syngenta (4:54)
Kevin Scholl, agronomic service representative – Reshaping planting strategies for a stronger soybean start
Classic26 – Kevin Scholl, Syngenta (6:00)
