Welcome back to our Ask the Agronomist podcast! This week, Phil and Kilah discuss on-farm research and provide a sneak-peak into the upcoming field days! Tune in for a 10-minute from the field agronomy update!
Submit your #crop17 growing questions to us on either Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat or Instagram. Thanks for tuning in!
My college professor in Principles of Plant Physiology said it quite simply, “A weed is a plant that is out of place.” I never thought to ask him just where he felt was the proper place for Waterhemp… or Kochia… or Palmer Amaranth.
Weeds have been a problem since the dawn of mankind. After Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden, God “cursed the ground” and told him that “thorns and thistles would be produced” because of what he did. (Genesis 3: 17-19)
Not only were thorns and thistles (i.e. weeds) produced, but they multiply rapidly. Did you know that Waterhemp produces as many as 1.5 times more seeds than most other pigweed species? Waterhemp plants generally produce about 250,000 seeds per plant. Some Waterhemp plants can produce 1 million or more seeds under optimal conditions in noncompetitive environments.
It’s no wonder weed management is such a challenge! During my presentation at the Latham® Dealer Kickoff meeting last month in Branson, I mentioned that a 90% weed kill rate used to be acceptable. Weed scientists today, however, say we should shoot for a 100% weed kill to prevent resistance.
Resistance to herbicides results when weeds get sprayed but live through the application. This might happen because of improper rates, improper timing or just due to natural selection. That’s why we must learn from the past to ensure success in the future.
Herbicides were introduced in the U.S. after WWII with the marketing of 2,4-D. Atrazine was first registered for use in 1959, followed by a succession of products designed to control weeds.
Farmers in the 1970s and ‘80s didn’t worry about weeds becoming resistant to herbicides being used because all they had to do was visit their local chemical retailer where they’d get the newest and greatest product to try.
The first herbicide in the U.S. that weeds developed resistance to was Atrazine in the early 70s. The alarm, however, didn’t really get sounded until resistance to Pursuit® and Scepter® occurred. These ALS herbicides were introduced in the mid-80s and weed resistance showed up very quickly.
When Roundup® (glyphosate)-tolerant soybeans were introduced in 1996, farmers believed they finally had the ultimate answer to weed control. Not only did this new system work, but it was very simple to use.
Roundup made good weed managers out of bad. Weeds too big before the field was sprayed? No problem… just add a little more! Don’t bother with any of those old herbicides… all you need is Roundup!
Sound familiar? We were assured weeds would NEVER develop resistance to glyphosate, but it happened. To make matters worse, the “endless supply” of new herbicide products stopped. The last new herbicide group of HPPD inhibitors was discovered in 1986.
There are 29 groups of herbicides, each with its own unique site of action, according to the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA). At the latest count, weeds have developed resistance to all but three of them.
It’s been well documented that weed resistance is a growing problem. In next month’s article, I’ll talk in more detail how weeds develop resistance to herbicides. The last article in this series will cover what (if anything) can be done.
This is the first article in a three-part series, focusing on how to deal with herbicide-resistant weeds. Click here to read PART II: The Hows and Whys of Herbicide Resistance.
Welcome back to our Ask the Agronomist podcast! This week, Phil discusses herbicide damage and helpful indicating symptoms. Tune in for a 10-minute from the field agronomy update!
Submit your #crop17 growing questions to us on either Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat or Instagram. Thanks for tuning in!
August is a great month for walking field trials and plots. In fact, I believe August is one of the two most important times to take notes about your growing crops.
Shortly after emergence, you can see how the early growth and vigor of the young plants react under current growing conditions and by different soil types. Then in mid-August you can really start separating maturities on the hybrids. Much information can be gained by looking at hybrids now and noting stalk and root strength, plant and ear height, as well as kernel development.
Last month we had a chance to get together with Latham dealers from six states at our annual sales meeting, and it was exciting to hearhow well their Latham® brand products have been
performing! During that meeting, we let everyone in on a little secret… the new 2018 Seed Guide lists some limited-release products that are identified as “LR” instead of “LH.” Many of these LR products have been planted in our regional show plots, so take a look at them in a field near you!
Regional Seed-2-Soil® Technology Tours will be held in August and September throughout Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds’ marketing footprint. There will be in-depth training on new and existing corn and soybean varieties along with agronomic information on the newest industry traits and herbicide recommendations to reduce chances of weed resistance.
Each plot will showcase products that have been selected to perform best in that geography, which is another advantage of working with our independent and regional company. By attending one or more of these tours, you’ll gain more information about the diversity of our lineup. Latham has so many options for growers to choose, ranging from conventional corn to hybrids with SmartStax® technology and from Genuity® Roundup Ready 2 Yield® to Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® and LibertyLink® soybeans.
For exact locations locations, directions, and other information about our field days visit the Latham Facebook Page or call 1.877.GO.LATHAM!
Welcome back to our Ask the Agronomist podcast! This week, Phil and Kilah discuss corn rootworm and how scouting now can help you plan for #crop18. Tune in for a 10-minute from the field agronomy update!
Do you have #crop17 growing questions? Submit them to us on either Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Snapchat. Thanks for tuning in!
Welcome back to our Ask the Agronomist podcast! This week, Phil and Kilah discuss corn diseases and the need to scout now. Tune in for a 10-minute from the field agronomy update!
Do you have #crop17 growing questions? Submit them to us on either Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Snapchat. Thanks for tuning in!
Written by: Phil Long
Most U.S. farmers use some form of precision ag technology, and the majority of these farmers are looking for ways to use their data more efficiently. Organizing data and offering suggestions on how farmers can increase yield on a field-by-field basis is where Seed-2-Soil® services comes into play.
Technology in the tractor is one part of precision ag. Data that is recorded by the combine, planter or sprayer monitor requires another level of understanding. Here at Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, we’re working to help farmers find the intersection between crop production and precision ag.
We believe this technology is a huge stepping stone in terms of efficiency and reaching that next level of production on your fields. Understanding the variability on each of your farms is Step One.
Our FieldXFieldSM process focuses on placing hybrids/varieties according to yield-limiting factors combined with data from your yield monitor. We can define smaller “management or productivity zones” that will allow you to put Variable Rate (VR) technology to use on your farm.
Combining data such as soil samples, satellite or drone imagery, disease and insect scouting reports, and planter and sprayer applications gives you a much clearer picture of each field. Armed with this additional data, you can monitor and manage that field throughout the season.
There are many ways to incorporate precision ag technology on your farm. While not everyone will have every technology, using a few tools provides valuable information. For example, variable rate (VR) hybrid planting can provide a $20/acre benefit. We’re testing this technology on a farm in Northwest Iowa and are eager to see the results this fall.
Although most farmers don’t yet have the capability for VR hybrid planting, many have the ability to apply VR fertilizers. Studies show a $5-8/acre benefit from decreasing overapplication and underapplication to areas within a field. If your fields have a large amount of variability, you may reap even more revenue from VR technologies.
Variable rate seeding and applications are just one piece of the precision ag pie. We can work with you to make your data work for you and your operation. It’s our goal to work with farmers and add value regardless of where they are along the technology adoption spectrum.
One simple, but especially important detail, is naming your fields consistently from year to year. Also make sure your monitors and GPS receivers are communicating with one other. You may see a yield number on your monitor, but that doesn’t mean the GPS location and other information is running through your combine. The data coming out is only as good as the information going in! Calibration is key to getting useful results.
I’m looking forward to working with Latham dealers and customers to help bring more value from the combined use of seed and precision ag technologies. Feel free to contact me at 1.877.GO.LATHAM (1.877.465.2842) if you’d like to visit about how precision ag can benefit your operation!
Welcome back to our Ask the Agronomist! Today Phil talks about IDC in fields and how to plan for it next year. Tune in for some helpful hints and to learn more about IDC.
While you may not get paid directly to walk your fields, I can say without a doubt that it will pay for itself. Mid-season crop scouting is important for two reasons: (1) different weed, insect and disease pressures become evident this time of year; and (2) summer months are a crucial time to decide which traits to implement when buying seed for the next crop year.
By walking fields, you can catch any type of stress early that enhances the likelihood of opportunistic insects such as corn leaf aphids, European corn borer and armyworms. High humidity and heavy dew creates ideal conditions for diseases like we saw last season with Northern Corn Leaf Blight (NCLB).
Black cutworm could be a larger problem this year as they’re known to cause more damage in fields where corn is planted later, and quite a few acres were replanted due to heavy spring rains and ponding. Fields of higher risk also include those that are poorly drained and low-lying; those next to areas of natural vegetation; and those that are weedy or have reduced tillage.
The wide variance in planting dates also may cause rootworm beetles to move between fields. A late-maturing corn field may attract large numbers of beetles if neighboring corn stopped producing pollen, for example. Rootworm beetles may also move into corn and/or soybean fields that have an abundance of pollen-producing weeds, including volunteer corn, ragweed or foxtails.
Controlling weeds will help control corn rootworm populations, as well as other insects like Two-spotted Spider Mites and aphids. Mites and aphids begin feeding along field edges, especially in weedy areas, before eventually developing into a field-wide infestation.
Noting weed infestations can provide you with an opportunity to discuss this with your Latham Dealer and allow them give you to suggestions to mix up modes of action when selecting next year’s seed products. Latham’s Regional Field Days display the trait options available for 2018 planting. Make plans now to attend one of these regional plot days and discover more about the options Latham has to offer next year! Stay tuned for updated information about field day dates and locations in the coming editions of TECHtuesday.
One of the things I like most about spring is you get to enjoy all four seasons in just a few days. In mid-April, we had snow flurries with an overnight low of 16 on a Sunday. A warm wind brought temperatures into the 70s by mid-week, and that weekend rain fell. That’s why I always tell people to plant by the conditions, not the date on the calendar!
Soil conditions are far more important than planting date. Rather than mudding in your seed to say that it was planted early, you’ll have a better chance of achieving maximum yield by planting into properly tilled soil. Working soils that are too wet leads to yield loss and more problems during the growing season from soil compaction. Restricted root development, nutrient deficiency and reduced infiltration rate are among the top 10 reasons to avoid soil compaction.
Adapted full-season corn hybrids can compensate somewhat for later plantings. As planting is delayed, hybrids shorten the time between planting and silking. Research shows that development and final yield of these hybrids will not be largely affected unless frost occurs especially early in the fall. That’s why we recommend waiting until May 15 in North Dakota and May 25 in Iowa before switching to an earlier maturing corn hybrid or switching to soybeans.
Patience is also key when planting soybeans. Planting into a field that is too wet will reduce emergence and plant population, which most often leads to reduced yield. Another cause of reduced yield is weed pressure. Make sure the sprayer is right behind the planters. Otherwise, soybeans might poke through the ground before your pre-emerge was applied.
We get one chance every spring to create the best seedbed possible for planting, so let’s take advantage of it! This may require a different piece of tillage equipment than originally planned, but taking the time to make the equipment switch will pay big dividends by resulting in better seed-to-soil contact that enhances germination and early growth.