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What does #1 Look Like in the Central U.S.? It Looks Like This.

Every acre is unique. That’s why Pioneer® — the nation’s #1 brand for corn and soybeans¹ — delivers proven genetics, advanced traits, and local support. Our insights and recommendations are tailored for the Central U.S., helping growers get the most out of every bag of seed.

Central corn belt highlighted - NE, IA, IL, IN, eastern KS, southern MN
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Central corn belt highlighted - NE, IA, IL, IN, eastern KS, southern MN

Set yourself up for a successful 2026 growing season with the latest agronomy insights, crop management tips, and more.

Planting Resources

Planting Date Effects on Soybeans

Soybean Planting Dates

A Mississippi State study found that soybean yields were maximized with planting around April 20. Yields averaged over 70 bu/acre. Soybeans planted a month later averaged around 60 bu/acre.

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What Impacts Corn Emergence?

What Impacts Corn Emergence?

Studies suggest that planting corn at the deeper end of the recommended range (1.5 to 2.5") can be advantageous for emergence in both courser- and finer-textured soils. Planting deeper consistently achieved greater emergence uniformity.

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Soybean Seeding Rates

Soybean Seeding Rates

Soybean seeding rates should be high enough to provide some degree of protection against less-than-ideal conditions at emergence, which can reduce stand establishment.

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Delayed Corn Planting

Delayed Corn Planting

Late-planted corn generally develops at a faster rate due to greater heat unit accumulation, which can affect the timing window for herbicide and nitrogen applications.

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Seed Orientation at Planting

Seed Orientation at Planting

When corn kernels are planted with the tip pointed downward, their emerging radicles and coleoptiles face the direction they need to grow, without the need for seedlings to expend additional energy and time bending growth downward and upward, respectively.

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Starter Fertilizers in Corn

Starter Fertilizers in Corn

If early season stresses are sporadic in the field, starter fertilizer may help reduce uneven stand development and yield loss that often results from these conditions.

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Corn Planting Depth

Corn Planting Depth

Research has generally shown that, within the standard recommended planting depth range (1.5 to 2.5 inches), there is more risk associated with planting corn too shallow than too deep.

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Planting Date Impact on R1-R6

Planting Date Impact on R1-R6

Results of a trial suggest that soybean GDU accumulation from planting to R1 was relatively stable among planting dates. Earlier planting may offer opportunities to increase the duration of reproductive growth from the R1 to R6 stage and capture more GDUs.

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Staging Corn Growth

Staging Corn Growth

Seedling emergence may occur as rapidly as 4 or 5 days after planting in warm moist soil or 3 weeks or more in cool soils. A new leaf will appear about every 3 days during early growth.

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Pioneer Plantability for Optimal Planter Settings

Pioneer Plantability for Optimal Planter Settings

Many preseason decisions go into optimizing yield and getting more bushels in the bin at harvest. Pioneer Field Agronomist Carl Joern stresses the importance of proper seed selection and priming your planter utilizing Pioneer's planter settings and Plantability Calculator to ensure you're getting the most out of each bag of Pioneer seed.

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Pioneer Plantability for Optimal Planter Settings

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Many preseason decisions go into optimizing yield and getting more bushels in the bin at harvest. Pioneer Field Agronomist Carl Joern stresses the importance of proper seed selection and priming your planter utilizing Pioneer's planter settings and Plantability Calculator to ensure you're getting the most out of each bag of Pioneer seed.

Agronomy Innovation

Agronomy Research Summary

Agronomy Research Summary

Pioneer aims to lead the seed industry in agronomy and provide the best possible outcomes for its customers. Our teams are focused on today while preparing for the future, providing data and insights you can trust.

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Digital Tools

Digital Tools

Granular Insights offers agronomic software enabling you and your trusted Pioneer team to plan, manage, and analyze seed performance year-round. Analytics and extensive on-farm data help you adapt to changing conditions and make confident decisions.

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Variable Rate Seeding

Variable Rate Seeding

The growing number of VRS-enabled planters and on-farm use of GPS technology make it easier than ever to deploy a VRS strategy. However growers still need to understand variability within their fields and implement appropriate hybrid-specific seeding rates.

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Fund your TruChoice® prepay account and save!

Save up to 15%

on Corteva Agriscience™ crop protection products when you fund a TruChoice® prepay account.

We know every acre is unique. Visit with your local retailer and consider this program approach for your Enlist acres in the Central U.S.


¹According to Kynetic USA, Inc. agricultural sales data for 2024 corn and soybean sales. Copyright 2025 Kynetec USA, Inc.

The foregoing is provided for informational use only. Please contact your Pioneer sales representative for information and suggestions specific to your operation. Product performance is variable and depends on many factors such as moisture and heat stress, soil type, management practices and environmental stress, as well as disease and pest pressures. Individual results may vary. Pioneer® brand products are provided subject to the terms and conditions of purchase which are part of the labeling and purchase documents.

®™ Trademarks of Corteva Agriscience and its affiliated companies. Enlist E3® soybeans are jointly developed and owned by Corteva Agriscience LLC and M.S. Technologies, LLC. Enlist One is the only 2,4-D product authorized for use in Enlist crops. Not all products are registered for sale or use in all states or counties. Enversa™, Kyro®, and Resicore® REV are not available for sale, distribution or use in Nassau and Suffolk counties in the state of New York. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state or area. Consult the label before purchase or use for full details. Always read and follow label directions. ©2026 Corteva.