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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Invest in a Tissue Test

Leaving no yield in the field is always an important goal, but it’s especially important when commodity prices are as strong as they are. It literally pays to harvest more tonnage! In-season testing will verify whether your growing plants’ nutritional needs are all met, which helps your alfalfa and corn silage crops reach their full potential.

It’s more challenging to determine actual alfalfa and corn silage yield and correlate yield to plant nutrient removal than it is to do so for corn or soybeans. A more accurate way to determine soil and plant needs for alfalfa is in-season soil sampling combined with plant tissue sampling.

The chart below provides examples of tissue sampling methods. You will find a link to full descriptions here: www.dairylandlabs.com/agronomy-services/plant-tissues. I like to add this layer of fidelity on at least a few acres as it gives me a sense that I have done my best. The lab results you get will indicate if a nutrient is still lacking and the amount to supplement. NOTE: It’s helpful to provide a soil sample (at least 10 cores) from area of tissue sample.

For Best Results

Modern alfalfa plant genetics have a lot of capacity to yield, but plant nutrition is key to achieving those top yields. Potash, phosphorus, boron and sulfur are key nutrients. The top yield-driving nutrient is potassium. Split-applying potassium to alfalfa tends to provide the best results.

Alfalfa will remove 50 to 55 pounds of potassium per dry matter (DM) ton, so a total of 300 pounds may be removed per acre in one season. A split application of 150 pounds of potash per acre will help avoid any leaching potential. NOTE: Alfalfa consumes more potash than it needs, a condition called luxury consumption. If you apply more than 200 pounds of potash per acre in one application, there is a high potential for luxury consumption. The plant can only use a certain amount for yield, but an alfalfa plant will continue to consume as much potash as it can. Potash will increase plant tissue concentrations. As a result, it can cause negative animal health issues when the forage is fed.

To maintain maximum animal health, as well as plant health, it’s important to study both data from your field and from your alfalfa plants. Mosaic® fertilizer has a great nutrient removal chart, which correlates expected yield with critical nutrient removal rates.

Maintaining peak nutrition keeps alfalfa plants healthier, so they live longer. More live plants when you plan to rotate to corn can provide up to 100 pounds of nitrogen credit or even greater. It pays to keep alfalfa happy!

Webspec Admin

June 16, 2021

#AskTheAgronomist, Agronomics, Alfalfa, Corn Silage, Crop, Season, Summer, Tech Tuesday
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Think “Inside the Box” for Higher Impact

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.

Webspec Admin

January 25, 2021

Agronomics, Corn Silage, Crop
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Select Silage Hybrids That Fit Your Soils
As you finalize your seed product selections, I’d like to once again share with you the largest factors on corn products as outlined by University of Illinois researcher Dr. Fred Below in his 7 Wonders of Corn Production:

What happens in the field has the biggest impact on the quality we put into the silo, bag or bunk. Below are a few more considerations:
1. Weather. If moisture in the field is a limiting factor, consider DroughtGard® or Artesian®. It’s a delicate balance as these specific hybrids may not have the best corn silage yield rating but are the best genetic fit for the acre. Many areas in 2021 suffered from lack of moisture and intense heat, so those areas would have benefited from these traits.
2. Nitrogen. Plant food balance is critical. Because corn silage hybrids tend to be much larger in stature, they require additional plant food. A study done in Pennsylvania suggests adding 20 pounds of nitrogen above normal nitrogen usage for grain. Larger plants need more food.
3. Hybrid. There are silage-specific hybrids and dual-purpose hybrids. Each has their winning attributes. The nutritionist wants a hybrid for best forage quality. The agronomist wants the best emerging, drought tolerant, hybrid you can find. With so much at stake, I tend to plant the hybrid that is best suited for the soil. There are ways to improve quality from plant spacing, raising the cutter head at chopping time, to using fungicides. If the hybrid is on the wrong soil, however, it’s difficult to manage around that.
4. Previous Crop. Root worm control is important, especially for corn on corn. Huge silage hybrids need a solid foundation and an intact, healthy root system. I believe the best corn silage is on alfalfa ground rotated to corn silage because there is a good nitrogen credit from the alfalfa, and the corn can develop a better root system following the tap root of the alfalfa.
5. Plant Population. For best results, read and follow all label instructions. Some hybrids, like leafy hybrids, do better under 28,000. Each hybrid has a distinct recommendation listed in the product guide.
6. Tillage. My philosophy is do what’s best for the soil, and the soil will do what’s best for you.
7. Growth Regulators. Talc USA has shown positive benefits to corn silage yield and quality. Fungicide research has shown 3 tons more corn silage per acre with the application of a specific brand of fungicide. BASF has a new fungicide that shows longer term residual benefits, which hopefully translates into healthier plants and fewer mycotoxins in the corn silage.
In summary, the hybrid that performs best in your specific soils likely will deliver the best end result. Use Latham’s performance data, as well as data from universities and on-farm research, to help you plan for next season.
Webspec Admin

November 16, 2020

Corn Silage, Crop
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Corn Silage Testing with Corey Catt

Join us in the field with our Forage Product Manager, Corey Catt! Corey discusses corn silage basics, yield estimates and quality samples. Watch below to learn more. #LathamSeeds

:30 – Collecting a sample

3:04 – Track location via GPS

8:08 – Calculating whole plant moisture

11:40 – Overall corn silage basics

14:30 – Yield estimate importance

15:50 – Discovering grain to stover ratio

16:50 – Quality sample

19:11 – Moisture evaluation

22:00 – Variability and repetition

Webspec Admin

August 6, 2020

Agronomics, Corn Silage, Crop
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Optimize Silage Quality with Timely Harvest

It’s more challenging than most people think to achieve optimum harvest timing. Life on the farm would be mighty easy if the weather cooperated, machinery was always in working order, and the custom harvester came right when you called.

Some days farming feels like you’ve been handed a bent golf club to play a mini golf course full of obstacles, water hazards, and challenges meant to distract, disrupt and impact the result. Fortunately, farmers are the golf pros of the acre. Despite all the craziness tossed at them, they face the adversity with steadfast grit and determination. Farmers keep their eyes fixed on the goal of doing their best.

Timing is everything to harvest the best quality corn silage. With corn silage harvest rapidly approaching, let’s review why timing is important.

In general, 65 to 70 percent whole-plant moisture is the optimal goal range for harvest moisture. The plant is at this moisture level when the kernel is about 50 percent milk line. The starch in the kernel is like a sponge, absorbing moisture from the plant. Think about this… If you remove the entire ear, the remaining stalk contains a moisture level about 80 to 85 percent moisture. Now, add back in a normal size ear that is half milk line. The new whole-plant moisture will be between 65 and 70 percent as that added starch absorbs some of the plant moisture.

As the milk line of the kernel drops toward the tip, it adds even more starch to the kernel. Each day more starch is added to the kernel, which is absorbing more moisture from the plant. As a really broad general rule of thumb, from about one-fourth milk line stage, corn silage moisture can drop in the field around 0.5 percent each day. Moisture can drop a full percent on those hot, dry, sunny September afternoons when photosynthesis is good and starch is accumulating rapidly. Additionally, there is also some evaporation from the leaf tissues.

Once the kernel drops below half milk line, the moisture will rapidly drop below 65 percent whole-plant moisture, and it becomes more difficult to pack and ensile. Additionally, as the milk line drops, it is exponentially adding a protein called prolamin zein. This particular protein has a negative impact on starch availability and can be linked to higher fecal starch levels.

Hybrids like Latham® 5495 3122 EZR and LH 5742 RR and our leafy hybrids tend to have less of this protein. This softer, lower prolamin starch found in select dual-purpose and leafy corn silage hybrids provides flexibility in the harvest window while still giving peak harvest qualities. They can take away a little stress while you’re waiting on weather or the custom harvesting crew.

Bottom line, as harvest approaches, check moistures early and often to develop the best harvest plan to capitalize on yield and quality.

Webspec Admin

August 6, 2020

Agronomics, Corn Silage, Crop
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Corn Silage Fungicides

Forage Product Specialist, Corey Catt, dives into the benefits of fungicide application on corn silage. View a breakdown of topics below:

0:25 — Topic introduction

:35 — Yield in the field

:50 — Economics of fungicide application

1:30 — Tissue health

2:20 — Final thoughts

Latham Seeds Agronomy Team

July 27, 2020

Agronomics, Corn Silage, Crop, Fungicide
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Pollination & Silk Growth with Bob Foley

Join Bob Foley in the field as he discusses pollination and silk growth over a span of 4+ days. Find a time breakdown below:

0:04 — Video introduction

1:40 — Day 1: Silk trimming and cutting

5:20 — Day 2: 14 hours past silk cutting

8:40 — Day 2: 24 hours past silk cutting

11:25 — Pollination vs Fertilization

12:30 — Day 3: Pollination & trichomes

18:45 — Day 5: 100 hour silk mark

Latham Seeds Agronomy Team

July 17, 2020

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

Tissue Sampling Helps Uncover Fertility Issues
Early season field scouting is essential to detect potential issues like weed and insect pressure, as well as to monitor the effectiveness of your fertility program. One great tool to try and discover fertility problems is a plant tissue analysis. To assure good results from the lab, you must collect the proper part of the plant for the current growth stage of the crop.

For the most effective tissue sample, consider following these four steps:
1. Sample multiple areas within a field to better diagnose issues.
2. Do not sample too early. Work with your Precision Agronomy Advisors to find the proper timing and placement.
3. Try to start with the nutrients that are more likely to be deficient for your specific crop.
4. Look at multiple sources of information to make your decisions. Tissue sampling is just one important tool to use.
A proper method to collecting early season corn tissue samples is to gather 15 or more plants to complete a single sample. This method is best when the corn is up to 12 inches tall, which is approximately the first three weeks following emergence because much of the nutrients come from the tissues within the seed at this stage.

One example of how a tissue sample can help determine a cause is the case of a purple-colored corn plant. This could be the result of phosphorous deficiency, or it could be because nighttime temperatures were too low.

Plant tissue analysis is a proven diagnostic tool that compares nutritional variances between normal and abnormal zones in the field. No matter the crop, plant tissue analysis is worthwhile to help determine nutrient needs. Don’t make fertilizer decisions based on plant tissue samples alone. To create a nutrient plan, combine tissue sampling with soil test results, records of lime and nutrient applications, cropping history and recent crop protectant applications.

Wait until V2 growth stage, which is three to four weeks after emergence before taking tissue samples of soybeans.

Accurate tissue testing begins with proper sample collection and handling. Collect the proper part of the plant for the correct growth stage of the crop. Also make sure to collect the proper number to have an accurate complete sample. Try to package samples in paper bags. If it will take a while before you get the samples shipped, store samples in a cool environment but do not freeze the sample. In addition, never include roots with the plant samples.

If you’re interested in learning more about how to conduct your own tissue samples, call your Latham Precision Agronomy Advisor. We can help download your Latham Data Forward app, so you can use the no-cost tissue sampling function to collect your samples!
Latham Seeds Precision Agronomy Advisors

June 9, 2020

Agronomics, Corn Silage, Crop, Fertility
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

#AskTheAgronomist: Data Forward App Release

Our Data Forward app is now available! Tune in to hear three highlights on this program!

0:22 — Topic Introduction

0:50 — What is Data Forward?

1:50 — Our Latham Led Approach

2:50 — Program Independence

3:40 — Program Transparency

4:50 — What are quality insights?

6:03 — Acre by acre management

Laura Cunningham

February 13, 2020

#AskTheAgronomist, Agriculture, Agronomics, Corn, Corn Silage, Crop, Industry News, Precision Ag, Soybeans
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Now Available: Latham Seeds Data Forward™ App
Quality is a word by which we’ve measured our work − from product selection to service − for more than 70 years.

For us, quality data means more than just collecting and reflecting on last year’s results. It’s moving your Data Forward by understanding how technology in the cab and data layers can be put to work on your farm for maximum profit per acre. We believe your data can be the foundation to drive decision making and keep your farm sustainable.

We are excited to expand our quality offerings at Latham Seeds with our NEW Data Forward App!

Our Latham led personal approach helps utilize your current data to see more profit. Our advisors will conduct a data quality analysis of your current data; clean and organize each layer of data; and share results and recommendations with you.

Benefits include:
- Data Organization. Our advisors work to collect and update your data into our user-friendly, mobile system.
- Yield Analysis & Insights tailored to your farm. An example of this is analyzing yield to understand optimal seeding rate for each hybrid on your fields.
- Testing and Trials to determine what’s best for your fields. Evaluate ROI on a variety of products such as TALC and seed treatment.
Contact your Latham Seeds Sales Representative Latham’s Precision Agronomy Advisors Phil Long or Darin Chapman at 1.877.GO.LATHAM to get started.
Latham Seeds Precision Agronomy Advisors

February 11, 2020

Agriculture, Agronomics, Corn, Corn Silage, Crop, Industry News, Precision Ag, Soybeans, Tech Tuesday