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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds
#MadetoWin Video Series Recap
#MadetoWin Week 1
John Latham for the first #MadetoWin video of the harvest season! John will discuss the recent XtendFlex approval, preview Latham seed quality for next year and discuss products that are winning in the field throughout Latham Country!
#MadetoWin Week 2
Join us for the second #MadetoWin update with John Latham! John highlights products performing well throughout Latham Country. #LathamSeeds
#MadetoWin Week 3
Join us for week 3 of our #MadetoWin video series! John Latham covers his Power 10 hybrids based on yield results. Tune in the learn more! #LathamSeeds
#MadetoWin Week 4
Join us with John Latham! John discusses his Power 10 soybean varieties covering our entire marketing territory. Tune in to learn more! #LathamSeeds
#MadetoWin Week 5
Join John Latham for this week’s #MadetoWin video series! John will discuss our 2020 F.I.R.S.T. Trial winners. #LathamSeeds
#MadetoWin Week 6
John highlights our top 10 products based on F.I.R.S.T. trial wins. #LathamSeeds
#MadetoWin Week 7
John Latham talks soybeans! Tune in to hear a run down of the multiple F.I.R.S.T. Trial soybean wins throughout Latham Country! #MadetoWin #LathamSeeds
#MadetoWin Week 8
Join us for the final episode of our #MadetoWin series with John Latham! John discusses our new XtendFlex options and what it means for farmers across Latham country. #LathamSeeds
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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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Tillage. My philosophy is do what’s best for the soil, and the soil will do what’s best for you.
- 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.
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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds
Ask the Agronomist: 2021 Crop Planning
Join us on November 12 at 8 AM as we discuss the conclusion of the 2020 harvest season and begin planning for 2021. We will share three different scenarios to help you select the right products for your acres. #AskTheAgronomist
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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds
The History of Latham® IRONCLAD™ Soybeans
Soybean Cyst Nematode, Iron Deficiency Chlorosis, Phytophthora Root Rot and Sudden Death Syndrome are just a few of the pests, diseases and agronomic issues that have contributed to lower yields and higher costs. Farmers, who needed protection against these agronomic issues, were hesitant to plant defensive soybean lines in fear of giving up yield.
Then in the late 1990s soybean breeding techniques were developed that could quickly identify cultivars that had sound defensive traits and were high yielding.
In 2011, Bill Latham, then head of Latham’s Research program, challenged our Soybean Product Team to find an idea or a concept that would help change the way farmers felt about defensive soybean products. Bill, an ex-Marine aviator, was a military history buff as were several other members of our team at that time. We remembered back to the pre-Civil War era when naval warships were made almost exclusively out of wood. Offensive firepower from these ships was quickly outmatching their wooden defense. Innovators at the time were quick to experiment with using iron plates over the wooden sides. Hence, the term “Ironclad” was born.
The first ever battle between two ironclads took place in 1862. The Monitor was the Union warship. The Confederacy had captured the Union ship Merrimack, plated it with iron, and renamed it the CSS Virginia. However, the battle has gone down in history as the Monitor versus the Merrimack. Although both sides claimed a victory, in essence it was a draw as neither ship could sink the other. It did, however, dramatically change the course of naval warfare. From that battle on, navies all over the globe began using metal plates over wood and eventually made their ships completely out of metal!
Back to 2011… After much discussion, it was decided to use the designation of IRONCLAD™ for Latham brand soybeans that had a resistance gene for Soybean Cyst Nematode, a gene for Phytophthora Root Rot and scores of 2.2 or better (on a scale of 1-5) against Brown Stem Rot, Iron Deficiency Chlorosis and either White Mold or Sudden Death Syndrome.
Latham’s first IRONCLAD soybeans were introduced in our 2013 Product Guide. It was quickly evident that these defensive traits were exactly what farmers in Latham Country needed to protect yield and increase profitability.
It should be noted here that since the start of our Ironclad program, we have never had a #1 selling soybean that was NOT an IRONCLAD! Additionally, our 2021 Product Guide features 28 Ironclad soybeans out of the total 56 we have listed. That’s truly an amazing advancement during a short eight-year period of time!
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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds
Ask the Agronomist: Corn Residue Management
What’s the best way to manage corn residue on your farm? Tune in to find out! #AsktheAgronomist1:15 — Topic introduction4:15 — Primary fall tillage5:20 — Chopping heads7:50 — Baling stalks9:30 — Strip tillage11:20 — Vertical tillage13:15 — Final thoughts -
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds
Use 2020 Harvest Information to Prepare 2021 Crop Plan
Harvest is the perfect time to assess your fields and adjust your field-by-field crop plans.
As you harvest your 2020 crops, you will learn more about what worked in a given field. Tools like Latham’s Data Forward help collect information. Even if you use another mapping tool, Data Forward can organize your information.
Below are ideas about what data to record now to provide great value next spring.
- Disease. We faced lots of disease pressure in 2020. Be sure to note the diseases you see and where you see them. This is especially important on corn-on-corn acres, as well as on rotated acres. This will help you select products with disease tolerance from the Latham® lineup for greater success in 2021.
- Weed escapes. Use weed ID materials or Google them to confirm what weed escape you see. Documenting weed escapes aides in the type of herbicide tolerance you may need. Most of Latham’s corn hybrids carry tolerance to glyphosate herbicide; a few carry traits that make them tolerant to glufosinate for use with Liberty herbicide.
- Fertility issues. Note areas of the field that show deficiency and sample those soils. Make plans to fertilize according to the requirements for next season’s crop. Very uniform and high fertility fields are in the highly productive class. Fields with uneven fertility may be considered as lower productive fields. You can find some great recommendations in Latham product info sheets.
- Soil conditions. Fields with high residue, like many of the derecho-damaged fields, will require different management and possible product selection. Fields with heavy trash burdens will likely need the strongest emerging products next spring. We strive to provide the best info on emergence scores in our technical data.
Carefully assessing each field and recording notes at a high level about what you see adds the greatest value to any yield map information that you generate. Use the Latham® Hi‑Tech Seeds product guide, website product tools, tech sheets (also found on our website), plus information from your dealer or RSM to find the best product for each of your fields.
We will continue to provide product highlights as harvest data becomes available. Have a safe harvest season!
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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds
Ask The Agronomist: Phantom Yield Loss
Tune in as we discuss how the dry harvest season and phantom yield loss can go hand-in-hand. #LathamSeeds
:25 — Harvest Update2:10 — Phantom Yield Loss5:45 — Dry Corn Management8:35 — Dry Corn Yield Loss -
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds
#LathamSeeds Wins! 10/14/20 Product Highlights
Minnesota
Iowa
South Dakota
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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds
Fall Harvest is Underway
Fall harvest is underway in North Iowa. This means the scales are busy at Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds headquarters on our family’s Iowa Century Farm in Alexander.Below are the Top 3 Reasons that Latham® brand soybeans have developed a reputation for quality and continue to top yield trials:
- Harvest Protocol – The majority of Latham seed beans are brought to our plant upon harvest. These soybeans are kept under the watchful eye of Latham Production Plant Manager Greg Jaacks and his well-trained team. The Production Team uses a hand probe to take samples of every load of soybeans that crosses our scale. Each soybean variety is then stored in a separate bin; each bin is monitored daily to ensure the seed does not go out of condition before it is bagged or boxed. Some varieties are not grown near our Alexander plant, so we work with trusted family-owned seed conditioning partners that have a reputation for providing top quality.
- Careful Conditioning – Throughout the process of taking the seed from the bin and placing it into bags or boxes, Latham’s Production Team carefully handles the seed each step of the way. Air screens and scalper screens remove sticks and pods. Sifter screens remove splits and small soybeans. Fans remove dust and dirt. Additional separator equipment ensures even shape, form and density. The results of this intensive process can be observed in each and every finished unit of Latham brand soybeans.
- Quality Over Quantity – Throughout the process, quality is top priority as opposed to the speed of conditioning and bagging. Our production process slows when winter temperatures fall below 10 degrees and will halt completely when temps hit zero; other companies continue to condition seed although it can severely affect seed integrity and germination.
Producing the highest quality seed for farmers is the legacy we are proud to continue as the third generation of Latham family members to own and operate Latham Seeds. In fact, we take quality so seriously that President John Latham and General Manager Ryan Schon joined members of our production team this week as they pulled rogue plants by hand from a nearby production field.
We appreciate the diligence of our growers to work with us to produce as pure as seed of possible. We are grateful to have worked for so many years – and for generations – with local farmers to produce Latham brand soybean seed. Below are feature articles about a few of our contract soybean growers:
To celebrate our family’s legacy of producing high-quality soybeans, we’re sharing with you a slow cooker recipe for a meal that can be prepped in the morning before you head to the field during the busy harvest season. The following recipe for Calico Beans has been adapted by The Soy Foods Council to promote soybeans. Because October is Pork Month, you could further adapt this recipe by adding a pound of browned pork burger.