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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Soybeans at Risk for BPMV

Soybean farmers in 16 Iowa counties may have fields at risk this summer from a soybean virus called bean pod mottle virus (BPMV), according to a model developed at Iowa State University (ISU).

Counties identified by the ISU Pre-Plant BPMV Prediction Model to be at moderate risk are: Cedar, Clinton, Des Moines, Henry, Jefferson, Johnson, Keokuk, Lee, Linn, Louisa, Marion, Muscatine, Osceola, Scott, Wapello and Wayne. All counties but Osceola are located toward the southeast part of the state.

“Soybean growers in those counties are cautioned to use recommended best management practices for bean leaf beetle control to minimize the impact of the disease,” says ISU Plant Pathologist Forrest Nutter.

In counties identified as being at risk, soybean growers should conscientiously scout to detect areas where bean leaf beetle populations may be high enough to warrant mid-season foliar insecticide control measures, noting that early planted soybean fields have higher risk of BPMV incidence.

Those growers in low-risk counties should still scout their fields routinely for bean leaf beetles, as there may have been pockets where the depth and duration of snow cover was sufficient to provide insulation for bean leaf beetles to survive.

Click here for the full release from the Iowa Soybean Association.

Team Latham

May 11, 2010

Agronomics, Disease, General, Season, Spring
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Be Watchful of Corn Nematodes: Early corn planting leads to earlier scouting

We’ve just experienced one of the most amazing months for crop planting in recent memory. The National Ag Statistics Service released a report April 25 stating corn planting in the upper Midwest is significantly ahead of both the 2009 planting and the five-year average.

One benefit of early planting is that farmers should have more time this spring to check their fields for various pests. For this article, I’d like to focus on Corn Nematodes in particular, as these microscopic roundworms have been flying under the radar of farmers and crop scouts for years.

Like Soybean Cyst Nematodes (SCN) in soybean fields, Corn Nematodes are capable of reducing corn yields without showing any particular above-ground symptoms. If you suspect that you are losing bushels from this pest, consider taking some soil samples to determine which nematode species is present in your field and at what level they are present.

The best time to sample for corn nematodes is 4 to 6 weeks after planting. Most university labs and even several private labs can run a corn nematode analysis on soil samples. To borrow a line from the SCN awareness group, “Take the Test & Beat the Pest!”

Team Latham

May 10, 2010

Agronomics, General, Insects
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Determining Stands
Evaluating corn and soybean stands early is key to identifying problems – or potential problems – while there is still time to remedy them. Three methods are commonly used to determine stand counts:
1. 1/1,000^th Acre;
2. Wheel; and
3. Hoop.
(Click on any of the below charts to view the text in a larger font size).

The 1/1,000^th Method involves counting the number of plants in a length of row equal to 1/1,000^th of an acre based on row width (See Table 1). Multiply the number of plants by 1,000 to calculate the number of plants per acre. Repeat the process in several locations in the field.

The Wheel Method entails counting 150 plants and measuring the distance from start to finish with a measuring wheel. To determine plant population, divide the number of feet traveled into the appropriate factor (See Table 2).

For the Hoop Method, toss a hoop in a field and count the number of plants inside it. Repeat this in at least five locations throughout the field. Multiply the average number of plants by the appropriate factor listed in Table 3 to calculate the number of plants per acre. NOTE: Having a hoop with a diameter of 28 ¼” allows you to simply multiply by 10,000 to determine the number of plants per acre. You can make a hoop this size by cutting anhydrous tubing to 88 ¾ inches and joining it to form a circle.

Source: Monsanto’s Agronomic Spotlight, 4/26/10, Illinois Agronomy Handbook. 23rd Edition. Pg. 31. Purdue Corn & Soybean Field Guide. 2007.
Team Latham

May 5, 2010

Agronomics, Emergence, General
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Tips to help detect and manage Soybean Cyst Nematode

Taking soil samples now will help detect Soybean Cyst Nematodes (SCN) but also will help farmers manage a SCN problem. If need be, Iowa State University Plant Pathologist Greg Tylka recommends that farmers switch to soybean brands that are SCN resistant.

“That single decision could pay dividends to the tune of 10, 15, 20 or more bushels per acre in yield by knowing if you have SCN and managing it properly with resistant soybean varieties,” said Tylka, last week in a news release distributed by the Iowa Soybean Association.

Tylka says management does take effort, but it is well worth it. “You can’t go by what you’re hearing your neighbors say is happening in their fields,” he says. “(Even) two fields on the same farm could be completely different.”

To hear Tylka discuss SCN in more detail, visit ISA’s Production Research Web site to listen to this podcast and others. You can also hear Tylka discuss both corn and soybean nematodes on July 30 during a special farm tour at Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds’ headquarters in Alexander, Iowa.

CystX for broad-based SCN resistance: CystX provides broad-based SCN resistance and significant cyst soil population reductions. CystX varieties show an observed tolerance to Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS), have healthier root systems and possibly give higher test weights. For more information, click here.

Team Latham

April 26, 2010

Agronomics, General, Insects
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Top 10 Reasons to Avoid Soil Compaction
“Avoid the temptation,” cautions the soil experts. Entering fields at less-than-ideal soil conditions can actually do more harm than good.

Mahdi Al-Kaisi, Iowa State Univeristy associate professor in agronomy with research and Extension responsibilities in soil management and soil science, offers the following reasons to avoid rushing into your fields this spring.

Top 10 Reasons to Avoid Soil Compaction:
1. Causes nutrient deficiencies
2. Reduces crop productivity
3. Restricts root development
4. Reduces soil aeration
5. Decreases soil available water
6. Reduces infiltration rate
7. Increases bulk density
8. Increases sediment and nutrient losses
9. Increases surface runoff
10. Damages soil structure
Check the moisture profile before rushing into a field, says Al-Kaisi. Maximum soil compaction results when soil moisture is at or near field capacity because the moisture acts like a lubricant between soil particles that are under pressure from heavy field equipment.

For management tips on how to minimize soil compaction, check out Al-Kaisi’s article, “How and Why to Avoid Soil Compaction.”
Mark Grundmeier, Product Manager

April 6, 2010

Agronomics, Emergence, General
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Compaction after a wet fall

As you head into the fields this spring, take a moment to remember what it took to get your crop out last fall. Extremely wet weather led to combines rolling through muddy conditions, and the wet extremes were followed by unusually heavy snowfall. This activity should alert you that compaction will undoubtedly be a challenge this spring.

Dealing with soil compaction

Many farmers will be tempted to try some extra tillage this spring to see if that will help break up the soil, but that is exactly what you should NOT do. Only time and the natural freezing/thawing cycle will break up compaction that is deep in the soil. Because of the heavy snow cover this past winter, most soils did not get that real hard freeze necessary to break up that deep compaction layer. In a recent article posted in the Extension News, ISU Extension Agronomist John Holmes summed it all up when he said, “Put simply, the more wheels and machinery that move over wet soil, the more compaction will take place.”

Therefore, be patient this spring. Wait until soil conditions are fit before doing tillage or fieldwork of any kind because it will pay you dividends next harvest! For fields that will be planted to soybeans, you may want to consider using a fungicide seed treatment. Cool, wet soils are noted to harbor diseases that can cause damping off. You should also choose soybean varieties and corn hybrids that have excellent disease ratings for your fields.

Your Latham^® seed specialist can help you select seed products that are right for you. For more information on locating a Latham® dealer near you, call 1.877.GO.LATHAM (465.2842).

Mark Grundmeier, Product Manager

April 5, 2010

Agronomics, Emergence, Fall, General, Season
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Top 5 Tips to Maximize Yield

We recently spoke with Mark Grundmeier, Latham Soybean Product Manager, who provided us with 5 tips to maximize your yields this season.

#5 – Planting Date: The trend has been to plant earlier and earlier over the past decade. While this practice has, in general, increased yields, there are some pitfalls to watch for and avoid. Avoid planting into soils that are too wet. This practice ALWAYS causes problems later due to side-wall compaction and/or uneven emergence. When planting soybeans into cool soils, consider the use of a fungicide seed treatment such as Latham® SoyShield to prevent the advent of seedling diseases.

#4 – Planting Depth: Ideal planting depth for corn is 2 inches and for soybeans it is 1½ inches. Some may still tell you to “plant to moisture” but this is seldom a good practice. If the soil moisture level is too deep, planting to that depth can cause delayed emergence, uneven stands and possibly even stands that are crusted over if you would receive a hard, pounding rain right after planting. Planting too shallow will often result in poor root development and may affect the crop all the way to harvest.

#3 – Row Spacing: There has been and will continue to be much debate on which row spacing provides the optimum yields for both corn and soybean. In general, soybeans seem to respond most favorably to spacings between 15 inches to 20 inches. If you are planting in rows that are wider or even narrower than this, consider running some side-by-side comparisons on your fields to see which spacing might be best for your farming operation. For corn, 30-inch row spacings is still the most popular, but there are many farmers experimenting with 20-inch rows and also twin-row systems. Again, running trials on your own fields will help determine what is right for you.

#2 – Weed Control: Before planting, always start with a clean field. Even in years when planting might be delayed due to wet conditions, allowing weeds to get ahead of the crop is not a good practice. Remember that the objective of herbicide applications is to save yield, not just to kill weeds!

#1 – Hybrid/Variety Selection: Choosing the right corn hybrid or soybean variety is the most important decision you make year in and year out. Selection should be based on past yield performance (in multiple trials conducted in like field conditions and comparing like maturities), past disease or pest problems that have been identified and taking into consideration farming practices used (e.g. early planting, narrow rows, no-till, etc.). Seed selection should not be based strictly on cost of the seed, seed size or what may have worked well for a neighbor/friend.

If you have any questions we can help answer regarding planting, just type it in to the field below and we’ll reply shortly!

Team Latham

March 31, 2010

Agronomics, Emergence, General, Precision Ag, Weed Control
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

How to deal with soil compaction

The wet weather has caused challenges beyond grain moisture, Mark Hanna wrote in a recent article, Soil Management of Harvest Ruts. Combines working in wet conditions while harvesting are forming significant ruts in the fields. Without interference, this will lead to reduced yields next season.

Compacted soil created beneath the rut may interfere with subsequent crop rooting and development, Hanna said. Unless they are leveled, ruts deeper than about two inches may also interfere with maintaining seed depth during planter operation next spring.

Due to the fact that soil must be dry to allow for effective soil shattering, entering the field this fall in wet conditions for deep tilling or tillage of any type will only be counter-productive, creating much deeper soil compaction.

Hanna mentions a good strategy may be to wait until a week or two before planting next spring and use a light tillage pass, for instance with a field cultivator, light disk, harrow, or soil finisher. Waiting until warmer weather next spring will allow for potential drying of the top two or three inches of soil, avoiding further compaction.

Team Latham

November 9, 2009

Agronomics
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Rhonda Wedeking Interview Part 1

Rhonda Wedeking of KICD Radio in Spencer, Iowa, joined the Latham Freedom of Independence Ride on Saturday, Aug. 31. She spoke with John Latham, president of Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, about the company’s new corn hybrids with Genuity^TM SmartStax and Agrisure® 3000GT technology. She also interviewed Steve Sopher, operations manager, about the exciting new Genuity^TM Roundup Ready 2 Yield^TM soybean technology. Clips from those radio interviews may be downloaded now for your listening pleasure.

Click to listen to Part 1 of Rhonda Wedeking’s interview:
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Team Latham

September 5, 2009

Agronomics, Season, Summer
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Rhonda Wedeking Interview Part 2

Rhonda Wedeking of KICD Radio in Spencer, Iowa, joined the Latham Freedom of Independence Ride on Saturday, Aug. 31. She spoke with John Latham, president of Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, about the company’s new corn hybrids with Genuity^TM SmartStax and Agrisure® 3000GT technology. She also interviewed Steve Sopher, operations manager, about the exciting new Genuity^TM Roundup Ready 2 Yield^TM soybean technology. Clips from those radio interviews may be downloaded now for your listening pleasure.

Click to listen to Part 2 of Rhonda Wedeking’s interview:
[display_podcast]

Team Latham

September 5, 2009

Agronomics, Season, Summer

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Soybeans at Risk for BPMV

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Be Watchful of Corn Nematodes: Early corn planting leads to earlier scouting

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Determining Stands

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Tips to help detect and manage Soybean Cyst Nematode

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Top 10 Reasons to Avoid Soil Compaction

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Compaction after a wet fall

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Top 5 Tips to Maximize Yield

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

How to deal with soil compaction

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Rhonda Wedeking Interview Part 1

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Rhonda Wedeking Interview Part 2