As growers prepare for the 2026 crop season, residue management remains one of the biggest practical challenges in the field. Whether it is corn stalks, wheat straw, canola residue, or terminated cover crops, the balance between preserving soil protection and improving next crop emergence can be difficult to strike.
Keith Byerly with Mosaic says residue is an issue nearly every grower deals with, no matter the crop or geography.
He says traditional options like baling, tillage, or incorporating residue can work, but they also add cost at a time when growers are watching every dollar heading into the new season. That has Mosaic exploring new ways to speed decomposition while still leaving residue cover in place.
Byerly says the company’s Enzara product is designed to create entry points in residue, allowing naturally occurring field bacteria to break down cellulose faster. The goal is to improve plantability, support more even stands, and help the next crop establish itself without forcing growers to blacken the field with aggressive tillage.
That can be especially valuable in no-till and minimum till systems, where residue cover protects against erosion and helps conserve moisture but can also create challenges for emergence and nutrient access.
Byerly says the same approach can also help after cover crop termination by speeding the breakdown of brown plant material, reducing nutrient tie-up, and moving those nutrients back into the corn or soybean system faster.
He says growers interested in learning more should start with their local ag retailer or visit Mosaic’s crop nutrition resources online.
