Winter Conference 2026 ‣ Plan Smarter, Work Faster

Every farmer knows that the growing season has narrow time windows for the operations that matter most. Success hinges on planning, accuracy, and making each pass count. Hear insights from Mike Schlitt, Cory Buchs and Josh Murman that highlight how growers can elevate their efficiency across planting, spraying, harvest and tillage by combining agronomic awareness, better data management and practical tools that reduce lost time.

Timing is One of the Most Valuable Agronomic Inputs 

There is an agronomic value to the timeliness of your field work. Weather, temperature, soil conditions and overall field readiness define when each operation can be performed. A delay or poor timing early in the season can ripple all the way to harvest.

Planting is a prime example. Placing seed into fit soil at the right moment affects emergence, root development and ultimately ear count. Choosing the wrong day can cost yield. Factors such as compaction in damp soil or chasing moisture in overly dry ground can significantly impact crop performance. Choosing the right planting day is essential as seedbed conditions can create up to a 10 Bu/A swing.

Clean Up Data and Reduce Operator Error 

Many growers struggle not with lack of technology, but with underutilized technology. Guidance lines, variable rate maps, boundaries and data flow can become messy or confusing when not maintained. Misplaced files, incorrect guidance lines and operators bypassing precision tools altogether because setup felt too complicated all contribute to lost efficiency and increased costs.

FarmENGAGE is a practical solution that allows farmers to clean up and organize data across diverse equipment brands to improve planning during the offseason. The ability to preload machines with the proper guidance lines, boundaries and rate maps removes confusion for the operator and helps ensure work is done right the first time. Work orders also enable managers to predefine instructions for each field and operation, removing guesswork and preventing costly misapplications. Using effective farm management software helps transition farms from reactive habits to professionalized, process-driven operations.

Harvest and Tillage: The Race Against Time

Harvest delays can quickly erode profit potential. Breakdowns, weather delays and disease pressure can reduce grain quality and yield. One of Josh’s family fields suffered a $27,000 loss when high winds struck before they could complete harvest.

Tillage is similarly impacted by timing. When fall tillage is pushed too late, residue breakdown suffers, nutrient availability decreases and the following spring becomes more challenging. Starting earlier, when temperatures favor microbial activity, can significantly improve residue decomposition and spring field conditions.

Autonomy as a Practical Labor and Efficiency Tool

Labor shortages remain one of the biggest constraints for growers. Autonomy platforms like OutRun offer a flexible way to supplement labor across tasks such as grain cart operation and tillage, with additional operations in the works. OutRun can retrofit onto existing equipment, enabling farmers to improve timeliness without purchasing new tractors.

The system is designed for simplicity. Operators can call a grain cart, unload on the go, or send it to a truck with a one button command. Autonomy provided by OutRun gives you the time to accomplish more during critical windows, reducing stress and ensuring timely completion of essential operations.

Moving Toward a More Efficient Farm

The message is clear: improving timing and reducing friction across your operations pays dividends. By planning ahead, cleaning up data, using structured work orders and leveraging autonomy tools where appropriate, you can protect yield potential and reduce stress throughout the season.