9/20/2025
4 Questions to Ask Yourself About Your Harvest Data
Yield shows you the number, analysis tells you why
From Pioneer Research & Development and Pioneer Marketing
Harvest is the moment of truth — when farmers see if their seed and management decisions paid off in yield. But yield doesn’t tell the whole story on its own. How you analyze the data can make the difference between chasing numbers and making confident decisions for the next season. Four key questions can help you cut through the noise and focus on what really matters when making your seed decisions this fall:
1. Am I looking at results across multiple locations and environments?
One field — or even one farm — rarely tells the whole story. Soil type, drainage, weather, and pest or disease pressure can all affect yield. “You might have 20 or 60 miles between farms,” said Matt Clover, Agronomy Innovation Data Leader at Pioneer. That’s why multiple locations and environments matter — you need that bigger picture before making decisions for next year.”
Pioneer’s extensive testing network covers many soils and climates. By analyzing data from various environments, along with your own farm data, you can be more confident that the results seen in one area will apply elsewhere.
It’s also crucial to consider data from multiple sources, including company research, university trials, and third-party test programs. Since each may use different protocols, environments, or reliability measures, understanding how the data was gathered and what it’s being compared to is essential for applying those results on your farm.
2. Are the comparisons apples-to-apples?
Not every yield comparison is valid. Hybrids grown in different conditions — or with unmatched maturities or trait packages — cannot be fairly compared. “The best comparisons happen within the same field, ideally with side-by-side strips or split-planter trials,” Clover explained. “That reduces variability and gives you the clearest comparison.”
Matt Essick, Pioneer Agronomy Innovation Lead in Northwest Iowa, added: “Don’t compare a 100-day hybrid to a 113-day hybrid, or a product with both above- and below-ground insect protection to one with only above-ground protection. Keep them as similar as possible so the only difference you measure is genetics.”
Essick also reminded farmers to look beyond just bushels. “It’s also about harvestable yield,” he said. “I want to know how a product stands up under stress in my geography. For me, that means evaluating how well it handles wind—whether it can resist root lodging, stalk lodging, or brittle snap. Those traits are critical where I farm, and they’re just as important as the yield number itself.”
3. Do I have enough data to trust the difference?
A few bushels may look promising, but unless you see that gain repeated across multiple environments, it may not mean much. “To really draw a difference between products, you want at least 30 locations of data,” Essick said. “Once you’re at that point, if a hybrid consistently shows a yield advantage, you can be more confident it’s significant.”
Clover added: “If you’re looking for a 3–5-bushel gain, you’ll need more locations because field variability can mask small differences. But if you’re seeing a 10–15-bushel gap, fewer locations may be enough to suggest a real difference.” Consistency across environments often signals actual product performance, while single-plot results should be viewed with caution.
4. Could other factors explain the results?
Genetics doesn’t tell the whole story of yield. Fertility, drainage, pest pressure, and even yield monitor calibration can all shape results.
“Bad data is worse than no data,” Essick said. Poorly collected data can lead to incorrect seed choices.
Clover advised: “Start small when you test something new. Try it on a few acres across multiple locations. If the product responds the way you want, then expand your confidence in it.”
Turning Data into Decisions
Harvest data can provide powerful insights — but only when you collect it fairly, evaluate it carefully, and place it in context. By asking these four questions, you can separate signal from noise, avoid being swayed by misleading results, and make more informed seed decisions for the next growing season.
Next Step
Don’t stop at the numbers. Work with your Pioneer seed representative to review your harvest results alongside Pioneer’s broad testing network and agronomic expertise. Together, you can identify the products most likely to fit your fields and management practices — and set yourself up for stronger results next season.
