Agronomics | | Latham Hi-Tech Seeds

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Latham Hi‑Tech Alfalfa: Higher Quality. Greater Yield. Better Nutrition.
Farming is like dancing with Mother Nature, and Mother Nature always leads. We can’t control the weather, but we can manage around the risk.

Understanding a seed product’s features and benefits is powerful tool to help reduce production risks. Alfalfa from Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds provides growers with options to better place the best genetics for certain soils to enable a product to perform at its best.

With this in mind, let’s review some of Latham’s top alfalfa products:
- Features of LH 9120: branch root expression and finer stems.
  Benefits: LH 9120 can be planted on wetter soils. If conditions remain wet, the plant will respond with several branching roots instead of one major tap root. NOTE: Alfalfa usually has a singular tap root. In a water-logged situation, alfalfa with a tap root will not survive as long alfalfa with a branch root. Branch rooting give additional support by bringing several roots closer to the surface of the soil, allowing for better respiration. Additionally, 9120 has a finer stem. Finer stemmed alfalfas tend to dry quicker for baling.
- Features of LH 9700: disease resistance, unparalleled recovery after cutting and multi-foliate expression.
  Benefits: LH 9700 is a very powerful, high horsepower type of alfalfa protected with disease resistance. It protects the plant, giving it the best chance of long-term stand. Quick recovery after cutting means the crown buds produce new leaves quickly. Leaves catch the sun, build essential carbohydrates for the crown, and generate more yield and better quality. I relate each leaf to a cylinder in an engine. As we add cylinders to an engine, it adds more horsepower for better performance. It’s the same with alfalfa; more leaves equal more energy to produce top yields and superior quality.
- Features of America’s Alfalfa AA 481 RR/HarvXtra: low lignin, Roundup® resistance, and high disease resistance.
  Benefits: Reduced lignin helps AA 481 RR/HarvXtra achieve better fiber digestibility. When compared to conventional alfalfa, research has shown to deliver 14 to 18 % relative forage quality (RFQ). Higher quality forage nourishes the animal, so it gains valuable feed efficiency and that leads to higher profitability. Additional benefits include harvest flexibility of seven to 10 days while maintaining excellence in quality and producing as much as 20% more yield. This is helpful to help manage around weather events. Roundup Ready benefits include keeping fields clean, improving forage quality, reducing weed competition, and extending stand life. This alfalfa product also has high resistance to anthracnose, which can damage stands. HVXRR 481 has HR rating for Race 1 and R rating for Race 5. This product is one of the newest commercial selections for HarvXtra alfalfa with top yield capacity. It also boasts extra yield and stand life, protecting benefits to reduce risks of anthracnose disease.
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds offers a variety of products, each with special features and benefits. Remember, each seed is treated with Latham’s Alfashield^TM, which gives our seed a competitive advantage by emerging faster, growing strong, and yielding more!
Webspec Admin

November 1, 2021

Agronomics, Alfalfa, Crop, Industry News, Seed Technology
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Can You Cut Fertility Costs Without Cutting Yield?
You could lose more than you save if you cut costs in the wrong places.

Some farmers are thinking about cutting back on their fertility program for 2022 crops because fertilizer costs are increasing and pre-order prices aren’t guaranteed into next spring. I understand that price hikes cause uncertainty. As someone who also farms, I feel the same way. What I’ve learned is that fertility is the foundation to keeping a crop healthy all season. Top-performing hybrids need food to fuel their growth.

Below are three questions to ask yourself as you plan your 2022 fertility program:
1. Are you keeping potassium levels up? Potassium (K) is critical for handling drought stress and late-season stalk health. Depending on cation exchange capacity (CEC), you want to see K levels of 150 to 220 parts per million (ppm) on your soil test. North Dakota State University (NDSU) research reveals the type of clay soil (high vs. low shrink swell clay) is key to fertilization. High shrink swell clay soils must be kept at that 200-ppm threshold. When these soils dry out, they hold the K between clay layers much tighter. On soils with low shrink swell potential, the 150-ppm threshold will provide enough K throughout the season. Have you ever noticed how some soils are more forgiving after you accidently cut ruts when it’s a little wet? Note those soils because they hold K tighter, prohibiting your crop from using it.
1. Thinking about cutting back on nitrogen? Nitrogen is more closely tied to yield than any other nutrient. Corn takes up approximately 150 to 300 pounds of nitrogen (N) to reach its full yield potential, but this doesn’t have to all go down as commercial fertilizer. Nitrogen needs depend on several factors including crop rotation, manure application, green manure, and residue management. Consider applying nitrogen in the spring with a nitrification inhibitor on lower CEC soils or if it’s a wet spring. The best practice in the fall is to wait until soil temps are below 50 degrees before applying nitrogen.
1. How are you valuing manure? When comparing fields where manure was applied to fields that only get commercial fertilizer, you realize fertilizer is worth the additional hassle to apply. Microbes in the manure and the biology that feeds on it can build nutrient levels much faster in the soil as compared to commercial fertilizer. It’s important to have a representative manure analysis to know what you are applying.
Remember, every 100 pounds of nitrogen applied requires about 500 pounds of lime to offset the acidity created by the nitrogen conversion process. Make sure your pH is correct, so all the nutrients in your soil are available to your growing crop. Correct soil pH before you try to build your P, K or micronutrients.

Feel free to call me if you have any questions about how Data Forward can help you collect and store information that can lead to more profitable farm management decisions.
Team Latham

October 29, 2021

Agronomics, Corn, Crop, Fertility, General, Precision Ag, Soil
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

#AskTheAgronomist: Fall Nitrogen Considerations

As harvest comes to a close, the next item on many farmers’ minds is fertilizer. With prices nearly double previous levels, it’s important to get the timing – and the form – right for your fields, management styles and spring crop plans. Precision Agronomy Advisor Phil Long reviews the nitrogen cycle, product options and ways to make sure the fertilizer you apply now is ready for your crop in the spring.

Laura Cunningham

October 27, 2021

#AskTheAgronomist, Agronomics, Crop, Fall, Season
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Improve Meat and Milk Production with Better Silage
“Repetition is effective. Repetition is effective.” – Legendary Broadcaster Paul Harvey

The massive amounts of information we process each day makes it easy for messages to get diluted or forgotten. That’s why I find it helpful to continually review the basics, especially when it comes to feeding corn silage.

What gets fed to dairy cattle, as well as to beef cattle, affects the quality and quantity of the milk and meat produced. We know there is a correlation between starch and fiber digestibility with rates of gain. Getting the most tonnage and high nutritional concentration gives you the best chance of improving milk quality and production in dairy, as well as rates of gains in beef.

Most of the silage research to date deals with feeding corn silage to dairy cattle. However, Iowa State University has updated its Beef Corn Silage Calculator that ranks the potential value of corn silage varieties used in beef rations.

You also get an index ranking for Latham® hybrids in our seed guide. Our index rating shows a hybrid trend on a multi-season, multi-environment basis. Keep in mind that management practices, weather, and fertility can dramatically impact forage quality.

Simply stated, here’s what we want from corn silage: high tonnage in the field and high quality in the bunk. Listed below are some basic corn silage terms to provide a better understanding of corn silage yield and quality:
1. Dry Matter Basis (DM). Most all feed comparisons are done on a dry matter basis where all the moisture is removed. This helps provide consistency.
2. Corn Silage Composition. Typical corn silage composition is 50% grain to 50 % stover on a dry matter basis.
3. Grain yield. High-yielding grain hybrids tend to bring great tonnage and quality. Yield contributes to tonnage and quality.
4. Nutritional value of the kernel. The value of corn silage is related to its energy content from starch, fat and amino acids. Corn silage provides energy from digestible fiber and from the starch contained in the kernel.
5. Starch Digestibility. Increasing starch digestibility supports rumen bacteria and increases energy supply to dairy and beef cows. It’s estimated that for every 1 percent of fecal starch that passes into the manure, milk production is reduced by 0.72 pounds per head per day. This adds up!
6. Fiber Digestibility. Hybrid selection, environment, and management practices impact fiber digestibility in corn silage. It’s estimated that for every 1 point of increased or improved fiber digestibility, milk output of a dairy cow can improve about one-half pound of milk per day per head.
7. Non-Fiber Carbohydrate (NFC). Corn silage is about 50 percent NFC. Note: There is a correlation between this number and the grain percentage.
There is an ocean of information available from seed guides to feed reports. Ultimately, it comes down to considering the end use first. Match your end use goals with product features and proper placement for maximum ROI at the bunk.
Webspec Admin

October 22, 2021

Corn Silage, Crop, Fertility, General
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

#AskTheAgronomist: Evaluating Fall Fertilizer Decisions

<span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start"></span>

When faced with high fertilizer prices, what considerations should factor into next season’s investment? Precision Agronomy Advisor Phil Long addresses each macronutrient’s effect on yield and performance plus the pros and cons of investing versus scaling back for next season.

Webspec Admin

October 20, 2021

#AskTheAgronomist, Agronomics, Corn, Crop, Fall, Fertility, Season, Seed Treatment
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Take the Test and Beat the Pest!

By robbing farmers of more than 100 million bushels annually, Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN) is estimated to be the #1 yield-robbing soybean pest or disease in the United States. Farmers may scream over lost yield this fall, but SCN is considered a “silent yield robber” due to a lack of above-ground symptoms in most fields.

Immediately after harvest is the best time to take soil samples for SCN. Several universities have programs that offer free soil samples to evaluate SCN, so check with your local Extension office to see if you qualify.

Think SCN isn’t a problem in your fields? Think again! Dry soil conditions, especially early in the growing season, can greatly increase the effects of SCN infestations. I received numerous calls in June and July about yellow, stunted soybeans. Most farmers suspected Iron Deficiency Chlorosis. Upon further inspection, SCN was almost always present and in larger numbers than previously observed. When I asked whether these farmers had taken a recent soil sample for SCN, most had not. They admit to mostly relying on SCN-resistant varieties to control or minimize the losses from this pest.

We have known for years that PI 88788 is gradually losing its efficacy against the pest, and more than 95% of SCN-resistant soybeans in America have PI 88788 as the source of gene resistance. Since 1997, a team of researchers at Iowa State University led by Dr. Greg Tylka has conducted annual in-field trials with hundreds of SCN-resistant varieties. They measure agronomic performance and SCN population densities from planting until after harvest.

Scientists have determined that to be effective, SCN-resistant varieties must maintain less than a 10% reproduction rate of SCN during the growing season. Since 2004, Dr. Tylka and his team have noticed that the average of all PI 88788 varieties in their trials have gradually exceeded that threshold. They have also noted that the average yield of those varieties has decreased as the SCN reproduction has increased. For more information on these studies, visit www.isuscntrials.info. Other land-grant university researchers have reported similar findings.

To effectively manage SCN in the future, soybean breeders are focusing on other sources of gene resistance. Your Latham Soybean Product Team is continually evaluating and searching for opportunities to bring new, better resistant varieties to our lineup. We also are evaluating several seed treatments for battling this pest. Saltro®, our seed treatment product for SDS protection, is also noted to have activity against SCN. More information from our Latham Elite trials will be available post-harvest.

“TAKE THE TEST. BEAT THE PEST.” is a slogan/campaign by The SCN Coalition™ and funded by the Soybean Checkoff and is designed specifically to promote awareness of SCN. These microscopic roundworms, which infect the roots of soybeans and other plants, can be present in a field for years before above-ground symptoms are visible. We encourage you to take the test this season, so you can plan accordingly for the future.

Mark Grundmeier, Product Manager

October 15, 2021

Agronomics, Crop, Disease, Drought, Fall, General, Insects, Season, Seed Treatment, Soil, Soybeans, Spring, Weather
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

#AskTheAgronomist: Why is My Combine Black?

Precision Agronomy Advisor Phil Long addresses an interesting question surfacing this fall, “Why does my combine seem like it’s covered in soot?” Tune in to uncover what’s happening in the field as we harvest, plus some cautionary tips for livestock farmers if you are feeding cornstalks this season.

Webspec Admin

October 13, 2021

#AskTheAgronomist, Agronomics, Corn, Crop, Fall, Season
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Each Prunty Contributes His Own Ingredient for Farming Success

Today’s technology makes it possible for farmers in different states to conduct secondary research online in the off-season and put it into practice during the growing season.

“We had a hole in our bean lineup, so I went online and started looking for seed,” says Aaron Prunty, who farms with his dad, John, and his brother, Paul, on the South Dakota-Minnesota border near Pipestone, Minn. “I really liked what I read about Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds in the F.I.R.S.T. Trials and decided to give it a try. In our first year, we planted a plot that included Latham’s 1858 and 1538, which ended up winning. All three of the Latham numbers we planted performed well, and the 1858 out-yielded the competition in every side-by-side we put it in. We decided to plant exclusively Latham® soybeans the next year.”

Aaron is responsible for making the seed decisions for the family’s farming operation. His brother has a real knack for fixing equipment, and their father has been primarily responsible for taking care of their independent farrow-to-finish pork operation.

The Prunty family raises all crossbreds. They save their sows and buy boars: Hamp, Duroc, Large Whites and Yorks. As a result of keeping a fairly closed herd and mixing their own feed on site, they avoided PEDV. They also were one of the first producers to start vaccinating for PRRs.

“We’ve always been farrow-to-finish. We farrow year-round, every week,” says John. “I love farming and that makes all the difference in the world. Fortunately, my wife has been a partner with me through the years.”

John’s wife, Elizabeth, mainly took care of the farrowing barn but now Paul is doing more of that. In fact, each family member is making the most of his natural abilities and interest. Aaron graduated in 2007 from South Dakota State University in Agronomy. Paul earned a degree in Animal Science in 2013 from SDSU.

“I’ve always enjoyed working with Dad. He has a lot of respect for us and our abilities,” says Aaron. “Dad very much leads by example. He doesn’t leave the dirty work just for us; he pitches in. He’s a really good mentor and he’s always been on the cutting edge of technology.”

John says, “It’s really fun farming with the boys. They’re full of shenanigans! I’m transitioning to retirement, but I’m having too much fun to quit.”

While each family member has his or her main responsibility, they all help where needed. John runs the combine, while Aaron and Paul trade off running the grain cart and semis for soybeans. Elizabeth runs the grain cart for the corn harvest. They’ve also divided up the spring field work. Paul does the strip tilling and plants the corn; Aaron plants the soybeans.

You could say that farming is in the Prunty’s blood. They’ve traced their ancestors back to the 1600s and learned they were farmers in Northern Ireland. In honor of the Prunty’s Irish heritage and their love of farming, we’re sharing a recipe for Irish Pork Stew.

Shannon Latham

October 13, 2021

Agronomics, Fall, Pork, Recipes, Season, Soups
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Focus on Precise Measurements for Best Results

Like many boys who grow up on a farm, Landon Aldinger was fascinated with equipment.

Years later he would combine his fascination with equipment and farming with skills in technology and engineering to help others get more results using fewer inputs.

Landon (left) and Mike Aldinger own Precision Farm Management. It has evolved from a focus on acquiring and using the latest products to using technology to implement more precision agricultural services.

Watching big machines on the family farm led to Landon getting a bachelor’s degree in Ag Engineering from Iowa State University. He then worked nearly seven years, as a Senior Design Engineer, for the Toro Company in Minneapolis before his story finally came full circle. “I really enjoyed my time and my career in the cities,” says Landon. “But when I turned 30, my priorities started to shift. I was ready to head home and become more involved in the farming operation.”

Grady Aldinger loves being involved on the farm. Here he is during the fall 2020 harvest.

Landon had been assisting his father, Mike Aldinger, since 2008 with their seed, chemical and consulting business. Mike started the business as Ag Fertilizer and Chemical in 1977 with his father (and Landon’s grandfather), Merle. After Merle retired, the business became Precision Farm Management, Inc.

Like farming itself, Precision Farm Management has evolved from a focus on acquiring and using the latest products to using technology to implement more precision agricultural services like variable rate seeding and variable rate fertilizer, including variable rate nitrogen.

We’re proponents of all things VR (variable rate) whether it’s nitrogen, fertilizer or seed,” says Landon. “Placing the correct amount of inputs in the appropriate areas just makes sense and offers opportunities for enhanced return on investment. We offer these services to our customers and find a plan that fits their capabilities and operations.”

McCoy Aldinger (pictured at 6 months) was born March 2021.

Once all their crops are harvested and the next year’s crop has been planned and the seed orders have been written, Landon works on projects related to his Aldinger Engineering LLC consulting business. He also spends time “carpet farming” and helping his oldest son, Grady, fix his equipment in their living room. Landon sees signs of a second generation engineer/farmer in his son.

“Grady continues to love all things agriculture and equipment,” says his proud dad. “It is not uncommon for him to head out to the field for a few hours to ride along and ‘help’ any way he can. I love watching his excitement. He was beyond excited for fall 2021. We’ve been counting down the days to harvest!”

There will soon be competition for the buddy seat as Landon and his wife, Kinsey, welcomed their second son in March 2021. “McCoy has been such a blessing to our family,” says Landon. “He is such a happy baby. We can’t wait for him to experience all things farm-related and to see what the future holds for him.”

The Aldingers vacation with their extended family each summer in Brainerd, Minnesota. They enjoy fishing, playing miniature golf, boating and eating ice cream.

The Aldingers vacation with their extended family each summer in Brainerd, Minnesota. They enjoy fishing, playing miniature golf, boating and eating ice cream.

In addition to raising kids and crops, the Aldingers also raise cattle and pork. About four years ago, they built a new wean-to-finish hog building.

“The hog barns are a great source for fall fertilizer and offers us an alternative to using commercial fertilizer on some of our farms while improving our soils’ organic matter,” says Landon. “My parents built one hog barn about 15 years ago with the intent of building another one since the property was zoned as a two-barn site,” says Landon. “It made sense for me and Kinsey to build the second hog barn to diversity our farm income. Producing cattle and pork, the seed dealership, chemical sales, plus consulting helps us diversify.”

In celebration of October Pork Month, today Landon and Kinsey are sharing one of their favorite pork recipes for Sausage & Squash Soup

Shannon Latham

October 8, 2021

Agronomics, Fall, Food & Family, Pork, Precision Ag, Recipes, Season, Soups
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

#AskTheAgronomist: Stalk Integrity at Harvest

<span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start"></span>

Harvest is in full swing across Latham Country with reports of corn coming in at 16% moisture already in early October. Precision Agronomist Phil Long discusses how and why to evaluate stalk integrity as you decide which fields to harvest next.

Webspec Admin

October 6, 2021

#AskTheAgronomist, Agronomics, Corn, Crop, Fall, Season