Getting a high ROI from every bag of seed starts by placing the right hybrid on the right acre. 

 In this Q&A, CROPLAN^® Seed Manager Carl Scholting discusses seed placement strategies, emerging agronomic challenges and how to use data-backed tools to capitalize on your seed’s genetic potential.

Q: Why are seed selection and placement so critical for maximizing yield potential? 

A: Every hybrid has a specific environment where it excels and truly reaches its top-end yield potential. Growers often see the exact same product perform superiorly on one farm while delivering average results on another. That difference almost always comes down to positioning.

Just like people have different preferences, hybrids do, too. Matching each product’s unique capabilities to the right acre is what ultimately unlocks its full genetic potential.

Q: How should a field’s yield history influence seed selection? 

A: Yield history establishes the productivity environment of the acre, which dictates the type of hybrid needed. In the seed world, we often refer to products as racehorses or workhorses. Here’s a breakdown of what that means:

- Racehorse Products: These are designed for high-yielding, highly fertile acres. They thrive under optimal management, but they often lack the toughness needed for stressed environments.

- Workhorse Products: Highly stable, dependable and consistent products that deliver solid results across a wide range of conditions.

- Tough/Defensive Products: Built with gritty agronomic traits to handle lower-yielding, high-stress or marginal acres.

Think of it like an endurance runner versus a sprinter. Both excel in their specific element, and yield history tells you which athlete you need.

Q: How does seed placement strategy differ between corn and soybeans? 

A: Corn positioning relies heavily on field productivity, soil type, yield environment and management inputs. 

Soybeans are driven more by yield-limiting factors, such as specific soil-borne diseases and pests like Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) or Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN). Defensive attributes generally take center stage with soybeans.

To manage variable soybean fields, solutions like CROPLAN WinPak^® varieties combine a defensive component with a high-yielding "racehorse" component in one bag, supporting more consistent performance across both high-end spots and tough ground within the same field.

Q: How do trait selection and field variability impact the placement decision? 

A: Field variability and trait desires set the initial direction on the seed decision tree. They are the starting point for narrowing down your seed options.

Field Variability
- Highly variable fields, such as rolling hills or river bottoms with fluctuating drainage, require consistent, defensive or stable hybrids.

- Uniform, high-fertility ground is where you position high-yielding racehorse-style hybrids. 

Traits often help narrow down seed options based on your anticipated insect and weed pressure. 

Insect Trait Selection
- Continuous corn or high corn rootworm pressure: Requires advanced traits like SmartStax^® PRO, which provides multiple modes of action against corn rootworm larvae.

- Moderate pressure or multi-year rotations: May call for VT4PRO^™ technology, which provides both above- and below-ground insect protection.

- First-year corn: Allows focus on above-ground insect protection traits, like Trecepta^®, PowerCore^® Enlist^®, VT Double PRO^® or non-traited options.

Herbicide Trait Selection
- Options like Enlist^® or XtendFlex^® (or Power Core^® Enlist in corn) dictate spray chemistry options (such as 2,4-D, Liberty^® or glufosinate) and shape the seed selection scope. 

Q: What emerging agronomic challenges should growers prioritize for next season? 

A: Three major agronomic factors are driving seed selection conversations for next season:

1. Foliar Disease Tolerance
In recent years, diseases like tar spot and Southern rust have expanded into areas where they were never previously a concern. While fungicides provide control, selecting hybrids with strong natural tolerance helps protect both late-season yield and stalk quality, preventing severe lodging and harvestability issues. quality, preventing severe lodging and harvestability issues.

2. Corn Rootworm (CRW) Pressure
Multi-year continuous corn increases insect pressure, requiring targeted placement of traits like SmartStax^® PRO.

3. Herbicide Flexibility
Growers are evaluating herbicide tolerance traits more closely to combat resistant weeds and volunteer corn using multi-mode-of-action chemical programs.

Q: What is the CROPLAN seed M5 strategy, and how does Answer Plot^® data help drive seed placement?

A: The M5 strategy by CROPLAN seed is a data-proven seed positioning strategy. It consolidates data from Answer Plot testing and other trials into a streamlined placement blueprint centered on five key variables:

1. Yield Environment
2. Soil Texture 
3. Nitrogen Management (Response to Nitrogen) 
4. Population Management (Response to Population) 
5. Fungicide Management (Response to Fungicide)

By analyzing how hybrids respond to population adjustments, nitrogen application timing and fungicide responsiveness (even in low-disease environments), M5 and response-to scores help reduce the guesswork from hybrid placement and management. Your CROPLAN local retail seed expert has access to M5 placement information for all CROPLAN hybrids.

Q: What top questions should growers ask their agronomists when finalizing crop plans for next season? 

A: When reviewing field plans with your retailer or agronomist, ask: 

"Does this hybrid’s fit match my specific soil profile, yield environment and fertility management strategy?" 

 "How does this product hold up against key diseases like tar spot or southern rust, both for yield protection and late-season stalk strength?" 

 "Am I maintaining enough genetic diversity across my operation?"

That last question is often overlooked, but it's critical for mitigating risk across your farm. Weather conditions and disease pressure change every season. Spreading risk across a diverse genetic portfolio helps protect your operation against unpredictable conditions. When you combine genetic diversity with precision data from M5 and response-to scores, you help set up every acre for consistent long-term performance.  

For more information on seed selection and using M5 to place and manage seed this season, contact your CROPLAN local retail seed expert.


All photos are either the property of WinField United or used with permission.  
 
© 2026 WinField United. Important: Before use always read and follow label instructions. Crop performance is dependent on several factors many of which are beyond the control of WinField United, including without limitation, soil type, pest pressures, agronomic practices and weather conditions. Growers are encouraged to consider data from multiple locations, over multiple years and to be mindful of how such agronomic conditions could impact results. Answer Plot, CROPLAN, WinPak and WinField are trademarks of WinField United. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.