It has been said that before the seed goes into the ground, the farmer dreams of the harvest. The best time to prepare for the harvest was yesterday; the next best time is today.
Stepping into a new growing season starts with actively evaluating last year's notes to understand our successes and struggles. We must be aware of our options and understand how to manage the many variables and decisions the upcoming year brings.
Successful harvests start with proper planning. As a crop advisor for Utah and Idaho, I recommend that growers implement these 4 key management improvements today: evaluate commodity storage options, finalize budgets, rotate herbicides and insecticides, and start utilizing AI.
1. Evaluate Commodity Storage Options
What are the market opportunities for storage of the commodities you raise? Agricultural consolidation ended the era of daily product delivery, so streamlining storage is key. Plan to actively visit buyers through the growing season to determine the options for delivery and storage. If storing, know the risks of insect damage and apply proper growth regulators as the crop goes into the bin, as opposed to remedying the problem after it appears. Counsel your crop advisor on the available products and the licensing needed to apply the treatments.
2. Finalize Budgets and Farm Financing
Finalize budgets and secure financing now. This ensures an accurate projection of cash flow and sets a benchmark to directly compare performance against your budget. Fortunately, there are numerous options available to assist with financing. IFA has teamed with CFA to help with the financing of the agronomy portion of your inputs. This unique program provides a modest competitive interest rate with harvest terms to help navigate through the season.
3. Rotate Herbicides and Insecticides
In the Intermountain West, rotating herbicide and insecticide chemistries is critical. Growers commonly use the same modes of action to control weeds and insects, which accelerates their resistance to the chemicals. Consult your crop advisor about rotating chemical classes; this simple practice leads to cleaner fields and a better return on investment.
4. Start Implementing AI in Farming Tasks
Preseason farming management and strategy can feel like a daunting task to navigate. However, AI is boosting farm management operations. Experiment with it now to assess markets, crop options, herbicides, budgets, marketing plans, risk management and organization templates.
Written by Doug Mills, CCA & Agronomy Salesman, and originally published in the IFA Cooperator magazine (vol. 92, no. 1) Spring 2026. Photo credit for the top featured image: Bailee Torgersen.
Doug Mills is an Agronomy Salesman and Certified Crop Advisor with the Garland IFA Agronomy Center. As a fourth-generation farmer and rancher and the former manager of the Riverbend Ranch in Idaho Falls, Idaho, Doug possesses a lifetime of diversified agricultural experience to aid IFA growers.
