BASF Highlights Corn Opportunities, Carbon Markets, and Data Tools at Commodity Classic

Updates from BASF

5:19

At Commodity Classic, Brady Spangenberg with BASF shared insight into what’s ahead for farmers in 2026. From corn market opportunities to sustainability practices and digital tools, several key themes are shaping conversations across agriculture this year.

Corn and the 45Z Tax Credit Opportunity

Corn is expected to present new opportunities in 2026, particularly tied to the 45Z tax credit and its connection to ethanol production. Understanding how to take advantage of those opportunities starts with communication.

“There’s a lot of opportunity in corn this year,” Spangenberg said. “Especially if you’re growing corn for an ethanol plant, it’s going to be something to really talk with your retailer about this year.”

Knowing where grain is being delivered and how production practices impact carbon intensity scores will be increasingly important. These factors could open the door to added premiums for farmers who qualify under the program.

The Challenge of Carbon Intensity and Record Keeping

While interest in sustainability programs continues to grow, many farmers are still figuring out how to get started.

“Eighty percent of farmers would try to engage with their retailer and their ethanol plant on lower carbon intensity practices,” Spangenberg explained. “Only 18 percent of those actually know how to do that.”

A major hurdle is record keeping. Tracking practices like nitrogen stabilizer use, no-till, cover crops, and yield efficiency can be time-consuming, especially during planting season.

“It’s kind of like doing your taxes—how did it happen and where did it happen?” he said.

Digital Tools to Simplify the Process

To help address that challenge, BASF is pointing farmers toward its digital platform, Xarvio. The system is designed to make tracking field-level data more efficient and accessible.

“It’s pretty point and click—you just map the field, put the starting date, and off you go,” Spangenberg said.

By simplifying the process, the goal is to reduce the time commitment—sometimes reported to take up to 10 hours—and allow farmers to focus on making informed, data-driven decisions.

Soybeans: A Continued Focus on Yield

While corn and ethanol markets are gaining clarity, soybeans still face some uncertainty—particularly when it comes to biofuel guidance.

“We’re still waiting for guidance… it’s not as clear cut as the corn ethanol guidance is,” Spangenberg noted.

Because of that, success in soybeans continues to center on maximizing yield. That includes building a strong agronomic plan with effective herbicide programs and disease management strategies.

Products like Liberty Ultra and Eng

enia provide options for weed control, while fungicide applications may be considered depending on disease pressure throughout the season.

Looking Ahead: Building Domestic Demand

Looking to the future, there is growing interest in strengthening domestic demand for soybeans—similar to what has been achieved with corn and ethanol.

“I would like to see the U.S. continue to develop a domestic market for soybeans in much the way that ethanol has for corn,” Spangenberg said.

With more than 40 percent of U.S. corn tied to ethanol production, that domestic demand has helped provide stability. Expanding similar opportunities for soybeans could offer long-term benefits and reduce reliance on global markets.