Growers heading into the 2026 crop year are facing a familiar but intensifying challenge: tight margins and the need to squeeze more value out of every input. Tim Laatsch, director of agronomy for Koch Agronomic Services, spoke with Maci Carter and said those economic realities are shaping nearly every agronomic decision. “We are seeing continued projections for tight profit margins in 2026,” Laatsch explained, adding that “nutrient use efficiency has to be absolutely top of mind for growers this coming season.”
One area Laatsch believes deserves extra attention is phosphorus management, especially as growers reassess fertilizer budgets. He noted that some producers with adequate soil test phosphorus are being encouraged to cut rates, but new tools may allow them to do more with what’s already in the field. “What tools can they use to unlock the P that’s already in their soil?” he asked, pointing to a novel enzyme technology designed to tap into previously unmanaged organic phosphorus. “This enzyme actually unlocks organic P and helps make it available to the plant,” Laatsch said.
Seed investment is another major focus as farmers plan for 2026, both because of its cost and its influence on yield potential. Laatsch emphasized that seed enhancement products are evolving beyond simple protection. “Seed continues to be one of the most important decisions in the cropping system and one of the most expensive investments as well,” he said. He highlighted a planter box treatment that combines good singulation with early-season nutrition, noting that it can help overcome cool, wet soil conditions. “The outcome of that is that we see a 6% increase in saturated cold germination,” Laatsch said, which “translates to 2,100 more plants emerged” and a higher yield ceiling from the start.
Protecting nutrient investments, especially nitrogen, is also critical under current farm-gate conditions. Laatsch stressed that nitrogen losses can quickly erode profitability if they aren’t managed properly. “Nutrients are a large expense in the cropping system and in the budget,” he said, adding that growers need to ensure “we’re protecting every pound of nutrient that we put out there.” He pointed to nitrogen’s vulnerability in the soil and encouraged the use of stabilizers and inhibitors to reduce loss and improve efficiency.
Looking ahead, Laatsch said weather volatility only raises the stakes for careful planning and risk management. “With Mother Nature, uncertainty is the name of the game,” he said, noting that many agronomic tools are designed to help buffer against unfavorable conditions. When asked what separates top-performing operations, Laatsch pointed to one practice above the rest: “Nitrogen stabilization… is probably the single biggest differentiator that I’m seeing,” especially when combined with split applications that avoid putting “all of their risk in one basket.”
