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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Corn as High as an Elephant’s Eye

“Knee high by the Fourth of July” was an expression used for many years by Midwest farmers, indicating their corn crop was expected to yield well if those “knee-high conditions” existed. These days the lyrics, “The corn is as high as an elephant’s eye,” from the song Oh, What a Beautiful Morning from the 1943 musical Oklahoma! by Rodgers and Hammerstein, is more accurate.

This year you could even describe much of the corn crop as “high as an elephant’s eye and tasseled by the Fourth of July.” But a walk into Latham’s Genetic Garden will show you just how much corn varieties and hybrids have evolved from the 19^th Century until now.

On July 4^th we saw corn plants of every size: ankle high, knee high, head high and even some that had tasseled. Temperate teosinte, one of the first ancestors of corn, is about knee high. Wild teosinte is measuring around knee high. Northern flint, a red dent corn is tasseled. Current hybrids like LH 5494 3000 GT are “as high as an elephant’s eye.” This truly shows the evolution of hybrids at Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds.

Many of the varieties aren’t equipped to handle the hot, humid and dry weather we have seen. Because the weather we’ve experienced this growing season is starting to take a toll on the Genetic Garden, we’ve begun to irrigate it.

Look to TheFieldPosition.com for continued updates on the Genetic Garden. We’d also like to invite you to see it for yourself! Take a walk through our “living museum of corn” on Saturday, Aug. 25, during the Latham Country Fair in Alexander, Iowa.

Gary Geske

July 9, 2012

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

Potassium Deficiency is Growing Problem in Corn

Potassium deficiency symptoms in corn develop on the edges of older leaves, typically starting at the tip, while the new growth appears normal. (Photo courtesy of the University of Illinois Plant Clinic.)

While walking fields recently, I’ve seen corn leaves that are yellowing around the leaf margins. The yellowing starts at the tip of a leaf, extending along its edges to the base of the leaf. In more severe cases, the edges are brown.

Corn and soybeans are showing signs of potassium deficiency this growing season. Most of the potassium deficiency I’ve seen so far this season is not due to planting in too-wet soil conditions or compaction, although this certainly could be a reason in some cases. Instead, I’m seeing more potassium deficiencies where there is an extremely dry soil surface and where root activity has been slow. Dry conditions typically limit root growth, which explains why soils can have good levels of potassium but nutrients don’t get to the plants. It also helps explains why, in some fields I have observed, the K deficient symptoms are occurring in the best-drained soils in the field while the more poorly drained areas look better.

Dry surface soils express K deficiency most often. Ridge-till, no-till situations and side wall compaction will sometimes show symptoms in dry years. Irrigation or simply rainfall is a great way to jumpstart the root systems and help the plant develop through the K deficiency.

It’s important to understand why if and why there is a potassium deficiency because K is an essential nutrient for plant growth that has a large impact on overall yield. Potassium controls transpiration and respiration, as well as the uptake of certain nutrients including nitrogen and magnesium.

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

The type of nutrient deficiency determines soil management strategies. Some people side-dress potash or various forms of K. Others try foliar products. One word of warning is that some of these products can be harmful to the plant at certain stages of growth. A grower should select a low salt form of K and avoid anything with KCl or KSO4 for foliar applications. A better and safer means is to address the situation by applying potassium before planting 2013.

Walk your fields now and note where you’re seeing signs of potassium deficiency, so you can be sure to test and possible treat those areas before the 2013 crop is planted. Another leaf tissue sample can provide helpful information, too. You can see if there are other nutrient deficiencies in your field. Tissue sampling is one service provided through Latham’s Seed-to-Soil program.

Team Latham

June 28, 2012

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

Corn Rootworm in Northeast Iowa

Corn Rootworms have arrived in Northeast Iowa nearly three weeks prior to normal years. Farmers are urged to be diligent in scouting fields and monitoring pressures in the coming weeks. For more information, tune into Nick Benson’s most recent YouTube video:

http://youtu.be/TLNYMhaw-u4

Team Latham

June 24, 2012

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

See First-Hand How Corn Has Evolved
As a summer intern at Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds , one of my main projects is caring for the company’s Genetic Garden. This isn’t your typical vegetable garden! This garden will tell the story of how corn has evolved over time.

Planting the Genetic Garden at Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, with Corey Catt, Forage Specialist

Forage Products Manager Corey Catt and I on May 18 planted more than 45 different types of corn. Our “living timeline” features the earliest ancestor of corn, teosinte, to the industry’s latest technology in LH 5494 3000GT.

The story of corn’s development starts with corn’s wild ancestor teosinte, but it doesn’t resemble corn as we know it.

Hand planting was required due to the small, delicate seed of teosinte

Further into the timeline, we’ve planted corn’s tropical ancestors including the Benz Tropical, Cargill Temperate Tropical and PIRICINCO composite varieties.

Ancestors of our modern day corn include:
- Varieties of Flints (including Tama Flint from the Iowa Mesquaki Native American Tribe)
- Reid Varieties (including Osterland Reid which originates from Iowa Falls, Iowa)
- Golden Glow and Lancaster Sure Crop. Reid and Lancaster Sure Crop varieties are, which are open-pollinated varieties first developed by U.S. farmers in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries.
- Minnesota 13, a variety developed at the University of Minnesota in 1897. This variety was very well adapted for a short growing season and so important that it’s now grown across Minnesota.
- Inbred varieties such as MO 17 and B73, which are very frequently used in many crosses.
- Farther down the line of the evolution of corn are Ukrainian Dent and Ukrainian Flint Dent varieties
- A 4-way cross variety
- LH 74
- LH 85
- Two varieties of pod corn in which the seed is covered by a thin husk. We removed the husk before planting to insure better seed-to-soil contact and thus better germination of the seed.
Pod Corn and husk.

In addition to these varieties, our Genetic Garden includes some fun varieties including popcorn and Japonica Striped Maize. Japonica Striped Maize is an ornamental corn from Japan; its leaves are striped green, yellow, white and pink, providing a rainbow sort of color display.

Look for updates on the Genetic Garden on TheFieldPosition.com. We’d also like to invite you to see it for yourself! Take a walk through our “living museum of corn” on Saturday, Aug. 25, during the Latham Country Fair.
Gary Geske

June 4, 2012

Corn, Crop, General
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Conditions Favor Rootless Corn Syndrome

Rootless corn (left) compared to corn with normal nodal root development. Photo credited to Monsanto.

The change from excessively wet to unusually warm, dry weather has resulted in the development of a substantial crust in fields that were previously worked and planted in late April. Obviously, a thick crust can restrict the emergence of corn and cause underground leafing. The rapid drying of the upper soil layer is also conducive for the development of the “floppy corn,” or Rootless Corn Syndrome.

The aforementioned weather pattern may mirror situations across Latham Country this spring, but it’s actually an excerpt from an article that was originally written in May 1998 by an agronomy professor at Purdue University in Lafayette, Indiana. Dry surface soils, shallow planting depths, sidewall compaction and cloddy soils all contribute to Rootless Corn Syndrome. Roots will take the path of least resistance, which means they might grow out the bottom of the seed furrow.

Such corn plants are technically not root-lodged; they are simply broken over at the base of the stem near the crown area. The nodal roots will appear stubbed off but not eaten. The root tips will be dry and shriveled. For a brief description of normal corn root development, click here for R.L. (Bob) Nielsen’s “Primer on Corn Root Development.”

Nodal root growth may resume if more favorable temperatures and moisture conditions return to the fields exhibiting signs of Rootless Corn Syndrome. Cultivation can help by putting soil around the base of plants or aiding in new root development when it does rain. If the ground is hard, cultivation will help with soil aeration.

Team Latham

May 31, 2012

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

Row, Row, Row Your Corn

by Corey Catt, Forage Products Manager

Isn’t it exciting when you can finally “row your corn”? It’s such a milestone. It provides us with a sense of accomplishment. It brings some relief as hopefully no replant will be needed. And it makes us eager to see how the crop progresses throughout the growing season.
The average corn plant needs approximately 100 heat units to emerge from the ground. Depending on weather conditions, a seed/seedling will reach 100 heat units in 7 to 10 days. Some hybrids emerge faster than others, while others are slower to emerge but may grow more rapidly. These hybrid differences really depend on genetics.

Raising a corn hybrids somewhat reminds me of horses racing like the Kentucky Derby. Remember last Saturday how Bodemeister led the field around the first turn? I’ll Have Another was in seventh place early but went on to win the race. The same can be said for corn plants. Some emerge from the ground like a rocket, while others make up for lost time as the heat rises.

How quickly do you see hybrids emerging? One of my favorite parts of the job is hearing “from the field” about what you learned during emergence time as you walk and row your fields. I always enjoy hearing things from a farmer’s perspective and hope you’ll share this type of information with me as it adds to our pool of information about Latham® hybrids.

This season Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds will be sharing more stories “From the Field.” We’re following crop development from planting through harvest in several locations across Latham Country. You’ll find our Growing Season Gallery on our Facebook page at www.facebook/LathamSeeds. We also invite you to join us by sharing your own photos “From the Field.” Simply e-mail your photos of Latham® brand corn, soybeans or alfalfa to lathamseeds.fromthefieldtour@gmail.com.

Team Latham

May 7, 2012

Corn, Crop, General
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Corn Plants Need Well-Balanced Diets, Too

Dr. Fred Below, plant physiologist and professor with the University of Illinois at Champagne-Urbana

Eating healthy is always a favorite topic around the New Year when people make resolutions, but have you ever considered the importance of providing a well-balanced diet for your corn crop? After all, corn plants are living, breathing organisms! They have needs, too.

Dr. Fred Below, plant physiologist and professor with the University of Illinois at Champagne-Urbana, says 50% of corn yield is determined by weather and nitrogen. We can all agree that weather greatly affects nitrogen usage and efficiency. While no one can control Mother Nature, Dr. Below says farmers can manage nitrogen to have as much impact on yield as weather.

Nitrogen is a mobile nutrient, so the timing of fertilizer application is critical to meet a plant’s needs. The plant’s biggest need for fertilizer is between V12-R1. With this in mind, Dr. Below asks why so many farmers are applying nitrogen seven months before the plant needs it. Consider this analogy:

You want to throw a party during the third week of June 2012. However, canned beverages can be purchased cheaper in early November 2011. You stock up on drinks and store them, on the edge of your field, near the road for seven months. Will those beverages still be located in the same spot on June 22, a hot, dry day when you’re especially thirsty and want to drink 7 cans?

Instead of providing a feast or famine situation for a corn plant, Dr. Below says farmers can benefit from controlling the release of fertilizer and by managing micronutrients. During a presentation to a group of farmers and Seed-2-Soil® clients in Clear Lake last Thursday, he showed how taking a system approach that combines seed technology with fertilizer technology can significantly – and consistently – improve corn yields.

Have you set a goal of consistently raising 250- or 300-bushel corn? Nitrogen management is key, but it’s not the only factor influencing yield. Click here to see Dr. Below’s 7 Wonders of the Corn World, which are the seven factors that have the most influence on yield.

Team Latham

January 16, 2012

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

Soybean Selection: It’s an Internal Battle!

It’s not often that a company shares its “internal battles,” but today we’re airing one! Just as many football teams across the nation are preparing for bowl games this holiday season, the product team at Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds is trying to determine the value of both offense and defense.

“Defense is the best offense there is!” says Latham Product Manager Mark Grundmeier. He stands by the defensive power of L2183R2. This Genuity® Roundup Ready 2 Yield® soybean has the best defensive package in the industry. It has the industry’s best store (1.5 on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being the best) for Iron Chlorosis. Place it on medium to heavy soils and Marks says it’s tough to beat.

President John Latham, on the other hand, insists that Latham® Hi‑Tech Soybeans L2182R2 is the way to go. “Offense, offense, offense,” chants John. He wants to raise 80-bushel beans and insists that L2182R2 is the way to do it. While L2182R2 is a great offensive product, John says it also has a solid defense package.

Which matters more, offense or defense? Our Seed-2-Soil® specialist says that one of the best predictors of a soybean product’s performance is its field position. “Just as it is on the gridiron, a good field position makes it easier for the offense to score,” says Peter Bixel, team lead for Latham’s Seed-2-Soil program. “Teams with poor defenses provide poor field position, which allows their offense to gain more yards but probably results in fewer points scored. Placement can help soybean products maximize yield potential.”

Can soybean growers – and championship football teams alike – benefit from having both a strong offense and a strong defense? Watch the video link below to see Mark and John go “head to head” on this issue.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtQoUEhaQjU&feature=related[/youtube]

Team Latham

December 21, 2011

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

Hybrid Selection for Continuous Corn
The number of corn acres are expected to rise for 2012 planting. Since only a portion of the projected acreage was planted to soybeans in 2011, it stands to reason that more acres will be continuous corn in 2012.

Corn-on-corn can be a profitable venture if those acres are properly managed:
1. Residue management is the first step of a successful corn-on-corn situation.
2. Fertility should be evaluated and applications planned for continuous corn fields. It really pays to have a soil test to determine needs for N, P & K.
3. Work with your Latham representative to put a crop plan together and stick with it. Selecting hybrids with the right trait package is important, but that’s just one part of a crop plan. These plans should focus on hybrid selection, plant population, fungicide usage and other management issues.
Hybrid selection can make a 40- to 50-bushel difference in grain yield, according to university researchers. Important hybrid characteristics for continuous corn include quick emergence, stalk strength, as we potential disease problems in corn following corn.
Spread your risk and increase your potential for high yields by planting at least three different Latham® hybrids with differences in genetic traits, maturity or disease susceptibility. Balance yield with reasonable grain moisture. Hybrids must be well suited specifically to the area they will be grown. Hybrids planted in continuous corn situation must be able to perform across the field in tough conditions. Spray with a foliar fungicide to help preserve overall late-season intactness.

Although corn supplies are tight this fall throughout the industry, Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds still has availability for these hybrids in corn-on-corn situations:
- LH 3818 VT3 Pro
- LH 4796 VT3
- LH 4848 3111
- LH 4999 VT3 Pro
- LH 5378 VT3 Pro
- LH 6394 3000GT/LH 6396 3111
Webspec Admin

December 6, 2011

Corn, Crop, General
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Selecting the Right Seed for Your Situation
The number of hybrid and soybean technologies has never been greater. With an increased number of choices, however, comes a growing challenge to identify which traits will provide maximum performance and yield given a grower’s specific field conditions.

Planting corn is very similar to planning your financial portfolio: you want to plan for balance, managing risk and securing performance against a number of unforeseen challenges, including insect and disease pressure and weather. Look for a balance in maturity levels, genetics, and traits.

As you finalize your 2012 seed selections, here are a few tips to keep in mind:
- Understanding Genetics Versus Traits – Genetics provide the performance advantage. It doesn’t matter how good a trait is if it’s not supported by solid genetics. “Genetics make yield but traits protect yield.” Also remember the role of genetics in corn-on-corn situations. In corn-on-corn situations, plant high vigor genetics that can tolerate the increased disease pressure.
- Identifying Product Trends – Making seed selections based on one’s most recent experience could risk performance the following year due to the drastic changes in growing conditions because no two years will ever be the same. In 2010, we received excessive rainfall. During the 2011 growing season, we experienced three weeks of 100 plus degree heat.
- Putting Field Data to Work – In the past, we relied almost solely on the knowledge of the seed advisor and the valuable experience of the grower to identify the correct seed for a particular field. Today we have Seed-2-Soil®. Seed advisors can work with data collected from precision ag instruments to provide recommendations that tell growers exactly what seed to place at what population, with more precise guidance on fertilizer and nutrient management.
John Latham, President

October 25, 2011

Corn, General, Industry News, Seed Technology, Soybeans