Bayer Expands Preceon Smart Corn Across U.S. Acres

Mar 06, 2026
By Farms.com

Bayer Expands Preceon Smart Corn to 85,000 Acres in 2025

Bayer is entering the fourth year of U.S. availability for its Preceon Smart Corn System through the Ground Breakers Field Trial Program, having exceeded its targeted commercial acreage milestone for 2025.

During its third season, the program expanded to roughly 85,000 acres—nearly tripling the previous year’s footprint and surpassing projections in Bayer’s launch roadmap. Participation grew to 655 growers, including 594 grain producers and 61 silage operations, with support from 348 dealers.

Preceon remains available only through the Ground Breakers program to a limited number of growers and select geographies as Bayer advances toward a full commercial rollout.

“The roadmap is deliberate,” said Lindsey Battle, Preceon Strategy and Launch Lead, North America. “We are scaling in phases — validating performance across more acres, more environments and more management systems as we move to full commercial launch.”

The 2025 season not only marked acreage expansion but also shifts in management practices. Growers planted Preceon at an average population of approximately 41,600 plants per acre, compared to about 34,500 plants per acre for conventional corn with an increase of more than 7,000 plants per acre. The higher seeding rates reflect confidence in stalk strength and standability.

Internal evaluations further showed a 39% increase in average root volume across soil depths during mid-reproductive growth stages compared to conventional-height corn. The larger root systems are designed to support plant resilience under varying environmental conditions.

“What we’re seeing is not just acreage growth. It’s management evolution,” said Andrew Penney, Preceon Agronomy Lead, Bayer Crop Science. “When growers consistently increase planting density by several thousand plants per acre and still feel confident making late-season applications, that tells you they trust the crop’s structural integrity. The root data reinforces that we’re building a system designed to perform under pressure.”

Looking ahead to 2026, Bayer plans to double acreage, expand into new regions including the Northeast, and grow its lineup to 16 hybrids, adding five new options across both grain and silage systems.

Visit www.preceon.com for more information.

Photo Credit: preceon-smart-corn-system

Video: Winter Canola Trial in Mississippi | Can It Work for Double Cropping? | Pioneer Agronomy

Can winter canola open new opportunities for growers in the Mid-South? In this agronomy update from Noxubee County, Mississippi, Pioneer agronomist Gus Eifling shares an early look at a first-year winter canola trial and what farmers are learning from the field.

Planted in late October on 30-inch rows, the crop is now entering the bloom stage and progressing quickly. In this video, we walk through current field conditions, fertility management, and how timing could make this crop a valuable option for double-cropping soybeans or cotton.

If harvest timing lines up with early May, growers may be able to transition directly into another crop during ideal planting windows. Ongoing field trials will help determine whether canola could become a viable rotational option for the region.

Watch for:

How winter canola is performing in its first season in this Mississippi field

Why growers chose 30-inch rows for this trial

What the crop looks like as it moves from bolting into bloom

Fertility strategy, including nitrogen and sulfur applications

How canola harvest timing could enable double-cropping with soybeans or cotton

Upcoming trials comparing soybeans after canola vs. traditional planting

As more growers look for ways to maximize acres and diversify rotations, experiments like this help determine what new crops might fit into existing systems.