Managing Corn Residue for a Better Start in 2027

A challenging 2026 growing season has left growers with plenty to think about heading into harvest and into 2027.In this episode of Outstanding in Your Field, Pioneer Field Agronomist Troy Deutmeyer joins Crystal Williams and Carl Joern to talk through corn residue management and why what happens behind the combine can make a difference next spring.Their conversation covers residue sizing and distribution, tillage and no-till systems, biological residue decomposition products, cover crops and the role of soil biology in breaking down high-yielding corn residue.The team also discusses what growers are seeing during the 2026 harvest, including discolored soybeans following a hot, wet growing season, nutrient considerations when removing corn stalks, European corn borer pressure and an encouraging decline in corn rootworm populations across parts of the Midwest. Outstanding in Your Field is the podcast created for farmers and powered by Pioneer Agronomy—bringing you trusted insights and proven solutions to fuel forward-thinking farming.Hosted by agronomists Brian Schrader (eastern Indiana), Carl Joern (northwest Indiana/northeast Illinois), and Crystal Williams (northern Illinois), this show delivers timely, practical agronomic advice you can apply directly to your fields across the Eastern Corn Belt.