Real world field comparisons highlight stronger crop performance through harvest
As harvest season continues across the United States, many farmers are seeing firsthand how fungicides can help crops remain healthy and productive through the final stages of the growing season. Through the BASF Real Results Yield Challenge, growers are comparing treated and untreated acres and documenting the results using photographs, field observations, and harvest data.
The program gives farmers an opportunity to evaluate fungicide performance under real farming conditions. By conducting side-by-side comparisons, participants can measure differences in crop health, disease protection, yield potential, and harvest quality on their own operations.
This year's growing season has included wet weather across portions of the Midwest. These conditions can create additional disease pressure and increase stress on crops during important growth stages. As a result, many growers are looking closely at tools that can help protect fields and maintain performance through harvest.
Many participants are reporting visible differences between fungicide-treated fields and untreated acres. Treated fields often show healthier plants later in the season, even after peak disease pressure has passed. Strong plant health can help crops better withstand late-season stress and support harvest success.
Fungicides are an important part of many crop protection programs because they help manage diseases that can reduce yields and impact grain quality. Maintaining crop health throughout the growing season allows plants to continue developing when weather conditions become challenging.
The Real Results Yield Challenge focuses on giving farmers practical information from their own farms. Instead of relying solely on research plots, growers can evaluate performance in real-world conditions and collect data that supports future management decisions.
The 2026 challenge encourages farmers to compare eligible fungicides on corn and soybean acres against untreated acres or other fungicide programs. Throughout the season, growers document crop conditions and compare results to evaluate performance.
Farmers interested in participating can begin by setting up a side-by-side comparison using eligible fungicides. Participants earn one sweepstakes entry by submitting comparison photos during the growing season and a second entry by sharing harvest results later in the year.
By completing both steps, growers become eligible for a chance to win the grand prize, a two-year lease on a Ford Super Duty F-250 Lariat truck. No purchase is necessary to participate.
The challenge encourages eligible U.S. corn and soybean producers to evaluate fungicide performance through side-by-side field comparisons. Growers can earn entries by submitting field photos and harvest results, with one participant set to win a two-year lease on a Ford Super Duty F-250 Lariat truck. Alternative mail-in entries are also accepted, and no purchase is required to participate.
Photographs play an important role in the challenge by helping document differences in crop development and field conditions. Harvest data provides another key measurement, allowing growers to compare yield outcomes and overall field performance.
The challenge also creates a growing collection of real-world examples from farms across different regions. These comparisons help demonstrate how crop protection strategies perform under varying weather patterns, disease pressures, and production environments.
As harvest progresses, growers remain focused on maximizing both yield and crop quality. Healthy crops are often better positioned to handle late-season challenges and maintain performance until harvest equipment enters the field.
Programs such as the Real Results Yield Challenge provide valuable opportunities for farmers to evaluate technologies, collect meaningful data, and learn from the experiences of other growers.
By combining field observations, comparison photos, and harvest results, participants can make informed crop management decisions while competing for rewards and showcasing the benefits of effective disease management.
To Participate click on the link: https://agriculture.basf.us/crop-protection/Campaigns/real-results-yield-challenge.html#participate
Photo Credit: BASF