Every year, our Crop Showcase at Clear Meadow Farm in White Hall gives local growers a chance to see new products and practices side by side, in our soils and our weather, before they spend a dollar on their own acres. The 16th annual Showcase was no different.
Harvest results are still coming in, so this post is a look inside the plots: what we tested, why it matters to growers in Maryland and Pennsylvania, and what stood out during the season. Full results, including yield and return per acre, will follow this winter.
The 2026 Season at a Glance
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Soybeans planted
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April 17
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Corn planted
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April 21
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Rainfall, April 17 to Sept. 30
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21.1 inches
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Previous 5-year average
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25.4 inches
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Difference
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4.3 inches below average
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It was a drier-than-average season, with a stretch of 100-degree-plus heat in the middle of it. Early stands were strong. Disease pressure stayed low through the end of July, then picked up some in August and September as rain events increased.
The Trials
Here is a look at the trials on display this year and the question behind each one.
Trial 02: Pre-Plant Sulfur
Sulfur has become a bigger part of the fertility conversation, and growers have more flexibility than ever in how and when they apply it. With AMS prices climbing and swinging from season to season, it is worth knowing which alternatives hold up. More growers are also moving to variable rate fertilizer, and with a two-bin spreader typically carrying MAP in one bin and Potash in the other, the practical question becomes: where does sulfur fit?
This trial continues our evaluation of sulfur sources and placement, looking for options that deliver a positive response in both yield and profitability.
Trial 05: Below-Ground Pests
This trial features a liquid, soil-applied insecticide with a new mode of action, targeting corn rootworm, white grub, and wireworm: three pests that do their damage out of sight. New modes of action matter because they give growers another tool in the rotation as pest pressure and resistance shift over time.
Trial 06: Seed Treatment
New to the market, this seed treatment offers a three-pronged defense against nematodes along with foliar disease suppression. The trial looks at how much protection a crop can get before it ever breaks the soil surface.
Trial 07: Developing Soil Health
This trial applies an ecosystem of beneficial microorganisms that work together to build healthier soil. To measure progress, the treated strips were run at reduced fertility, and we are taking multiple soil health tests to put numbers on the metrics that change. Soil health gains build over time, so this one is about tracking real, measurable progress rather than a single-season snapshot.
For more on how biologicals support soil health, see Why Holganix Bio 800+ Is Changing How Farmers Think About Soil Health.
Trial 08: Drone Fungicide Application
Every season brings a different disease pressure pattern, which is exactly why we keep evaluating crop response to fungicide year after year. Multiple seasons, good disease years and bad(maybe more 'high vs low pressure' years), give a much clearer picture of how an application affects yield and plant health.
Application method matters too. Helicopters are getting harder to find and schedule for timely work, and growers who rely on them can often point to specific fields where a missed or late application showed up in the yield monitor. Drones are one way to keep fungicide timing on track.
Trial 09: In-Season Nitrogen Source
A new homogeneous source of nitrate nitrogen, potassium, and sulfur is being compared against our standard Urea and AMS topdress. Nitrate-based nitrogen was once a go-to topdress source before regulations made it hard to come by. Sulfate of potash has also drawn a lot of interest in recent years for its soil health benefits, with less salt impact on soil and roots than muriate of potash. This product brings those pieces together in one prill, and from what we have seen in-season, it has the looks of becoming a topdress favorite.
After topdress, the new product turned a noticeably deeper, darker green than the urea and AMS plot. But the tissue samples told a different story: at both sampling times after application, the new product showed lower nutrient levels across the board than urea and AMS. That is an unexpected trend, and it is exactly why we wait for harvest data before drawing conclusions. We will dig into what the yield results show this winter.
Trial 10: Foliar Study
This trial took a turn mid-season, which is part of what makes on-farm testing valuable. Tissue samples taken just before application did not show any nutrient deficiency. The application also landed at the tail end of four straight days of 100-degree-plus heat, so we shifted the products to focus on relieving plant stress and supporting nutrient uptake and cycling, rather than correcting a deficiency that was not there.
What Stood Out So Far
- A strong start. Early-season stands were strong across the plots, giving every trial a fair starting line.
- A dry, hot summer. Rainfall ran more than 4 inches below the five-year average, and four days of 100-degree-plus heat pushed plants hard at a critical point. That is exactly the kind of season that tests how products perform under stress.
- Disease arrived late. Pressure stayed low through July and picked up in August and September with more frequent rain, another reminder that every season writes its own disease story.
- Looks are not everything. In Trial 09, the new nitrate-based product looked greener after topdress, yet tissue samples showed lower nutrient levels than urea and AMS at both sampling times. It was one of the most talked-about plots of the season, and a good reminder that what you see in the field and what the plant is taking up do not always line up. Harvest data will tell the full story.
What's Next
Once harvest wraps up and the numbers are in, we will share full results for each trial, including yield, cost per acre, and what they mean for your 2027 plans. If you would like those results as soon as they are ready, or want to talk through any of these trials for your own operation, reach out to our agronomy team at crops@themillstores.com or 800-993-3300, or visit themillagronomy.com.
Missed last year's findings? Catch up on Not All Nitrogen Stabilizers Are Created Equal and Not All Nitrogen Sources Are Created Equal from our 2025 Crop Showcase. For the latest from the field, see Corn Harvest Timing and Gray Leaf Spot in Maryland.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Mill Crop Showcase?
The Mill's annual Crop Showcase is a field day at Clear Meadow Farm in White Hall, Maryland, where growers see on-farm trials of new products and practices side by side. 2026 marked the 16th annual Showcase.
When will the 2026 Crop Showcase results be available?
Full results, including yield and cost per acre, will be shared this winter after harvest is complete. Contact The Mill's agronomy team to get them as soon as they are ready.
How much rain did the 2026 Showcase plots get?
The plots received 21.1 inches of rain from April 17 through September 30, about 4.3 inches below the previous five-year average.
What trials were featured at the 2026 Crop Showcase?
Trials included pre-plant sulfur, a new soil-applied insecticide for below-ground pests, a new seed treatment, soil health, drone-applied fungicide, an in-season nitrogen source comparison, and a foliar study focused on heat stress.
