Tune in as Phil & Kilah discuss the movement of Soybean Gall Midge across the Midwest. Learn about the life cycle of this pest, identification and a few management practices. #AskTheAgronomist
:45 – Topic introduction
1:40 – Soybean gall midge spread across the Midwest
3:00 – Life cycle of soybean gall midge
5:00 – Gall midge identification
12:30 – Pace of gall midge spread
Phil Long tackles both the corn and soybean seed size discussion in the videos below. Tune in to learn if seed size matters on your farm!
XtendFlex soybeans, which were approved for global sale in September 2020, will be an important tool to manage resistant weeds. The combination of tolerance to dicamba (XtendiMax®, Engenia® and Tavium®), glyphosate (Roundup®) and glufosinate (Liberty®) herbicides offers a unique triple option of choices to control a wide range of grasses and broadleaf weeds in soybean fields.
Farmers who have used Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® soybeans are generally happy with their yields but desire better weed control options. Most farmers with whom I’ve visited believe they must wait as long as possible to apply the post-emergence dicamba products with the Xtend system. This application was later than ideal, resulting in weed escapes and even off-target movement of the dicamba herbicide to neighboring soybean fields that weren’t tolerant to that herbicide.
Using the XtendFlex system will allow farmers to apply dicamba herbicide earlier. They can spray either pre-emergence or early post-emergence when weeds are at labeled heights and are most sensitive to the herbicide. This should also greatly reduce the likelihood of off-target movement of dicamba to nearby sensitive crops.
Another benefit of the XtendFlex system is that farmers can apply Liberty herbicides up to the R2 stage of growth if there are any weed escapes. It is still highly recommended that weed management programs start with a pre-plant or early pre-emergence residual herbicide like Warrant®, Authority® or Sonic®. Regardless of which herbicide you use, please read and follow all label recommendations.
At press time, Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds will have seven XtendFlex soybeans available for spring 2021 planting:
All of these XtendFlex releases carry strong Soybean Cyst Nematode tolerance. Contact your Latham Dealer or RSM for current availabilities.
Tune in as we discuss if corn seed size matters. From germination to emergence, learn the importance of an even stand and how seed size can play a role. #LathamSeeds
:45 – Topic introduction
2:40 – Emergence & germination
5:20 – Seed placement
9:20 – Seed genetic potential
10:10 – Seed orientation
Does varying seed size can have effect germination and emergence? Tune in to find out! #AskTheAgronomist
:39 – Topic Introduction
2:05 – Local seed production
2:45 – Germination and emergence
6:15 – Planting date
10:30 – Establishing high yield
by Corey Catt, Forage Product Manager
Everyone is looking for ways to increase return on investment and to add value.
The Product and Research Team members at Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds are looking at 2020 data to evaluate silage hybrids for yield and quality. We’re comparing results from breeder and university trials with independent trials and our own research. We’re thinking about studies and research projects we want to conduct in 2021. Every livestock producer is doing the same. We’re all doing our best to generate meaningful, reliable data that can be used to make future decisions.
It seems that every business coach and motivational speaker encourages us to “think outside the box” for innovative solutions. While attending a church conference a few years ago, however, one of the speakers challenged this way of thinking. He made a comment that really resonated with me. He said, “In today’s economic climate, we should think inside the box.” Inside the box is using the resources you currently have, but modifying them to get a better result. He encouraged us to discover methods that require lower input but deliver higher impact.
After attending that conference, I started thinking about how I could get more or do better with what I already have. For example, how can I adjust my current equipment? How can I alter my existing research projects to deliver more impactful results?
It takes some planning, a lot of patience, as well as eternal optimism. In my endless pursuit to not leave any yield in the field, I have ongoing studies related to plant population and spacing. Years of data shows that we’re delivering 4 to 6 more tons per acre while improving fiber digestibility.
In 2020, we conducted another “inside the box” trial. One grower had a question about chopping height. Because I believe the most relevant data comes from your own farm, I helped him do a quick test on the spot. We raised the chopper height from 12 to 24 inches for a side-by-side test. Because most of the lignin is near the lower portion of the plant, we hoped to increase NDFD numbers with minimal sacrifice to the overall yield.
RESULT: Fiber Digestibility improved by 3.1 points. Each point equates to about one-half pound of milk per head per day, so this increase can be significant. Raising the chopping height also lowered moisture. As we removed fiber, the starch concentration of the ear increased, which dries down the corn silage. The corn became drier. It was a close comparison when comparing milk/ton, milk/acre, and DM tons/acre. However, there were great gains made in fiber digestibility.
The beginning of a new year is a time to set new goals or to try new things. It seems like a good time to think about how you can think “inside the box” during the 2021 growing season and potentially create higher impact without increasing your inputs.
by Lyle Marcus, Corn Product Manager
Each December and January Latham’s Corn Product Team reviews all the yield data from the current year plots and from previous years for products that are currently in our lineup, as well as for experimental products that we are considering adding to our lineup.
We fine-tune positioning information for each product and then incorporate that into our company’s product guide and tech sheets. In addition to yield results, we review field notes about product characteristics that we took throughout the growing season.
Our RSMs provide valuable insight that comes from their experiences working directly with you, our customers. We also ask the Latham Sales Team to submit a “Needs Assessment,” so we can match our product offering to customers’ needs. Feedback from Latham® dealers also provides valuable insight.
In addition to RSM and dealer input, Latham’s MiniStrip™ and SuperStrip™ plots help identify hybrids that fit identified needs. Plots planted across our marketing footprint allow us to look for hybrids that can outperform our key hybrids, so our customers can have confidence that we are continually advancing our corn lineup.
SuperStrip plots test the same group of corn hybrids on several farms during the same year. Our MiniStrip plot program allows us to contract with independent third parties to test both existing products, potential new products and experimental products in multiple locations across our footprint. Through our plot programs, we collect data on how hybrids perform by soil type and under various environmental conditions. Hybrids also are evaluated throughout the growing season for their overall characteristics and then taken to yield at harvest as a final comparison.
Research data provides us with building blocks for our crop plan. Keep in mind, what we plant in 2021 becomes the seed we will offer for farmers to plant in 2022.
Winter is really an exciting and busy time of the year for the product team!