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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Tips to Assess Rootworm Activity

Two months ago I posted a blog, encouraging farmers to scout every field for rootworm. Because of the wide variance in planting dates in 2013, it’s important to continually inspect every field – regardless of seed selection – for insect pressure.

With adult corn rootworm becoming active during silking this year, we highly recommend keeping an eye on fields in order to protect yield. Now it is a good time to assess corn rootworm activity: score injury caused by larvae, and monitor adult activity in corn. Late-planted fields or late-flowering hybrids are generally attractive to adult corn rootworm beetles. Silks will still be developing in these fields when older fields have brown or drying silks. Adults may migrate and aggregate in this later-maturing fields.

Also evaluate root injury to better understand the efficacy of your management program. Monitoring over several years will help establish a historical record of how larvae respond to management tactics (e.g., crop rotation, Bt corn, soil insecticides, etc.). One common outcome of severe larval feeding is lodging of corn plants. However, it is important to confirm that feeding from corn rootworm was the cause of lodging and that it did not results from other factors such as strong winds.

To help assess injury, ISU Entomologist Aaron J. Gassmann developed an Interactive Node Injury Scale. Injury assessment made now and field notes taken will help you select seed products for 2014. To prevent corn rootworm damage from reaching devastating levels, plant a portfolio of products.

Continued use of the same rootworm-resistant trait in corn hybrids, an increase of corn-on-corn areas, plus a lack of refuge acres, has caused rootworm resistance to become an issue in some areas. Best management practices to reduce corn rootworm pressure in the future include: crop rotation, trait rotation and respecting the refuge.

Respecting the refuge just got easier thanks to the EPA last week granting approval of Agrisure Duracade E-Z Refuge trait stacks. New, for 2014 planting, Latham® Hi‑Tech Hybrids is offering Agrisure Duracade^TM as another option in the fight against corn rootworm.

Farmers have a chance to see Latham’s new 2014 products this Saturday, Aug. 24, when we host the 5^th Annual Latham Freedom of Independence Ride. This year’s ride begins and ends in Lewis & Clark State Park in Onawa. It’s free and open to motorcycles, classic cars and even pickup trucks. For more details, visit our company website lathamseeds.com. Then click on the Freedom Ride icon. Pre-register today, and we’ll see you Saturday on the open road!

Webspec Admin

August 22, 2013

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

Cool, Damp Weather Creates Ideal Conditions for White Mold
White Mold, or Sclerotinia Stem Rot, is becoming evident now in many soybean fields across the Upper Midwest. Like weed seeds, sclerotia can lay dormant for years and then grow when the conditions are suitable. Cooler than normal temperatures, combined with ample moisture in fields, has created a favorable environment for the fungus in recent weeks.

Today we’re providing tips to help you prevent the fungus from spreading this season and remedying it for the future.

White Mold starts to show when soybean plants are in the early reproductive stages and there is moisture in the crop canopy. This usually happens in July and August, but we’re just starting to notice it now since it took longer for soybean crops to reach the reproductive stage due to later planting dates.

In addition to the fluffy white mycelium of the fungus, a closer inspection of the plant will turn up sclerotia. These black, oblong structures resemble rat droppings. Sclerotia form in the center of the bleached plant stem and also develop inside the stem, so they can be easily seen when the stem is split.

Sclerotia are the fungus’ survival structures. Although they are initially soft, sclerotia harden with age and basically encapsulate the fungus. Deep tillage can bring sclerotia to the surface, causing White Mold to be found in areas where it hadn’t been seen for a decade or more.

Preventing the Spread

Because infected soybean plants may not produce seed, a little White Mold can have a big impact on yield. Most likely, you won’t be able to do anything for the plants already infected with the fungus but you can protect the rest of the field. Certain foliar fungicides may be applied when you see White Mold starting to attack, so contact your local Ag Retailer or Crop Consultant for specific recommendations.

There are also Best Management Practices to help prevent White Mold from surfacing in future years. In fields with a history of White Mold, be sure to select soybean seed with resistance to White Mold. Research shows that it also helps to lower the plant population in these fields; avoid planting 200,000 plants per acre regardless of row width.

The most effective defense against White Mold is to keep the fungus out of a field, but this is easier said than done. To prevent White Mold from spreading:
- Avoid harvesting disease-infested fields before harvesting healthy fields
- Clean your combine thoroughly after a field with White Mold is harvested. It’s important to clean the combine before moving to a field with no history of the disease.
- If White Mold is restricted to a portion of the field, that restricted area should be harvested last and independently from the rest of the field.
- If White Mold is already present in a field, keep sclerotia out of the upper layer of the soil, and prevent the sclerotia from distributing over a wider area
Soybeans with very good to excellent White Mold tolerance:

L1568R2
L1783R2
L1868L
L1948R2
L1985R2
L2083L
L2084R2
L2183R2
L21B53R2
L2253R2
L2440R2
L2483R2
L2648R2
L2758R2
L2780R2
L2883L
L3158L
Webspec Admin

August 15, 2013

Agronomics, Crop, Disease, Fungicide, General, Soybeans
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Get the Scoop on Corn Rootworm
Iowa farmers, agronomists, crop consultants and others wanting to get the scoop on corn rootworms are invited to participate in a corn rootworm field day on Thursday, Aug. 8, in Boone, Iowa, at the ISU Field Extension Education Laboratory (FEEL). There is no attendance fee, but preregistration is required as attendance is limited to 50.

Between 8:00 – 10:00 a.m., ISU Extension specialists will perform tissue testing and do rootworm injury assessments on samples brought in by attendees. Receive one-on-one training on using the corn rootworm injury rating scale, as well as discuss corn rootworm (CRW) management options with ISU specialists.

Even if you don’t attend next week’s field day, it’s a good time to be scouting for rootworm beetles and other insects that are actively feeding on corn silks. If silks are clipped to a length of ½” or less, pollen has a hard time landing on the silks and uneven pollination occurs.

It’s also a good time to conduct root digs. Here are some quick tips for conducting a rootworm dig:
1. You can’t always see feeding unless you actually wash off the roots.
2. Rootworms can have “hot pockets” in the field, so the more locations the better.
3. While you are digging roots, note:
  1. Insect pressure (in particular rootworm beetle feeding)
  2. Disease pressure, paying special attention to the leaves above ear leaf.
  3. Runt plants and uneven emergence.
  4. Make note of root structure after you wash off roots; notice any compacted zones and if there was any sidewall compaction during planting.
  5. Look at plant spacing.
For more information about corn rootworm management, click on the links below:
Webspec Admin

August 1, 2013

Agronomics, General, Insects
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Maximize Yield Potential with Latham’s Seed-2-Soil®
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds created its hallmark Seed-2-Soil® program before “right seed, right acre” became an industry buzzword. Why? Because we’re interested in simplifying the crop planning and seed selection process to help our customers maximize their yield potential.

Research has shown that correct product placement leads to a 3-7% yield improvement. Latham’s Seed-2-Soil program utilizes the power of a partnership between grower and Latham representative to fit the right seed to every acre.

Seed-2-Soil begins with a discussion with you and your seed rep about all the variables that go into your farming practices each year. Each field is considered on an individual basis, factoring all the important information the farmer holds with the product and performance information the seed rep can bring to the table. The outcome is a tailored solution focused on maximum yield and profit per acre.

Not everyone has the same needs, so you get to choose your level of participation in the Seed-2-Soil program. Want to go beyond managing which varieties go in your field? Seed-2-Soil has another level of offerings to help measure and utilize micronutrients in your field for maximum yield per acre. Click here for more information.

How to Enroll

There are many variables that contribute to overall yield, so the Seed-2-Soil program helps you focus attention on those you can more easily control. That’s why this year-long field observance and consulting program gives more meaning to grid sample data and geo-reference yield data, as well as promotes understanding about nutrients, varieties, and production practices.

To get started, your Latham representative will want to gather any previous year data that may be of help when planning and placing products for the coming season. This can include but is not limited to:
- GPS yield monitor data
- Grid soil samples
- Variety/hybrid information from previous year
- Basic fertilizer and chemical application records
Seed-2-Soil provides farmers an opportunity to utilize data to help make sound management decisions in the quest for more profit per acre. Click here to see how Seed-2-Soil can help organize data and evaluate results.
Team Latham

July 29, 2013

Agronomics, General, Precision Ag
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Pressure on the Rise from Insects & Disease
Gray leaf spot (early symptoms). (photo from Alison Robertson)

Corn diseases will likely be more prevalent this season due to an excessively wet spring followed by humid summer weather. Plentiful moisture or dew is ideal for most fungal corn diseases. Watch for Gray Leaf Spot, Southern and Common Rust, Northern & Southern Leaf Blight and Eyespot.

Later planted crops can get stressed more easily, which also makes them more prone to insect pressure. It’s likely we’ll see different insect and disease pressure now than we typically would because our corn is not as far along in its development as it would be in late July.

Corn rootworm are strongly attracted to corn during pollination and can trim back silks to the husk. Photo by Marlin E. Rice.

Watch for these insects now that corn is silking: adult corn rootworm beetles, Japanese beetles, western bean cutworm, aphids, corn flea beetle, corn borer and grasshoppers. Consider infection levels, potential economic damage and weather conditions before determining a treatment strategy.

Take good field notes to help you select the right seed for the future. For example, fields with confirmed Goss’s Wilt should be planted to a hybrid that is more resistant to Goss’s wilt in subsequent years. Tillage and crop rotation can also help reduce corn rootworm. Tillage and crop rotation also can help reduce the amount of residue that can harbor bacteria for the next corn crop. For additional information about managing disease or insects, click on the related links below.

Related Links:
Webspec Admin

July 25, 2013

Agronomics, Corn, Crop, Disease, General, Insects, Soybeans
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Stop Weeds from Going to Seed

Marestail

Bare ground is an invitation for weed development. From the looks of it, Waterhemp and Marestail are having quite a party in the fields! Large-seeded broadleaf weeds like giant ragweed, sunflower and cocklebur are showing up, too.

Existing weed vegetation should be controlled with tillage, herbicides, or a combination of tactics. Weed management on prevent plant acres is challenging for a couple reasons. First of all, many of those fields have weeds growing on them that are now two to three feet tall. The taller the weeds, the harder it is to manage them.

Some weeds are simply too large to effectively spray at this point, and those weeds that survive a herbicide application can start developing resistance. Manage herbicide resistance before it becomes a major problem. Some farmers are trying to control weeds with tillage, but this method may require more than one pass.

You don’t want this season’s weeds to rob next year’s corn or soybean crop of yield. Crops have a better chance of reaching optimal yield when they’re not competing with weeds for sunlight, water and nutrients.

It’s important to take care of the weeds before they go to seed. As weeds reach maturity, any seeds they leave behind will increase the difficulty of keeping next year’s crop clean. Dead weeds don’t make seeds!

Team Latham

July 18, 2013

Agronomics, General, Weed Control
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Be a Vigilant Scout

Walking fields and noting where there is weed and insect pressure will help you determine what you select seed products in the future.

“Be prepared” is the Boy Scout motto. Like a good Scout, farmers across the Midwest should be prepared for the unexpected this season as pests aren’t following their typical developmental patterns. Corn and soybean plant development is later than normal, so they could be more susceptible to insect and disease pressure as pests prey on weaker plants.

We haven’t seen much insect pressure yet this year, and that could be for a couple of different reasons. First of all, the wet spring delayed planting and spraying. Many farmers have gone straight from planting and tillage to spraying and haying. Not many people have had the time to walk their fields and really take a close look for signs of insect and disease pressure. Secondly, just as crop development is delayed, so is insect development. We know the corn rootworm hatch was delayed. We also know Japanese Beetles have been delayed.

Just because the weather slowed them down, don’t count them out! The Japanese Beetle is becoming a more common pest for both corn and soybean crops. These voracious eaters literally eat anything that’s green. They seem to prefer the leaf tissue between the veins of soybean leaves and the soft silks of corn plants. Both activities can result in significant yield loss, so it’s important to scout for Japanese Beetles.

Also watch for Bean Leaf Beetles, which have adapted to winter by protecting themselves in leaf litter. Although overwintering beetles rarely cause economic damage, their presence may be an indicator of building first and second generations later in the season. While feeding on young soybean seedlings, these beetles have been known to infest them with disease that leads to Bean Pod Mottle Virus.

Another insect that could do some damage this season are corn rootworm. Because of the wide variance in planting dates in 2013, rootworm beetles may move between fields in search of the best “buffet.” A late maturing corn field may attract a 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 also help control corn rootworm populations.

In addition to corn rootworm, black cutworm could a larger problem this year as they’re known to cause more damage in fields where corn is planted later. 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.

Walking fields and noting where there is both weed and insect pressure will help farmers determine an action plan for the future, too. It will help you determine if you need to change modes of action in future years. Remember, family-owned Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds offers the industry’s broadest product portfolio. New for 2014 planting are Latham® Hi‑Tech Hybrids featuring Artesian and DroughtGard technologies. We also will offer a complete portfolio of Refuge Made Simple products including corn hybrids with Genuity® SmartStax, VT2 and VT3, plus Agrisure 3122 E-Z Refuge. For more details, contact your local Latham® representative or call the Latham office at 1-877-GO-LATHAM.

Webspec Admin

July 11, 2013

Agronomics, Corn, Crop, Disease, Fungicide, General, Soybeans, Weed Control
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Protect Your Crop from In-Season Nitrate Loss

Rachel grew up near Madison, Wisconsin, on a dairy and grain crop farm. Her passion for agriculture took her to the University of Wisconsin-River Falls where she earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Crop and Soil Science and also a master’s from Iowa State University in Weed Science. Prior to joining Hagie Manufacturing, Rachel worked as an agronomist for North Central Cooperative in Clarion and made recommendations for crop protection and fertilization decisions. As the agronomist for Hagie, Rachel works with employees and customers to help them gain a better understanding of the role the machinery plays in agronomy.

Guest Blog from Rachel Halbach

One of the biggest concerns of 2013, aside from actually getting the crop in the ground, is the fate of nitrogen that has already been applied. Heavy, excessive rainfall events throughout this season have brought up many questions: Is the nitrogen still there? How much is lost? Does more need to be applied? How much more should be applied? All these are legitimate worries with answers that are hard to quantify due to variations in environmental and field conditions. Many university extension departments have information that estimate losses and can help answer the above questions.

But how is nitrogen lost in spring and summer?

Denitrification and leaching are two major pathways of nitrate nitrogen loss at this point in the season. Denitrification occurs when bacteria in the soil convert nitrate into either N₂ or N₂O gas, and it is subsequently is released into the atmosphere. This process is typically a cause for concern in soils that tend to remain saturated- not usually coarse soil textures. Leaching, however, can be more of an issue in coarse soils that don’t hold as much water as medium and fine textured soils. Put simply, nitrate leaching occurs when the total amount of precipitation received exceeds the amount of moisture the particular soil can hold per inch.

Major factors influencing the amount of nitrate lost to denitrification include the amount of nitrate present, soil temperature, soil moisture, organic matter, and soil pH. Warm, saturated soils with a pH above 5 are most at risk. For example, when soil temperatures are above 75 degrees and the ground is saturated for five days, 75% of the nitrates present can be lost! Nitrate leaching is dependent on three major factors- the amount of nitrates in the soil, soil texture, and precipitation. Unfortunately, none of the variables influencing denitrification or leaching are very controllable.

So how does one protect against in-season nitrate loss?

Timing, timing, timing! Nitrogen applied close to the time when the crop will use it is less at risk for loss. Fall applied nitrogen is subject to a range of environmental conditions and is expected to still be available to the plant nine months later if no additional applications are made. Those that split apply can, in some cases, apply less nitrogen because no “extra” has to be factored in for what nitrogen might be lost.

Traditionally, side-dressed nitrogen happens earlier in the corn plant’s lifecycle, but estimates are that 40% of the nitrogen a corn plant will use is taken up after tassel. At Hagie, we have found a solution to provide a wider application window with our Nitrogen Toolbar attachment. With 72” of clearance, our NTB can place nitrogen in tall corn just as the plant needs it for maximum yield potential!

Team Latham

July 1, 2013

Agronomics, Fertility, General, Soil
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Scout All Fields for Corn Rootworm
With most of the 2013 crop in the ground, it’s time to walk fields. Crops should be scouted within 3 to 5 days of planting and then regularly throughout the growing season. Be on the lookout for: (1) crop emergence; (2) nitrate leaching and (3) insect and disease pressure

It’s a good idea to walk fields within 5 days of planting. Evaluating current stands can indicate whether to replant portions of the field. Notes you take now also could impact your seed buying decisions this fall. Plus, evaluating current stands can help determine if adjustments should be made to your equipment or planter speed next spring.

When checking fields where the corn is more developed, look for signs of nitrogen loss. Iowa State University Nutrient Management Specialist John Sawyer says the best options for sidedressing, in order from most to least preferable, include:
1. injected anhydrous ammonia, UAN or urea,
2. broadcast dry ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate or urease treated urea,
3. surface dribbling UAN solution between rows,
4. broadcast UAN, and
5. broadcast urea.
Also walk every field for signs of corn rootworm (CRW), regardless of what traits they planted. The corn rootworm hatch is underway, so larvae will soon begin feeding on roots if they aren’t already doing so. Corn development, although delayed, still provides plenty of plant material for the CRW larvae to feast upon. Severe infestation can destroy nodes 4-6, which effect water and nutrient uptake.

Because of the wide variance in planting dates this year, rootworm beetles can move between fields in search of the best “buffet.” A late maturing corn field may attract a large numbers of beetles if neighboring corn stopped producing pollen, for example. Beetles may also move into corn and/or soybean fields that have an abundance of pollen-producing weeds, including volunteer corn, ragweed or foxtails.

Weed control is important for several reasons. Crops have a better chance of reaching optimal yield when they’re not competing with weeds for sunlight, water and nutrients. Plus, controlling weeds helps control corn rootworm populations. The rootworm hatch is underway; expect 50 percent hatch between 684-767 degree days. Click here for current degree day accumulation for corn rootworm provided by the Iowa Environmental Mesonet, ISU Department of Agronomy.
Webspec Admin

June 27, 2013

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

Best Options for Side Dressing Nitrogen

Yellowing corn can be a symptom of nutrient deficiency. Photo by South Dakota State University

This spring has been a logistical challenge for farmers in many ways, especially nitrogen applications. Farmers were told to forego nitrogen applications just to get the crop in and side dress later. It is now later and rain continues to fall. Nitrogen applied pre-plant in the form of UAN or Urea has the most potential for loss, primarily from leaching too deep into the soil for the late planted corn roots to catch up.

There is no clear cut method to figure out how much nitrogen you may have lost. If you applied everything pre-plant using either UAN or Urea, it may be worth the extra money to add some additional in season. The amount of rain is the driving factor to deciding how much you may have lost. Anhydrous Ammonia has less available up front in the form of nitrate and therefore will likely still be there.

There are still several good options to side dress corn with. Anhydrous Ammonia, UAN, and slow-release or sulfur coated Urea are a few. Injected or shallow incorporated with a UAN or NH3 toolbar is best. Broadcasting Urea works as well, as long as it has a urease inhibitor on it or a slow release form. If you choose to broadcast Urea, its best to do it before V6 so you are not risking yield loss. If you choose to apply all of your nitrogen this way, it’s best to get it on before the plants hit V4. Past V4, it can damage the corn plant and will cause yield loss and larger corn plants. The larger the corn plant, the more urea can end up lodged down in the whorl. As a reminder, the growing point is still below ground until around V6.

This was a good spring to have an in-furrow or starter fertilizer down with your planter. If you did not and your corn is showing some yellowing, there is still time to get some additional nitrogen applied. One important thing to remember is yield potential decreases if you planted late, so if you had a lot of nitrogen down up front you may not need to add more. Take all factors into consideration and remember the power of your organic matter to supply some nitrogen now that we are warm enough for mineralization to keep the nitrogen available to the crop.

If you have any questions, call the Latham office at 641-692-3258 and we will get you in contact with one of our experts.

Photo courtesy of www.omafra.gov.on.ca

Team Latham

June 24, 2013

Agronomics, Fertility, General