Minimize Risk through Crop Planning
No two crop years are exactly alike, so why base next year’s potential off last year’s results? In 2010, we received excessive rainfall. In 2011, we experienced three weeks of 100-plus degree heat. In 2012, we experienced the most severe drought since 1956. 2013 appeared to be a combination with widespread flooding and prevented planting in early spring following by long spans of extreme temps and little rain later in the growing season.
We can’t predict the weather, but we can minimize risk from weather events through crop planning. Farmers, who planted both defensive and offensive products, will see higher yields overall. Make sure these numbers have varying maturities, too.
Consider traits to help combat growing season risk (4) balance offensive and defensive characteristics. Keep your refuge strategy in mind as you crop plan. Latham’s Refuge in a Bag (RIB) is making the complex world of refuge simple with a broad list of options including Genuity SmartStax RIB, VT Triple PRO RIB, VT Double PRO RIB and Agrisure’s brand new 3122 E-Z Refuge option.
Farmers in dry or light soil conditions may consider a strategy including moisture management products like the new Agrisure Artesian and Genuity DroughtGard traits newly available in the Latham product lineup this year. These products have proven to save yield in dry weather while boosting yield in those years when moisture is adequate.
Rootworm control is a must in corn-on-corn protection, so it’s important to determine which trait is right for your situation. In an area with heavy rootworm pressure or multiple years of corn-on-corn, plant Latham hybrids with two modes of action against CRW like Genuity® SmartStax®, or the brand new Agrisure Duracade or 3122 dual mode of action.
It’s all about balance… No matter how good a particular football team is, it can’t win on the gridiron by having a strong offense or a strong defense. It takes both! And the same is true whether you’re planting in a corn field or a soybean field. Remember to plant a minimum or three different seed numbers, with a mixture of offensive and defensive traits.
