2024 Harvest Highlights & Top-Performing CROPLAN® Products

Harvest time offers a great opportunity to reflect on the season and apply learnings to next year's plan. Here are some key takeaways from 2024 as the harvest season wraps up.

Harvest Across the Country

This year's harvest has shown mixed results across different geographies, influenced heavily by planting timing and weather conditions. 

Delta Region
In the Delta region, including Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas, crops planted during the optimum window have generally yielded above average. Early-planted soybeans in particular have performed well, while those sown later in the season have seen yield reductions. Timely planting has made the difference in yield potential in the Delta this season.

Southeast
In the Southeast, variability has been a key theme. While some areas have had optimal rainfall leading to excellent yields, others have faced significant drought conditions, causing serious setbacks. Growers in Kentucky and Tennessee grappled with moisture challenges with some regions reporting a month-long drought during critical growth stages. However, areas that received timely rains or irrigated have fared much better.

Midwest
In the Midwest, Illinois has seen a promising harvest, particularly in the northern half of the state. However, southern Illinois saw yield limitations due to delayed planting. Indiana reflects a similar pattern with the northern two-thirds of the state performing well while the southern third lags behind from a yield perspective. Ohio stands out as an anomaly this year as persistent dryness throughout summer led to yield reductions at harvest.

North
In the northern states, including Minnesota and the Dakotas, overall yields have remained above average, though late-season heat and dryness have posed challenges. These weather conditions have led to rapid crop maturity, causing standability issues that could affect harvest quality.

Key Management Takeaways From the 2024 Season

As with every season, 2024 provided management challenges for growers. With lower commodity prices, some may have invested less in their crops this season. However, those who continued managing weeds and diseases throughout the year typically gained more bushels at harvest. Weed, disease and nitrogen management should be three focus areas for next season.

Weed Control
Single-pass herbicide applications may have done the trick in the past, but in most cases, they’re no longer effective for managing weeds in most areas. A multi-faceted approach that includes multiple modes of action and layering residual herbicides early in the growing season is usually the best strategy, especially as herbicide-resistant weed populations continue to expand.

Disease Management
While corn diseases like gray leaf spot and southern rust are well understood, tar spot continues to pose a unique management challenge. This season, we saw tar spot in areas that weren’t hit last year. While some hybrids show higher tolerance to the disease, none are completely resistant. Recent data suggests that fungicides applied during the later growth stages can offer significant benefits in areas where tar spot is prevalent.

Nitrogen Management
Optimizing nitrogen applications based on individual hybrid responses is crucial for maximizing yields and optimizing fertility budgets. Using response-to-nitrogen scores allows you to tailor your nitrogen strategy, helping ensure each hybrid receives the appropriate nitrogen rates for optimal growth.

2024 CROPLAN Product Performance

The 2024 harvest also showcased exciting new genetics and traits from CROPLAN seed. CROPLAN will expand the number of VT4PRO® and SmartStax PRO® hybrids available for more corn rootworm protection options in the 2025 planting season. PowerCore® Enlist® hybrids will also be available, offering excellent above-ground insect protection plus tolerance to 2,4-D choline, glyphosate and FOP herbicides. As harvest data rolls in, these products are showing excellent yield potential across geographies.
Here’s a rundown of some top CROPLAN seed performers across maturity ranges.

Early maturity

Corn	Key Characteristics
CP2324VT2P	New key early 80 RM hybrid; works across yield environments Strong seedling vigor for planting early Fast die/fast dry type hybrid; will dry down quickly after maturity
CP3143VT2P	High-yield potential for productive soils with good stress tolerance for tougher acres Strong early vigor for early planting; strong stalks late into season Good ear flex for planting at reduced populations
CP3330VT2P	Broadly adapted hybrid with outstanding agronomics and yield potential Strong emergence, stalks, roots and drought tolerance Low response to nitrogen and fungicide; flexible and economical to manage
CP4024SSP	Versatile hybrid; works well within zone and north of zone Strong roots and stalks; wide area of adaptability Moderate response to nitrogen and fungicide; great flexibility

 

Soybeans	Key Characteristics
CP0940XF	WinPak® variety helps mitigate risk with complementary agronomics from CP0955XF and CP1042XF Versatile placement across soil types and yield levels Strong soybean white mold tolerance and phytophthora root rot tolerance
CP1430E	WinPak variety helps mitigate risk with complementary agronomics from CP1422E and CP1522E Excellent brown stem rot tolerance Strong emergence
CP1525E	New Peking soybean cyst nematode resistance variety with high yield potential Best positioned for central MN and east into WI and MI Strong phytophthora root rot and brown stem rot tolerance; excellent standability and above-average soybean white mold tolerance
CP2520E	WinPak variety helps mitigate risk with complementary agronomics from CP2521E and CP2523E Best suited for productive prairie soils Excellent brown stem rot tolerance

Mid maturity
 

Corn	Key Characteristics
CP4770SS	New 107-day hybrid Broadly adapted across yield environments; excels on highly productive and silage acres Strong test weight and drought tolerance allow for broad placement
CP4840TRE	New 108 Trecepta® hybrid; highly versatile Very good late-season standability and intactness; good grain quality Good ear flex that allows for moderate planting populations
CP5132SS	New 111 SmartStax hybrid replaces SS products: CP5210, CP5073 andCP5115 Very good late-season standability and intactness with good grain quality Responds well to higher management

 

Soybeans	Key Characteristics
CP3330E	WinPak variety consisting of CP3225E and CP3424E Replaces CP3320 Solid agronomic package, including sudden death syndrome and iron deficiency chlorosis tolerance
CP3550XF	WinPak variety consisting of CP3444XF and CP3544XFS Broadly adapted variety from east to west Strong overall agronomic package with excellent standability
CP3620E	Upgraded WinPak variety that consists of CP3524ES and CP3625E Broad acre product that moves east to west; handles variable soils with top-end yield potential Excellent phytophthora root rot tolerance with acceptable sudden death syndrome tolerance
CP3830E	WinPak variety consisting of CP3825E and CP3835E Best suited for central and western growing regions Strong standability and sudden death syndrome tolerance
CP3845XF	Broadly adapted east to west Very good standability and sudden death syndrome tolerance Chloride excluder with STS® herbicide tolerance

Late maturity

Corn	Key Characteristics
CP5320SSP	New key 113 RM SmartStax PRO hybrid; handles marginal to highly productive acres, rotated and corn on corn Strong emergence, stalks and disease package; early vigor with dual-purpose silage option Semi-flex ear allows for moderate planting populations
CP5497VT2P	Widely adapted east to west across multiple soil types and yield levels Strong roots and drought tolerance with excellent test weight Semi-flex ear and high response-to-population score allow positioning across yield environments
CP5682TRE	Broadly adapted across yield environments; excels on highly productive acres Strong agronomic package; very good grain quality Semi-flex ear allows for variable planting populations
CP5893TRE	Fits well in the southern U.S. and Delta region Full-season offering with excellent emergence and seedling vigor Strong stalks and roots with good late-season health Strong southern rust tolerance

 

Soybeans	Key Characteristics
CP4125E	Standalone variety with high yield potential and excellent standability Best performance on medium to well drained soils Excellent frogeye leaf spot tolerance; good phytophthora root rot and sudden death syndrome tolerance
CP4525ES	Exciting new standalone variety that brings high yield potential Broader plant type that can handle stressed acres and environments well Very good standability; good tolerance to frogeye leaf spot, sudden death syndrome and stem canker
CP4541XF	STS-tolerant variety broadly adapted across soil types and yield levels Position broadly east to west and north to south on mixed to heavy soils Chloride excluder with excellent emergence; SSC resistance Use caution with placement in sand on wide rows
CP4545XF	Standalone XtendFlex® variety with strong yield stability across environments Well suited for most all soil types and drainage classes Excellent standability and phytophthora root rot tolerance; strong iron deficiency chlorosis tolerance Manage in high sudden death syndrome areas

I encourage you to explore some of these top performers as you plan for next season. The new trait and genetic combinations from CROPLAN seed can give you more opportunities to maximize yield potential as you phase out older products.
 

Stay Updated on Seed Performance                                    

As harvest 2024 unfolds, get local yield results to help plan for next season. For real-time performance data, visit AnswerPlot.com or contact your CROPLAN retailer.

<sub>All photos are either the property of WinField United or used with permission. 

© 2024 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 United are trademarks of WinField United. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.</sub>