We need to pay attention to emergence to maximize our yield that will be going into our bins this fall. We like to see everything come up within 24 hours of each other. Many studies have been conducted showing that plants that emerge on Day 2 of emergence can have a 10% yield loss compared to the first plants that emerged. Plants that come up on Day 3, the yield decrease can be close to 40% and those that emerge on Day 4 can have a yield loss of over 80%. The reason behind some of these yield losses is because those bigger brother corn plants will have the opportunity to take more water and nutrients away from the smaller brothers because they were able to get established sooner and they do not leave much for the runts to thrive on.  

It is so crucial that we make sure we are doing everything in our power to allow these corn plants to emerge at the same time. Are we going through our planters well before we hit the fields to make sure the disc openers and scrapers are in optimal condition? Are we making sure we are doing tillage and planting into optimal field conditions and not pushing soil moisture and soil temperature? Are we adding some sort of starter to help those plants get out of the ground easier? Are we looking at the closing systems on our planters to make sure we are closing the seed trench well? These are just a few things to be mindful of when we are thinking about emergence. Let’s get off to a good start and fill our bins with as many bushels as possible this fall.

Make it a great spring and be safe! 

While many factors affecting crop success are beyond our control, it’s important to manage the ones we can. Planting depth often gets a lot of attention, but it isn’t the only—or even the most important—factor in plant development. Soil conditions at planting are just as critical, if not more so. 

For a successful growing season, consider the following: 
Planting into wet soils or working ground that’s too wet can lead to sidewall smearing, compaction from disk openers, and seed trenches that don’t close properly. These issues can result in uneven emergence and seedling. Ideally, the top three to four inches of soil should be dry enough for proper planting conditions. 

Cold weather after planting can also stress corn during emergence and early growth. Aim to plant as early as conditions allow, ensuring that the first few days in the soil support proper kernel imbibition. If the forecast shows temperatures that are continuing to decrease, it would be best to delay planting until our forecasted temperatures are getting warmer, 2-3 days out.  

Finally, avoid reducing planting depth, as shallower placement often leads to lower yields and complications throughout the growing season and at harvest. In recent years, more growers have shifted toward planting fuller-season hybrids for their maturity zones and planting earlier to extend the growing season and maximize yield potential. Just be sure to prioritize optimal conditions when doing so. 

Happy Spring and Happy Planting Season! Good luck to everyone and remember to be safe! 

When soils thaw in early spring, we can see how our alfalfa crop fared. You can get a pretty good indication of your alfalfa crop’s health from the road. If your field is still brown and the neighbor’s field is green, check for injury or death.

The best way to diagnose winter injury is by digging four to six inches deep and then examining the plants’ roots. Healthy roots should be firm and white in color with little evidence of root rot. Winter-killed roots will have a gray, water-soaked appearance early.

If your alfalfa stand has suffered winter injury, assess the field’s yield potential by determining the number of stems per square foot:

Yield (tons/acre) = (Stems/ft2 x 0.1) + 0.38

This calculation should only be used as a guideline as many factors determine yield. Factors that influence winter injury and yield in alfalfa stands include:

• Stand age. Older stands are more likely to winterkill than younger ones.
• Variety. Varieties with superior winter-hardiness ratings and a high disease resistance index are less likely to experience winter injury.
• Soil pH. Stands growing on soil with a pH about 6.6 are less likely to experience winter injury.
• Soil Fertility. Stands with high fertility, particularly potassium, are less likely to experience winter injury than those with low fertility.
• Soil moisture. Alfalfa grown on well-drained soils is less prone to winter injury.
• Fall soil moisture status. As dehydration is the primary means of tolerating freezing temperatures, stands that go into winter with low soil moisture are better able to lose moisture and are less likely to winterkill.
• Cutting management. Both harvest frequency and timing of fall cutting affect alfalfa winter hardiness. The shorter the interval between cuttings, the greater the risk of winter injury. Stands where the last cutting was taken between Sept. 1 and Oct. 15 are at greater risk, as plants are unable to replenish root carbohydrate reserves before winter.
• Snow cover. Snow is an excellent insulator. Four inches of snow can result in a 10°F difference in soil temperatures. Stands that were not cut after Sept. 1 or that have at least six inches of stubble retain more snow cover and are less susceptible to winter injury.

While we cannot control what Mother Nature delivers during the winter months, we can take steps to control or reduce alfalfa winter injury. Now is the time to think about getting your alfalfa orders in so you are ready for the seasons ahead.

Contact your local Latham® dealer or call our office at 877-GO-LATHAM (877-465-2842); we’d love to assist you with any questions you may have.

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1. How early is too early?
2. Is the soil temperature warm enough to start planting?
3. What depth should I be planting?

Q1: Generally, farmers maximize corn yield when they plant in late April or early May.
This holds true IF conditions are fit for planting. A mid-April planting date produces similar yield if young plants are not damaged by a freeze in May. In years with few growing degree days in late April and the first half of May, farmers can maximize corn yield when planting in mid-May.

When spring arrives early, farmers should weigh the risks and benefits of planting earlier than usual. Farmers with federal crop insurance will lose replant coverage if they plant before the earliest allowable planting dates specified by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Risk Management Agency — even if they must replant due to factors other than freeze damage or poor emergence.

Seed treatments and planting high quality seed are a must with early planting.

Q2: Before planting, check the weather forecast and soil temperatures for your area.

It’s wise to check the soil temperature early in the morning of each field that you intend to plant. Wet soils and fields with more crop residue tend to have lower soil temperatures relative to drier soils or fields with less crop residue. Check the seed tag or talk to your seed dealer about the cold tolerance of your corn hybrids. Be aware that hybrids vary in cold tolerance.

Certainly, plant hybrids that have more tolerance for colder temperatures first. However, be aware that “imbibitional chilling” is a physical phenomenon that can override genetics. Imbibitional water uptake occurs within the first 48 hours after a seed is planted.

Once planted, corn seeds need a two-day (48-hour) window when the soil temperature at planting depth does not drop much below 50°F. When soil temperatures drop much lower than 50°F within that 48-hour time frame, chilling injury may affect seed germination and subsequent seedling growth.

During the osmotic phase of water uptake, which starts about 48 hours after the initial imbibitional phase of water uptake ends, the risk of chilling injury approaches zero. Thereafter, temperatures below 50°F can slow germination and delay seedling emergence. This can result in a longer exposure to soil-borne pathogens, particularly in soggy wet soils. If you expect the latter, use fungicide seed treatment for at least your earliest planted corn fields.

When corn seeds imbibe (take up) water, cell membranes stretch and cells expand. When a damaged cell membrane rehydrates, it may not return to its normal shape and size. This can create a “leaky” cell. Water is at its densest at about 39°F, so when cold water is imbibed additional membrane damage occurs. These ruptured membranes may occur in the cell walls and in the mitochondria. In the plant, this action may disrupt the embryo/endosperm enzymatic conversion to energy. It likely interferes with the emerging seedling’s development and reduces the plant’s growth rate.

• Debate exists about what specific temperature and timing causes imbibitional chilling. However, corn seeds that imbibe cold water (in the low 40s) in the first 48 hours after planting undoubtedly are affected.
• Planting when soil temperatures are above 50°F — and are not anticipated to drop much below this during the following 48 hours — alleviates concerns of imbibitional chilling affecting corn emergence.

Q3: Check seed depth and seed depth consistency across your planter units.

The “set it and forget it” approach to seed depth isn’t the best idea. To get corn off to the best start, it is important to achieve both rapid and consistent emergence following planting.

One aspect of achieving rapid and consistent plant emergence is by choosing the correct seeding depth and ensuring there is adequate and uniform moisture at the chosen seeding depth. The most common seeding depths recommended for corn range between 2.0 and 2.5 inches deep, and these planting depths can work very well within most conditions. However, certain soil moisture conditions at planting may warrant further examination/change in seeding depth.

A corn seed imbibes soil moisture within the first 24 to 48 hours after planting, therefore maintaining both adequate and uniform moisture at seeding depth (not too wet and not too dry) within the first 48 hours is important. If the soil remains too dry, then the seed may be delayed in emergence until precipitation occurs. Furthermore, if the soil remains saturated after planting, the seed may rot and die.

Contact your local Latham® representative to find out more information about ideal planting depth for your area, or call 1.877.GO.LATHAM.

One way Latham Seeds is helping growers maximize production is through the release of high performing Peking source soybean varieties. Soybean Cyst Nematodes (SCN) damage often goes undetected or misdiagnosed. Stunted plants and uneven canopies are often obvious symptoms of SCN feeding. Chlorotic-looking plants is another common symptom of SCN damage and is often misdiagnosed with Iron Deficiency Chlorosis (IDC). Yield reductions of up to 40% on susceptible varieties are not uncommon without any above-ground visible symptoms of nematode damage. Fall is the best time to sample for SCN numbers, but sampling can be done anytime the ground is not frozen. More than 95% of SCN populations have elevated reproduction on PI 88788. Planting Peking source SCN varieties is more important than ever with these types of numbers.

Another way Latham Seeds is helping growers maximize yields is through seed treatments. SoyShield Plus with Saltro provides industry-leading protection against SCN and Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS). SoyShield Plus with Saltro is also highly effective against Pythium, Phytophthora, Rhizoctonia and Fusarium. Getting your soybeans off to a good start is key to maximizing soybean yields — and seed treatments are the best insurance for making this happen. The combination of Latham Peking source SCN varieties and SoyShield Plus with Saltro will give 2024 a strong start and help the season end with a bang.

Latham is expanding our list of Peking varieties for 2024 planting by adding three new varieties to the list. Peking varieties are offered from an early group 1 to mid-group 3. These varieties compliment an already strong portfolio of PI88788 source varieties to offer one of the most diverse portfolios in the industry. Here is a small sample of what you can expect from the Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds soybean lineup:

L 0254 XF (0.2 RM) – 103% of trial mean

L 1121 E3 (Peking SCN, 1.1 RM) – #1 in the late group 0, early group 1 trial at a whopping 108% of trial mean

L 1881 E3 (Peking SCN, 1.8 RM) – 1 bu > P18A73E in Showcase data

L 2551 E3 (Peking SCN, 2.5 RM) –
Showcase Data
3.5 bu > AG24XF3
5.5 bu > P23A40E
3.1 bu > P25A16E

L 3123 E3 (3.1 RM) –
Showcase Data
Equal to AG30XF4
5.5 bu > P28A65

L 3384 XF (3.3 RM) – #1 in the full season trial at 106% of trial mean

Contact your local Latham representative to find out more information about these and other top-performing Latham products or call 1.877.GO.LATHAM.

Let’s begin by reviewing a few product selection basics. Most selection decisions begin with relative maturity (RM). These ratings are relative to physiological maturity and largely driven by a combination of growing degree days (GDDs) and planting date. When building a plan for the upcoming growing season, identify the GDD range and average required for a hybrid to reach physiological maturity (black layer) in your geography.

Planting multiple hybrids of varying maturity will reduce risk in three main areas:

1. Agronomics (emergence, stalk strength, disease tolerance)
2. Harvest management (harvest moisture)
3. Genetic diversity (yield, drought tolerance)

About 60 to 70% of a farmer’s portfolio traditionally is focused on the core RM zone (i.e. 100-day RM) with 10 to 20% focused on earlier RM and the remainder on later RM. Remember, there is typically more yield variability within a given RM group. Spreading risk across a wider maturity range is especially important given the moisture limitations across the Upper Midwest.

Grain moisture at harvest also increases steadily with increasing relative maturity. On average, grain moisture at physiological maturity increases by 0.25 to 0.5% with each one-day increase in relative maturity. Selecting hybrids of appropriate maturity is important for a balance between yield potential and managing grain moisture at harvest, which ultimately grows more corn.

The Latham Team is here to help you feel confident about your seed decisions. After harvest each year, we share results from our own research. We hire third-party companies to plant and harvest Latham Elite trials, so our Product Team members can observe products and take notes at a greater number of locations. As a result, we have recently tripled the number of trials conducted on both corn and soybean products in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin, North Dakota and South Dakota!

Once we identify experimental products from the Elite Trials that meet Latham Seeds’ standards AND fulfill our customers’ needs, we release them for sale. Check out multiple years and multiple locations of Latham® performance at LathamSeeds.com.

Yield pays. Latham delivers on that promise, just as we have for more than 75 years. Feel free to contact your local Latham Seeds representative or call 877-GO-LATHAM (877) 921-3428.

Taking field notes on what you observe in late August and early September can provide valuable information as you move into harvest, as well as confirm or reprioritize agronomic goals for next year.

Notes I take this time of year generally answer these questions:

• What diseases are the most prevalent?
• Which areas of the field exhibit poor growth or yield potential?
• Should I conduct a pre-harvest yield estimate?

Late-Season Scouting Suggestions

Evaluate areas of poor crop growth and potential yield. There can be multiple reasons why a crop didn’t grow well in portions of a field or yield estimates are low in some spots.

To help determine if soil fertility and health is the cause, try these steps:

• Mark on a map or GPS reference the location, so you can take directed soil samples after harvest.
• Pull paired samples. Take one composite soil sample in the poor growth area and then take another composite sample in an area of good growth nearby in the same field. (Soil sample bags are available from many sources and easily available through your local university or co-op.)
• Use yield maps. These are another great data layer to compare and contrast what you observed during scouting in late August.

Think About Pest Management While Scouting

Observe the severity and distribution of diseases, insects, and weeds in a field to help make future adjustments to pest management plans.

For example, Goss’s Wilt and bacterial leaf streak are two bacterial diseases found this year in cornfields with no previous history. Tar spot is also a new disease that carries over in residue the following year. Hybrid selection for improved tolerance or resistance to these bacterial diseases maybe something to talk about with your seed dealer this fall.

Some hail and wind-damaged fields now have a late-season weed flush in portion that might warrant a more aggressive herbicide program next year.

Scouting Now Can Help Predict Yield Potential

The most compelling reason to scout fields in late summer is to estimate yield potential. There are differing techniques on estimating corn yield in terms of how to sample and the number of ears to pull. I suggest using information from satellite or drone images to direct sampling across the variability that exists in all fields.

Another word of caution is with the seed size factor used to calculate kernels/bushel with the extremely dry grain fill period we have experienced in parts of Latham Country. For dry areas, that number may need to be much larger than normal.

Scouting late in the growing season is almost always hot, itchy, sweaty, wet and uncomfortable! However, the insights gained with field observations — when paired with knowledge of the growing season — can help tweak management decisions going forward. This will ultimately lead to more productive growing seasons in the future.

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• Anticipated environmental conditions. Environment plays a significant role in disease development. Hot, humid weather favors gray leaf spot. Wet, warm (64 to 81°F) conditions favor infection and spore production by the fungus that causes northern leaf blight. Dry weather halts the development of most fungal diseases.
• Planting date. Infection at earlier growth stages will have a greater impact on yield. We usually see gray leaf spot starting on the lower leaves around the end of July and beginning of August. This year corn has been planted at essentially three planting dates. It is possible that the later planted corn (mid-May) will be at a greater risk for yield loss from foliar disease.
• Corn-following-corn fields. Many foliar disease pathogens survive winters in crop residue. Infested residue on the soil surface significantly increases the risk and development of tar spot, gray leaf spot, northern leaf blight and eyespot.
• Fungicide activity. Most fungicides are effective against disease for 14 to 21 days. Corn takes approximately 60 days from silking to physiological maturity, depending on the hybrid. Therefore, spraying a fungicide too early could negate any beneficial effect against disease development that occurs during grain fill.
• Plant health. In the absence of disease, fungicides might only increase yields by five to six bushels per acre. This barely covers the cost of the fungicide plus application.
• Stalk rots. Foliar fungicides will have no direct effect on stalk rots. The fungi that cause stalk rots systemically infect the corn plant, and available fungicides are not systemic enough to be effective against stalk rot pathogens. However, foliar disease severity is highly correlated with stalk rot prevalence. Leaf spot diseases reduce the area of photosynthetic tissue and increase susceptibility to stalk rot. Therefore, fungicide applications may indirectly reduce stalk rots by managing foliar disease and reducing plant stress.
• Tar Spot. Currently, there are multiple fungicides from multiple companies that work to help control tar spot in corn. However, fungicide efficacy is often largely controlled by fungicide timing. In most instances, a fungicide application between the VT growth stage (tassel emergence) and R2 growth stage (blister) is most effective for controlling tar spot. Furthermore, a mixed-mode-of-action fungicide product is often more effective than a single-mode-of-action product. In severe tar spot situations, two fungicide applications may be required. However, this is often dictated by history of severe disease and conducive environmental conditions in a field.

All these points reiterate the importance of tracking disease and continually scouting your field.

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