Data backed decisions,
treatment options designed to help you.
At Nebraskaland Aviation, we believe better decisions start with better data. The Plant Health Challenge (PHC) gives growers the ability to evaluate real-world performance of fungicide and plant health programs through side-by-side, on-farm trials.
As tar spot and other yield limiting diseases continue to impact corn across our region, the 2026 PHC is focused on helping growers stay ahead of disease pressure with the right timing. Rather than relying on guesswork, this program allows you to see how different application timings perform under real field conditions.
Treatments are applied across the rows so that half the field is treated and half remains untreated or a current standard practices, creating a true comparison. Throughout the season, fields are monitored using NDVI imagery and in-field scouting to track crop health and disease progression. After harvest, yield data is combined with application data to generate a clear return on investment.
This year's trials will focus on pre-tassel, tassel (VT), and R3 applications—key windows for managing tar spot. By evaluating these timings within the same field, we can better understand what delivers the strongest return.
The Plant Health Challenge is a low-risk way to test new strategies and make confident, data-driven decisions that improve performance year after year.
Why Participate in the Plant Health Challenge?
Signing up for our Plant Health Challenge allows you to make a low-risk investment in new treatment plans, so you can see the results before adding them to your full management plan. Apply three new treatments from our menu of options (see reverse side), each on a minimum of 30 acres and we will help you analyze and compare the data with your untreated acres.
Contact your Nebraskaland Aviation Sales Rep to sign up today.
This Year's Focus
As tar spot continues to show up in more and more fields across our area, its impact is becoming harder to ignore. What started as scattered pressure is turning into a more consistent challenge year after year, making it an increasingly important yield limiting disease across a wide range of operations.
As pressure builds and conditions vary from field to field, it becomes more important to understand how different programs perform in real situations. That’s why the 2026 Plant Health Challenge is focused on evaluating fungicide programs and application timing through side by side field comparisons so you can learn what works best for your own operation and make more confident, data backed decisions.
Our goal is to help you choose the most cost effective fungicide applications for your acres and maximize your return on investment.
Plant Health Challenge Newsletter Issue No. 9
Issue No. 9 August 27, 2026 In The Field by Corey Conway Late August is...Continue reading→
Plant Health Challenge Newsletter Issue No. 8
Issue No. 8 August 12, 2026 In The Field by Jeff Landen As we enter...Continue reading→
Qualifications:
To participate in the 2026 Plant Health Challenge, growers must sign up for three, 30-acre treatments from the available options. Half field treated vs. half field untreated is recommended. Treatments may be mixed and matched, but each must be a product or program not currently part of your standard management plan. All aerial applications should be made across the rows to allow for accurate side-by-side comparisons.
Measurement
& Data Collection:
Nebraskaland Aviation will monitor all treatment zones throughout the season using NDVI imagery and ground scouting. A variety of measurements will be collected in treated versus untreated areas, and results will be visualized for easy comparison. After harvest, growers must provide yield data, which will be combined with the as-applied treatment data to generate a data-backed Return on Investment report. This report will quantify the value of each treatment and guide future management decisions.
Reward:
Growers who sign up for the 2026 Plant Health Challenge will receive a special gift from Nebraskaland Aviation. Participants who provide yield data will also be entered into a drawing for a $5,000 cash prize, which will be awarded at the 2026 Plant Health Challenge Results Ceremony in February 6, 2027.