Threats In the Field: Navigating 2025 & Planning Ahead

Thursday, October 23, 2025

By Mary Loggan

For months now, producers have been grappling with a growing season marked by weather extremes and mounting economic uncertainty.

With conditions shifting from a rain-soaked spring to a summer defined by heat and drought, farmers are now assessing how these stressors will affect crop yields, while also looking ahead to how they can prepare for another unpredictable year in 2026.

To shed light on both the challenges of this season and the strategies needed for the next, Better Farming spoke with Aaron Breimer, an independent consultant and Certified Crop Advisor, who shared his perspective on the biggest risks in 2025, the solutions available to farmers, and the priorities for resilience and profitability in the year ahead.

Threats

When asked about the most significant pest, disease, or weather-related threats in 2025, Breimer doesn’t hesitate. “Definitely weather-related,” he says.

The season started with too much rain. “We started off with a challenging spring that had very limited planting windows between significant rain events.

“This spring meant that there were a lot of fields that were planted into less-than-ideal conditions.”

What made matters worse was the sudden shift that followed. “If we had continued to get timely rains, we might have gotten away with the less-than-ideal planting conditions.

“That did not happen. The tap got turned off and the oven got turned on, starting the last 10 days of June and lasting through July and into August.”

Localized thunderstorms did offer some relief, but unevenly.

“Through July and August, we did see some localized rains that kept some areas going, but overall there were more have-nots than there were haves.”

For some, the lack of moisture was devastating.

“The impact on yield is hard to determine at this point for the areas that did get some rain. Those that got little to no rain are seeing very severe yield losses up to and including complete crop loss.”

OMAFA specialists confirm the weather narrative. “Dry and hot weather affected farms across Ontario, especially in central and eastern regions. While it’s too early to assess crop yields, year-to-year fluctuations are normal due to changing weather patterns.”

When asked whether climate trends are driving the severity of threats, Breimer cautioned against oversimplification.

“Every year seems to bring some type of weather challenges. With the wide diversity of weather challenges, I am not sure if I would say there is a specific trend, outside of we seem to see more extreme weather conditions impacting our crops.”

He adds that not every problem is strictly a matter of climate change. “Now that said, it might not be fully weather-related. For example, we have a lot larger (and heavier) equipment, which can lead to planting more acres into less-than-ideal conditions or potentially create those less-than-ideal conditions, such as compaction.

“So, weather challenges seem to be increasing, but I feel there is debate around how much is related to climate trends versus changing management practices. The answer is probably a combination of the two.”

Solutions

Despite the weather extremes of 2025, Breimer points to emerging tools and practices that can help farmers build resilience.

“I feel the work that the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association is doing in hosting events like ‘Compaction Days’ has brought much-needed attention to the impacts of larger/heavier equipment on soil compaction,” he says.

Beyond awareness, technology is helping. “Precision ag technologies have also created the opportunity for the adaptation of farming practices such as strip tilling, which is reducing the impact of excessive rainfall events as well as compaction from that larger/heavier equipment.”

Genetics and crop protection tools also remain part of the equation.

“Both genetics and crop protection advances have assisted in the mitigation of the impacts that adverse weather events are having.”

But if Breimer had to name the foundation of resilience, it is soil. “I believe everything in production agriculture starts by understanding the relationship between profit margins and the soil. If you take care of your soil, the soil will take care of you.”

He encourages all producers to look closely at their sampling practices.

“The most important action that I believe a farmer can take is to have up-to-date soil samples that reflect the variability of their land and how they are able/willing to manage their land.

“That could mean something as simple as pulling two soil samples – one from their most productive area and one from their least productive area.

“Indeed, it can also include very complex site-specific sampling as well, but the understanding of what the soil tests can tell you needs to match with how a farmer is willing/able to manage that ground – otherwise you are just sending extra dollars to the soil lab.”

Breimer adds that resilience is not only about agronomy – it also hinges on business culture and openness to change.

“The second strategy that I would encourage farmers to consider is to build their supporter/influencer network to include people who are willing to challenge the status quo that is present on the farm.”

He ties this back to his leadership role. “I sit on the International Certified Crop Advisor board, and one of the favourite sayings that we use when it comes to strategic planning of the board is a willingness to go ‘sacred cow hunting.’

“This means being willing to question everything that you are currently doing and to have an open mind to how else an objective can be achieved. This isn’t easy, which is why farmers may want to include trusted advisors who are willing to ask some challenging questions.”

Planning for 2026

Beyond weather and agronomy, Breimer warns that economics will become the overriding factor for producers next season.

“I believe the greatest challenges facing farmers and the agri-food industry in general, for at least 2026 and potentially beyond, are profit margins.”

He breaks it down simply: “There are three parts that make up profit margins – yields, commodity prices and input costs.

“Unfortunately, farmers can’t fully control any one of those three. They can only take advantage of portions of each, and my gut says that success in 2026 will be owned by producers who are willing to make an attempt to manage (as much as they can) each area.”

This will mean tough decisions, Breimer explains.

“This will include being smart about where to invest in crop production, recognizing the impacts of their management decisions and being willing to take profitable grain prices when the markets create the opportunities.

“If this feels like a big requirement of farmers for 2026 – it is, and I would encourage farmers to be thinking about how they can build and maintain a circle of influence that will challenge them to make smart business decisions.

“Remember, a failure to plan is a plan for failure.” BF