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Foliar Fungicides: Are they worth it?

Foliar Fungicides: Are They Worth It?

With the hot, humid weather that has made its way into Latham Country this week, conditions are prime for foliar diseases. Scout fields prior to tassel to determine disease pressure. Fields considered to be high risk are continuous corn fields, fields with conservation tillage and susceptible hybrids.

Watch for Gray Leaf Spot, Southern Rust, Common Rust, Northern and Southern Leaf Blight and Eyespot. Northern Leaf Blight has already been confirmed in southern Wisconsin, and nearly a month earlier than last year.

Q: How do I know when it is most beneficial to apply a foliar fungicide?

A: Prior to tasseling. Some research shows that application prior to the V8 stage is beneficial, but to do that, disease pressure and identification is key to timing of application. In soybeans, the best time to apply is between R1 (flowering) and R3.

If you are concerned about foliar disease after heavy rainfall or hail, fungicide should be applied depending on the upcoming weather forecast and the weather prior to damage. Most labels suggest applying within 72 hours after the weather event to get the best efficacy out of the fungicide. It is crucial to read and follow the label as each fungicide has its own personality.

Q: Are there benefits of fungicide outside of crop protection?

A: Fungicide that is applied at the proper time can produce positive results in the form of saved yield for corn and soybeans. While some studies have shown an increase in performance that can’t be attributed to saving yield due to decreased diseases, these results have been inconsistent and more work needs to be done in this area. U.S. agriculture is going through a period where commodity prices are low and return on investment is minimal. We would encourage farmers in Latham Country to at least consider conducting their own trials to see the benefits of foliar fungicides in their operations.

When it comes to weighing the costs and benefits of fungicide, there are many factors to consider. Price of corn, product, application and drying costs can all seem like daunting costs that would scare away any farmer from going the extra mile. However, investing in fungicide could be a small tradeoff when it comes to protecting your yield.

If you have a question about what you’re seeing in the fields, feel free to ask! Send your questions via Twitter to @LathamSeeds, in a private message on Facebook or call our office at 1-877-GO-LATHAM (1.877.465.2842).

Webspec Admin

June 23, 2016

Agronomics, Fungicide, General
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Stress Wheels Show Hybrid Response to Population

We are officially in #grow16! Many farmers and the Latham Research Team are breathing a sigh of relief now that we’re seeing the crops take off. We’re especially seeing rapid growth in the stress wheel that was planted by the Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds Sales interns.

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Gary Geske

June 20, 2016

Agronomics, Corn, Crop, General
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Ask the Agronomist: Latham’s Seed-2-Soil Program
Thanks for tuning into Week Seven of our “Ask the Agronomist” Audiocasts. To listen to Mark’s response to questions about Latham’s Seed-2-Soil program, play the audio file below.
https://www.lathamseeds.com/app/uploads/2016/06/Latham-6_15.mp3

Q: What are we seeing out in the fields this week, especially with the wet conditions we’ve had this season?

A: We’re starting to see a lot of yellow corn show up and most corn is at the point where it’s starting the rapid growth phase where deficiencies are beginning to appear in the plants. Soils remained wet for an extended period of time and corn that’s yellow is stunted. It’s hard to tell what the cause is of some issues that are appearing. These issues could be caused by water stress or roots not being able to reach the Nitrogen. I believe a lot of it is due to the excess water and compaction issues, but some could be from lack of Nitrogen supply.

Q: Is there anything we can do to remedy the situation?

A: Light cultivation can help aerate the root zones that are having compacted soil problems from the rain. Side dressing with Nitrogen can help as well. With most corn entering into the rapid growth phase, now is the time to get the plant growing. Controlled release Nitrogen applications and in-season fungicide applications can be combined to create an overall fertility plan. We’re not suggesting that this is a good substitute for a soil-applied fertility program, but if you’re facing a Nitrogen-deficiency situation and you’re applying a fungicide it makes sense to combine them both. This is where the Latham Seed-2-Soil° program comes into play.

Q: What is the Latham Seed-2-Soil° program?

A: Seed-2-Soil is Latham’s trademark system of agronomic tools designed to help simplify crop planning and seed selection. Growers choose their desired level of involvement, and we help them maximize a particular field’s yield potential by helping them focus on four key areas offered through Seed-2-Soil:
- Crop Planning
- Nutrient Management
- Seed Treatments
- Agronomic Support
Best of all, farmers own all data that is generated by the Seed-2-Soil program. Anything that’s given to them is theirs and theirs alone.

Q: Can you break down those four components, one-by-one?

A: Crop Planning. There is more to picking out seed than maturity and trait packages. This is why Latham works with farmers to understand each individual’s management style, equipment capability and practices. We pair that information with our genetic and yield research for each product that we have. The result is a tailored crop plan with accurate product placement to decrease risk, increase profits and save time.

Q: How do you provide farmers with that agronomic information through the Seed-2-Soil program?

A: The best way is The Field Position blog that is updated every week day. Each Wednesday it is updated with region-specific crop reports from across our six-state territory. Thursday’s we provide agronomic tips and information like how to take stand-counts or scout for pests. On our website farmers can find companion product recommendations, yield data and technology updates for every product in the Latham Line-Up.

Q: Seed treatment is another component, and in recent years it’s become a hot topic in the industry. Why is that?

A: Some farmers have been hesitant about spending extra money on seed treatments, especially this spring when we were expecting a dry spring. When it turned out to be wet and cool, the farmers who did invest in seed treatments were very glad their crops had extra protection. Research shows that seed treatment is the best defense against disease. Choose a treatment like Latham’s SoyShield fungicide or SoyShield Plus that is a fungicide-insecticide combination to help protect early-planted seed against the unexpected.

Q: Nutrient Management is another topic in the Seed-2-Soil program. Can you discuss that with us?

A: Nutrient Management has been getting a lot of attention lately, and with good reason. Research shows that fertility programs influence plant performance and yield by as much as 60%. Most farmers are already on a good pathway to production, but with a little fine-tuning we can help them continue to refine the process. Think of nutrient management as a car tire. A car can run on a low tire, but it doesn’t run as efficiently as it could.

If you have a question about what you’re seeing in the fields, feel free to ask! Send your questions via Twitter to @LathamSeeds, in a private message on Facebook or call our office at 1-877-GO-LATHAM (1.877.465.2842).

Also be sure to check out TheFieldPosition.com for timely agronomic information. New articles are posted each week day on our blog. You can even search for “topics” by simply typing key words into the search bar on the upper right-hand corner.

Thanks for tuning in to this week’s Ask the Agronomist. We’ll be back again next week to field all of your questions during the 2016 growing season.
Webspec Admin

June 16, 2016

Agronomics, General, Precision Ag
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Ask the Agronomist—Weed Control
Soybean Product Manager, Mark Grundmeier, responds to frequently asked questions about post-emergence herbicide application and weed management.

Q: What tips do you have for farmers who are applying post-emerge herbicides?

A: Early season weed control is very important so that the crop can become well-established, but remember that haste makes waste! Double-check what type of seed you planted. Farmers today have a lot of options for seed products, from products that are resistant to either Roundup or Liberty to those that are resistant to both. It’s not uncommon to receive a call from someone who sprayed either Roundup on Liberty soybeans or Liberty herbicide on Roundup corn. No one likes to be out time or money, so just take an extra minute or two to double-check which traited products you have planted in each field before herbicide is applied.

Q: What weeds are you seeing in the fields right now?

A: We’re seeing a lot of water hemp, pigweed, as well as some winter annuals like marestail. In no-till fields we’re seeing a lot dandelions. Of course there’s always going to be the grasses like foxtail and large broad-leaf weeds showing up. It’s that time of year to get out in your fields and take a look for weeds!

Q: It seems like each year it gets harder and harder to control weeds; are there any steps farmers can take that will help?

A: There are 5 small steps farmers can take that will provide giant relief for weed control:
1. Closely monitor known problem areas for tough-to-control weeds.
2. Apply herbicides correctly. Follow the labels and guidelines, and remember that timing is critical.
3. Don’t be satisfied with economic thresholds for weed control. Sometimes 85-95% isn’t enough; we need to fight weeds all season long.
4. Clean equipment to prevent spreading to other fields.
5. Surviving weeds must not be allowed to set seed. We need to get rid of as much as possible.
Q: How are farmers preventing herbicide resistance?

A: Rotating between herbicide traits is very important when fighting weed resistance. Especially with the newer traits becoming commercially available, especially in soybeans, we as a farming community need to be good stewards when handling this new technology.

Q: Is rotating crops a need or a benefit?

A: It’s best to be proactive in managing herbicide resistance before it becomes a problem. Rotating crops is a huge part of that, so is rotating the traits we’re using. We need to know what herbicides we’re using for what they do and don’t control, and what restrictions exist. Also be aware of the potential for crop injury. We have to get weeds out of fields before they get too large.

Q: How often do we need to be scouting?

A: Scouting should start right after emergence. Now is a great time to start monitoring fields weekly throughout the growing season for the most effective weed management practices. Be sure to take notes of what weeds are prevalent and where so that more informed decisions can be made for the 2017 growing season. Taking notes is critical.

If you have a question about what you’re seeing in the fields, feel free to ask! Send your questions via Twitter to @LathamSeeds, in a private message on Facebook or call our office at 1-877-GO-LATHAM (1.877.465.2842).
Webspec Admin

June 9, 2016

Agronomics, General, Weed Control
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Ask the Agronomist—Replanting Corn

Thanks for tuning into Week Five of our “Ask the Agronomist” Audiocasts. To listen to Mark’s response to this week’s question about replanting corn, play the audio file below.

Q: How late can I replant when I’m replanting my corn?

A: Deciding whether or not to replant is never an easy decision. The cost of replanting is often the deciding factor. Many seed companies, like Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, have shorter maturity hybrids available.

There are several key factors that can determine a field’s overall yield potential. Iowa State University Extension has a publication called the Replant Checklist that will help you estimate the surviving plant stands, as well as estimate the yield based on planting dates and expected yield you could get.

Estimating Yield Potential for a Replant

If you have corn planted between May 25 and June 5, you can expect 65 to 70% of overall yield potential for that field. However, if the corn was planted more towards the middle of June, overall yield expectations go down to about 50% of normal yield.

If a farmer decides to replant, make sure the fields are dry enough. There are still advantages to planting corn in the middle of June in certain areas, but each individual will have to define his/her own yield expectations. If corn is planted at the end of May, yield can be up to 65 to 70% of normal yield. If your field average is around 200 bushels per acre, you can expect to get 130 to 140 bushels per acre.

Replanting Corn or Switching to Soybeans

There are definitely situations where replanting is a no-brainer, such as small areas of a field that were drowned out or damaged by insects. When an entire field of corn is lost, it might be best in this stage of the planting season to replace the corn with soybeans. However, take into consideration what herbicides have been applied to the field so that your soybeans don’t die.

There is certainly still time to receive good yields with soybeans. Most of the time in late May, we can achieve soybean yields of 85 to 90% of typical yields. June 20 to 25 is a target date for switching soybean maturities, depending on location. Soybeans can be planted into the beginning of July and still achieve decent yields.

If you have a question about what you’re seeing in the fields, feel free to ask! Send your questions via Twitter to @LathamSeeds, in a private message on Facebook or call our office at 1-877-GO-LATHAM (1.877.465.2842).

As always, you can access timely agronomic tips and information for your geographic location on TheFieldPosition.com. New articles are posted each week day on our blog. You can even search for “topics” by simply typing key words into the search bar on the upper right-hand corner.

Thanks for tuning in to this week’s Ask the Agronomist. We’ll be back again next week to field all of your questions during the 2016 growing season.

Webspec Admin

June 2, 2016

Agronomics, Corn, Crop, General
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Ask the Agronomist: Replanting After a Freeze

Q: My corn was standing about 4 inches tall when we experienced a hard freeze last weekend. Now many of those plants look black, so I’m wondering whether to replant.

To listen to Mark’s response, click below.

A: Your newly planted crop may or may not bounce back, depending on its size when it was hit with the hard freeze. The growing point usually is above ground around V-6 to V-7. At this point of development, the corn seedling is about 6 to 8 inches tall, but that depends on the hybrid.

Regardless of crop size, the best thing to do if your crop was damaged is to wait 3 to 5 days after the freeze to evaluate damage. If corn plants are going to “stand back up,” you should be able to see it by this time. If they plants are still down, you’ll be able to gauge if a total replant is necessary or if you can just replant certain areas.

You can also dig up a few individual plants from different areas in your field and split them vertically to assess visual damage at the growing point. Typically, seedlings that have more than a 1/2 inch of healthy tissue above the growing point will develop into plants with high yield potential. Seedlings that have more tissue damage will likely not recover.

Click on the audio link to hear Latham’s senior agronomist and product manager Mark Grundmeier provide more details on the air with farm broadcaster Liz Brown of KOEL.

If you have a question about what you’re seeing in the fields, feel free to ask! Send your questions via Twitter to @LathamSeeds, in a private message on Facebook or call our office at 1-877-GO-LATHAM (1.877.465.2842).

Also be sure to check out TheFieldPosition.com for timely agronomic information. New articles are posted each week day on our blog. You can even search for “topics” by simply typing key words into the search bar on the upper right-hand corner.

Thanks for tuning in to this week’s Ask the Agronomist. We’ll be back again next week to field all of your questions during #plant16.

Webspec Admin

May 19, 2016

Agronomics, Frost, General, Season, Spring, Weather
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Ask the Latham Agronomist: Seed Treatments

Q: I view seed treatment as a cost, so I don’t order treated soybeans. I prefer to wait and see what the conditions are at planting time to determine whether I want to add a treatment. Since the weather turned wet and cold after my seed went in the ground this spring, how could I evaluate if treatment would have been worth the money?

Click to listen in on Mark’s responses:

A: Seed treatments certainly help protect soybean seed while it’s laying in wet, cold soil. But remember, a seed treatment isn’t a bullet proof coating. View seed treatment instead as an insurance policy that helps protect your seed investment from unusual circumstances. After all, it takes less than a bushel of soybeans to pay for the cost of treatment!

Also keep in mind that not all seed treatments are the same. For example, Latham’s signature SoyShield^TM, a fungicide-only package, while Latham’s SoyShield Plus with fungicide and insecticide. SoyShield Plus protects seeds and seedlings from disease and insect damage for up to 30 days. Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds also adds a proprietary blend of polymer and seed coating to our seed treatment.

Taking a “wait and see approach” to applying seed treatment can be risky. Some Upper Midwest farmers planted soybeans in late April when the daytime temperatures were beautiful, although soil temperatures across the state were cooler than the 55 to 60 degrees we recommend for planting soybeans. Then the weather turned wet and cold once the soybeans have emerged.

Those cold rains caused chilling effect in some areas as we discussed last week on “Ask the Agronomist.” I believe seed planted later into warmer temperatures will actually emerge quicker than those planted into cold, wet soils.

We understand firsthand how hard it is to be patient when it’s planting season! Don’t let the date on the calendar override the need for soils to dry now. Wait for fit soils to resume planting. In the future, don’t let the temptation of early planting cause you to plant in April if conditions aren’t favorable for soybean seeds and seedlings.

Click on the audio link to hear Latham’s senior agronomist and product manager Mark Grundmeier provide more details on the air with farm broadcaster Liz Brown of KOEL. Remember, you can “Ask the Agronomist” each week of the growing season. Send your questions to us via our website, Twitter (@LathamSeeds) or Facebook.

Webspec Admin

May 13, 2016

Agronomics, General, Seed Treatment
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

New for 2016: Ask the Agronomist

Thanks for stopping by! New this year we’re featuring a series called “Ask the Latham Agronomist”. Each week Latham Agronomist and Product Manager Mark Grundmeier will answer viewer submitted questions about agronomy and seed industry topics.

We invite you to submit any questions weighing on your mind from agronomy diagnostics to new seed technologies. Mark will answer those questions on air during a weekly interview with Farm Broadcaster Liz Brown and we’ll post the audio cast here each week on Thursdays.

We look forward to hearing from you! Submit your questions in the comments below, send us a tweet or post on our Facebook page. Together we’ll work to achieve more yield Field X Field™.

Gary Geske

May 2, 2016

Agronomics, General
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Tips for Increasing Corn Yields in 2016
There are literally a thousand variables that affect how good of a crop you raise. Many of these variables, like the weather, are out of your control. So why not control the ones you can?

The decisions you make now can influence yield before any seed goes in the ground. That’s why I’m sharing the factors I believe you can control to produce the best corn yields in the year ahead:
1. Hybrid Selection. Selecting the right hybrid for a given field / soil type is probably the most important decisions a farmer makes. That’s why at Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, we have developed a FieldXField^TM worksheet to guide our customers through a proven process.
2. Seedbed Preparation / Planting Date. Remember that early planting dates only have the potential to out-yield later plantings if conditions are right. Wait to plant until soil temps are consistently above 50° F and are expected to rise. Don’t “mud it in” just to be the first one in the field! Yield doesn’t significantly decline until later in the planting season, so practice patience.
3. Planting Depth.The optimal planting depth for corn is 2 inches – for good reasons. If you plant to shallow, corn plants may germinate too quickly and then shut down if ground temperatures drop. Shallow planting also prohibits plants from developing the root system needed for plant health or stalk strength. If you plant too deep, emergence may be delayed.
4. Planting Speed. While racing against time, some farmers have a tendency to plant at too high of speed. Planting speed affects the accuracy of seed placement, so travel between 4 and 5 miles per hour to encourage the best seed-to-soil contact.
5. Soil Fertility. Accurate soil samples are necessary, so you can be sure the plants are getting the food they need. There are 16 essential nutrients for plant development, and each one is important in various amounts. A proper balance of macro- and micro-nutrients is necessary for optimal performance. Keep in mind that starter fertilizer, put down at planting time, can help get the crop off a quick start.
Webspec Admin

March 30, 2016

Agronomics, Corn, Crop, General
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Winter Rains Cause Concerns about Nutrient Loss

Many farmers are asking about the possibility of nutrient loss from the unprecedented rains we received in December. While there is definitely cause for concern, don’t assume all fertilizer that was fall-applied is lost. Also keep in mind that the amount of loss will depend on the specific nutrients that were applied, as well as whether it was in the dry, liquid or gaseous form.

Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K): Most experts agree that P & K applications are very stable no matter the time of year of application. It’s not unusual to have these products applied on frozen ground and see little, if any, loss prior to planting. One “watch out” here is if the December rains caused soil loss due to runoff. If this happened, then it is most likely that you also lost some P & K.

Nitrogen (N): Two main reasons for N loss are leaching and nitrification. Leaching refers to the actual loss of nutrients from downward movement through the soil profile. Since the ground in most areas was not frozen prior to the rains, this process could have a significant effect. Because the rain came fairly fast, there was considerable ponding and runoff in some fields. These will be the greatest areas of concern. Nitrogen loss here will not be uniform and will be extremely difficult to quantify. If drainage tiles ran, that is another avenue for N loss that may need to be considered.

The most common form of fall-applied nitrogen is anhydrous ammonia (NH3). When applied, it quickly converts to ammonium (NH4), which is a positively charged particle. Nitrogen is fairly stable in this form as it is held onto the negatively-charged soil complex. Ammonium eventually converts to the nitrate form by the process of nitrification. Since this is a biological process, the rate of conversion is determined by the soil temperature.

Nitrification does not stop, however, it slows down considerably when soil temps are below 50° Fahrenheit. This is the reason most agronomists recommend fall N applications after soils have fallen below this temperature. The nitrate form of N is the most susceptible to leaching. There’s a very good chance of N loss from the nitrification process if you applied nitrogen before soil temps fell below 50°F. Applications made later on (in colder soils) have a much less chance of significant loss.

It’s too early to determine nitrogen loss from December rains. We’ll wait until early spring to see how the weather develops and see the fields look after they thaw. For additional information on the potential for nitrogen loss, click here for an article from Dr. John Sawyer, Extension Soil Fertility Specialist, Iowa State University.

Webspec Admin

February 10, 2016

Agronomics, Fertility, General, Season, Soil, Spring, Winter