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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Set Up a Strong Start for an Even Stronger Finish

For soybean growers across Latham Country, 2024 looks promising. Not only is Latham offering the strongest portfolio in history, but soybean acres are also projected to increase. This offers growers the opportunity to plant high-quality Latham soybeans on more acres than in previous years. In early November of 2023, the USDA projected growers would plant 87 million acres to soybeans in 2024, up 3.4 million acres from 2023. Corn plantings would fall to 91 million acres, down 3.9 million acres, according to the USDA. This is in part due to better-than-expected corn yields in 2023 and an increase in soy demand fueled by the Renewable Fuels Act.

One way Latham Seeds is helping growers maximize production is through the release of high performing Peking source soybean varieties. Soybean Cyst Nematodes (SCN) damage often goes undetected or misdiagnosed. Stunted plants and uneven canopies are often obvious symptoms of SCN feeding. Chlorotic-looking plants is another common symptom of SCN damage and is often misdiagnosed with Iron Deficiency Chlorosis (IDC). Yield reductions of up to 40% on susceptible varieties are not uncommon without any above-ground visible symptoms of nematode damage. Fall is the best time to sample for SCN numbers, but sampling can be done anytime the ground is not frozen. More than 95% of SCN populations have elevated reproduction on PI 88788. Planting Peking source SCN varieties is more important than ever with these types of numbers.

Another way Latham Seeds is helping growers maximize yields is through seed treatments. SoyShield Plus with Saltro provides industry-leading protection against SCN and Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS). SoyShield Plus with Saltro is also highly effective against Pythium, Phytophthora, Rhizoctonia and Fusarium. Getting your soybeans off to a good start is key to maximizing soybean yields — and seed treatments are the best insurance for making this happen. The combination of Latham Peking source SCN varieties and SoyShield Plus with Saltro will give 2024 a strong start and help the season end with a bang.

Latham is expanding our list of Peking varieties for 2024 planting by adding three new varieties to the list. Peking varieties are offered from an early group 1 to mid-group 3. These varieties compliment an already strong portfolio of PI88788 source varieties to offer one of the most diverse portfolios in the industry. Here is a small sample of what you can expect from the Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds soybean lineup:

L 0254 XF (0.2 RM) – 103% of trial mean

L 1121 E3 (Peking SCN, 1.1 RM) – #1 in the late group 0, early group 1 trial at a whopping 108% of trial mean

L 1881 E3 (Peking SCN, 1.8 RM) – 1 bu > P18A73E in Showcase data

L 2551 E3 (Peking SCN, 2.5 RM) –
Showcase Data
3.5 bu > AG24XF3
5.5 bu > P23A40E
3.1 bu > P25A16E

L 3123 E3 (3.1 RM) –
Showcase Data
Equal to AG30XF4
5.5 bu > P28A65

L 3384 XF (3.3 RM) – #1 in the full season trial at 106% of trial mean

Contact your local Latham representative to find out more information about these and other top-performing Latham products or call 1.877.GO.LATHAM.

Team Latham

February 5, 2024

Agronomics, Crop, Growth Stages, Soybeans
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Look back to see what’s new:

As we put 2023 on the shelf, there are several things we can reflect on to make 2024 more profitable. Two key factors helped shaped surprisingly good yields across Latham Country in 2023. First, nights were cooler than the year before, and the corn plant had a reprieve from the intense heat and drought. Second, genetics and plant characteristics have “migrated” north as the growing season has changed year over year.

Let’s take a closer look at how genetics and plant characteristics have changed and what Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds is doing to address these changes. Southern genetics have always been able to tolerate drought and heat better than their counterparts in the north. As the growing season extends throughout the years, southern genetics are being bred into northern germplasm which results in “tougher” products being brought north. Latham’s Research and Development program tests products south and north of their area of adaptation to fully vet these new genetics. The added spend is well worth the investment for Latham customers as we gain first-hand experience with these products across multiple environments.

Along with the shift in genetics and maturities, Latham is seeing a shift in technologies. We are seeing a shift in corn rootworm technology with the launch of VT4PRO^™ with RNAi Technology. This technology brings three above-ground modes of action and two below-ground modes of action, including RNAi Technology. RNAi technology offers a specific mode of action which attacks the gut of the rootworm differently than all other modes of action. This technology is also featured in SmartStax^® PRO with RNAi Technology. If rootworm protection is not in your plans, Latham hybrids featuring PowerCore^® Enlist^® are taking the market by storm. The Enlist^® corn trait allows for the ultimate weed management flexibility with tolerance to glyphosate, glufosinate, 2,4-D choline, and FOP herbicides in corn. Enlist® herbicides stay on target and have lower volatility than both dicamba and traditional 2,4-D formulations. Use Enlist herbicides to control late season emerged broadleaf weeds such as waterhemp and Palmer amaranth. PowerCore® trait technology brings long-lasting insect control against key above-ground susceptible insects.

Latham Seeds offers a full portfolio of the latest traits and technologies, but we know it all comes down to yield. Here is a small sample of what you can expect from Latham’s corn portfolio.

LH 3775 VT2 PRO RIB, 87 RM:

+ 4 bu over DKC41-55 across 18 locations

+9.3 bu over P9193AM across 13 locations

LH 4438 SS PRO RIB, 94 RM:

+ 1.5 bu over DKC45-65 across 12 locations

LH 4866 TREC RIB, 98 RM:

+17.9 bu over DKC47-85RIB across 10 locations

+17.9 bu over P9624AM across 23 locations

LH 5336 PCE RIB, 103 RM:

+11.2 bu over P0421AM across 26 locations

+5.9 bu over DKC55-54 DG VT2P across 26 locations

LH 5815 VT2 PRO RIB, 108 RM:

+10.8 bu over P0622Q across 10 locations

LH 6306 PCE RIB, 113 RM:

+1.1 bu over DKC64-34 across 8 locations

+9.9 bu over P1197AM across 15 locations

LH 6445 VT2 PRO RIB, 114 RM:

+6.9 bu over DKC64-34 across 7 locations

+13 bu over P1197AM across 7 locations

Contact your local Latham representative to find out more information about these and other top-performing Latham corn hybrids or call 1.877.GO.LATHAM.

Team Latham

January 11, 2024

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

Tips for Choosing the Hybrid Maturity
As farmers make their final seed purchasing decisions, some may wonder if the hybrids they selected in early fall are still the right ones today. The Latham Team will gladly help put your mind at ease.

Let’s begin by reviewing a few product selection basics. Most selection decisions begin with relative maturity (RM). These ratings are relative to physiological maturity and largely driven by a combination of growing degree days (GDDs) and planting date. When building a plan for the upcoming growing season, identify the GDD range and average required for a hybrid to reach physiological maturity (black layer) in your geography.

Planting multiple hybrids of varying maturity will reduce risk in three main areas:
1. Agronomics (emergence, stalk strength, disease tolerance)
2. Harvest management (harvest moisture)
3. Genetic diversity (yield, drought tolerance)
About 60 to 70% of a farmer’s portfolio traditionally is focused on the core RM zone (i.e. 100-day RM) with 10 to 20% focused on earlier RM and the remainder on later RM. Remember, there is typically more yield variability within a given RM group. Spreading risk across a wider maturity range is especially important given the moisture limitations across the Upper Midwest.

Grain moisture at harvest also increases steadily with increasing relative maturity. On average, grain moisture at physiological maturity increases by 0.25 to 0.5% with each one-day increase in relative maturity. Selecting hybrids of appropriate maturity is important for a balance between yield potential and managing grain moisture at harvest, which ultimately grows more corn.

The Latham Team is here to help you feel confident about your seed decisions. After harvest each year, we share results from our own research. We hire third-party companies to plant and harvest Latham Elite trials, so our Product Team members can observe products and take notes at a greater number of locations. As a result, we have recently tripled the number of trials conducted on both corn and soybean products in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin, North Dakota and South Dakota!

Once we identify experimental products from the Elite Trials that meet Latham Seeds’ standards AND fulfill our customers’ needs, we release them for sale. Check out multiple years and multiple locations of Latham® performance at LathamSeeds.com.

Yield pays. Latham delivers on that promise, just as we have for more than 75 years. Feel free to contact your local Latham Seeds representative or call 877-GO-LATHAM (877) 921-3428.
Team Latham

December 14, 2023

Agronomics, Corn, Crop, Data, Fall, General, Growth Stages, Season, Soybeans, Tech Tuesday
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Proof Points – Episode 15

Shannon Latham

December 13, 2023

Corn, Crop, Industry News, Seed Technology, Seed Treatment, Soybeans
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Nothing fishy about this soy success story

Guest Blog by Aaron Putze, Iowa Soybean Association

When soybean farmers say their “real” customers are pigs, they truly mean it.

That reference to the importance of swine rations in driving demand for soy, however, is in no way a slight to other important markets.

That includes those with fins, scales and gills.

As developing countries strive to feed their growing populations more protein, fish is increasingly on the menu . . . and not just species harvested from streams, rivers and oceans.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, global average consumption of fish and other seafood reached a record high of 20.5 kilograms per person in 2019. That amount is expected to increase as the quality and affordability of fish improves.

Enter Iowa and U.S. soybean farmers.

To meet the growing demand and taste for quality, farm-raised fish, professional feed using ingredients other than fishmeal and fish oil are coming into vogue. Soy is the most-used protein source in aquafeeds worldwide. According to the Global Seafood Alliance, soybean meal, soy protein concentrates, and soybean oil are increasingly go-to feed ingredients required for many farmed species.

Soy Fish Feed

Research funded by soybean farmers has played a key role in developing this win-win demand driver. More appetite for sustainably produced and healthy fish is a boon to soybean demand.

In addition to developing soy-based feeds ideally suited for hungry fish and shrimp, soybean farmers have also played a key role in developing new ways to produce farm-raised fish. They are advancing educational activities carried out by the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) to train people in developing countries on how to manufacture professional feed using soy.

Iowa soybean farmers take great pride in the role they’ve played in developing better methods and feed for producing fish.

But the story doesn’t end there.

Soy Excellence Centers (SECs) were launched by USSEC in 2019. They offer professional training in a variety of curriculums including feed milling, soybean processing and refining and poultry, dairy, swine and fish production.

More than 6,500 trainees have participated in SECs. One such center operates in Egypt – a facility I was able to see firsthand during a trade mission to the country of 110 million earlier this year. Better training, fish feed and production methods have had a profound impact. The metric tonnage of farm-raised fish production has increased from 600,000 in 2005 to nearly 1.5 million in 2019. Production is projected to surpass 2 million metric tons by 2030.

Aaron Putze in Egypt at a Soy Excellence Center

Farm-raised fish account for almost 80% of Egypt’s seafood market, up from 50% in 2012. Tilapia is the choice of 80% of Egyptians. Other fish species include catfish, sea bass, mullet and carp. Shrimp production is gaining in popularity as farmers seek to diversify and capture greater premiums and profits.

Harvesting Tilapia in Egypt

Give the people of a country a fish, and they’ll eat for a day. Teach them how to produce fish (and poultry and milk), and they’ll eat for a lifetime.

That’s the power of soy and Iowa’s soybean farmers.

Aaron serves as Chief Officer of Strategy and Brand Management for Iowa Soybean Association. You can reach Aaron at 515-975-4168 or aputze@iasoybeans.com.

All this talk of fish made us hungry for a yummy Friday recipe! Check out this Lemony Shrimp Scampi Linguine from The Iowa Food and Family Project.

Webspec Admin

November 1, 2023

Agriculture, Crop, General, Industry News, Soybeans
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Making Pork a Business and Dining Tradition

“Our family has been raising pigs practically since they got off the Mayflower,” says Andrew Perry, who farms with his father, Blaine, in Northwest Iowa. Andrew grew up also raising sheep, cattle and chickens. A Perry has been farming in Cherokee County for six generations. Blaine and his wife, Darlene, are the third generation to live on the home place near Aurelia.

The Perry Family

The Perrys’ business relationship with pork goes way back, but they also enjoy the fruits of their labor. Pork is a mainstay on the Perry’s dinner table. While nutritious, lean, high-protein pork powers the humans in their operation, the Perrys also make sure to provide their pigs with the right diet.

“We feed 80 percent of the corn we raise, so we keep corn for nine months before we haul any of it to town,” explains Blaine, who runs the combine while Andrew hauls grain from the field to the bins. They practice a 50-50 crop rotation and raise seed beans on contract.

When selecting corn hybrids, test weight and quality of seed is their focus. That is why Blaine and Andrew rely on Latham® quality corn hybrids.

“We raise corn that feeds our hogs. Then we use the manure our hogs produce to fertilize our fields,” Blaine says. “When you think about it, our operation comes full circle. Hog manure is ‘organic,’ but many people just don’t realize that manure has such a high value.”

Until 2022, the Perrys were independent pork producers with one nursery that supplied them with the pigs needed for their wean-to-finish operation. Now they custom finish hogs.

Conveniently, a neighbor built a feed mill one mile away. The Perrys haul their corn to the mill, which helps with biosecurity. Blaine and Andrew are the only two who enter their buildings. They credit controlling truck traffic and people inside their facilities with keeping their hogs healthier.

Andrew lives in Alta with his wife, Liz, who is a teacher at Cherokee Community School. They have three daughters: Danika, Alexa and Becca.

When they’re not busy on the farm, the Perrys enjoy taking tractor rides together. All three of Blaine and Darlene’s children — Andrew, Adam and Brooke — enjoy riding together in Peterson’s Annual Trip on Old Tractors (PATOOT).

The Perrys know that pork can adapt to most any meal needs, even desserts, as proven by Liz’s Bacon Bourbon Apple Pie.

Shannon Latham

October 12, 2023

Corn, Crop, Desserts, Food & Family, Pork, Recipes, Soybeans
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Multiplex Gene Editing: How It’s Transforming the Future of Farming
At a time when the world’s population is increasing, cropland is decreasing and climates are changing, it’s more important than ever to equip farmers with new technology and tools to take the guesswork out of planting decisions. One such tool is multiplex gene editing, which quickly adjusts a plant’s DNA to improve its resiliency and to use fewer natural resources like land and water.

Multiplex gene editing turns up the volume on regular gene editing by implementing multiple types of edits to plant genomes. For example, vegetables such as broccoli, brussels sprouts and kale all started from different parts of the same wild mustard plant — but didn’t fully develop into their own varieties until breeders chose to amplify certain traits. Today’s corn is no different, having been bred from a plant that looks nothing like corn looks to us now.

Farmers recognize benefits from multiplex gene editing more quickly because no government agencies are involved. Additional benefits include:
- More uniform seed size, which increases planting efficiency.
- Increased water utilization.
- Changing the leaf shape, which allows for better light interception and photosynthesis to improve yields.
With a high-performing lineup designed specifically for your field, Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds is well-positioned to increase yields — year after year.

Contact Latham’s product team or your RSM/DSM for more details on multiplex gene editing and other pioneering advancements that we’re working on for your future!
Team Latham

October 12, 2023

Agronomics, Corn, Crop, General, Industry News, Seed Technology, Soybeans, Tech Tuesday
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Prepare Now for Increased Production in 2024
There’s more to fall than getting the combine ready. To ensure healthy, productive soils next year, think about doing these three things now:
1. Review your field data
2. Correct compaction
3. Add a cover crop
Whether your fields produce bumper crops or have lower-than-average yields, take the time after harvest to assess soil fertility levels, replenish depleted nutrients, determine reasons for high- and low-yielding areas and evaluate overall soil health. Doing this can help give your crops a head start for next season.

Soil samples and yield maps can predict the future

Begin next season’s preparations by pulling post-harvest soil samples and assessing this season’s yield maps. Soil samples will identify any phosphorus or potassium deficiencies, while yield maps will show the amount of nutrients removed from the soil by this year’s crops. This information will help you determine crop nutrient amounts for next season, based on actual numbers rather than estimates.

If post-harvest conditions allow, farmers can make partial (or base) nitrogen applications in the fall. Then test soil nitrate levels in the spring to determine the additional amount needed to meet next season’s crop performance goals. This ensures that nitrogen will be available in the soil at planting, as well as throughout the remainder of the growing season. If weather delays spring applications, this nitrogen management strategy provides you with more time to assess fertility needs based on early-season crop and soil conditions.

Consider fall nitrogen applications with a stabilizer

If you can make a fall nitrogen application, consider the effects of soil texture, soil moisture levels and soil temperature to avoid leaching and denitrification issues. Fall nitrogen applications should not be made until your soil cools to 50 degrees Fahrenheit or lower, when soil bacteria begin to go dormant. Fall-applied nitrogen must be used with a stabilizer to prevent it from converting into a mobile nitrate form that can move off-target and run off into nearby waterways. If manure is part of your nitrogen strategy, consider also using a stabilizer.

Ease spring workloads with simple steps

If your fall soil samples identify phosphorus (P) or potassium (K) deficiencies, you can apply these nutrients any time after harvest. To ease spring workloads, broadcast applications may be made in the fall and incorporated into the soil. If a spring application works better, P and K can also be applied prior to planting.

Another important issue to assess in the fall is soil compaction. Before doing any fall tillage, check compaction depth to help you determine the proper tillage tool to use. Accurate tillage depth and the tillage speed will loosen soil and prepare it for next season.
Team Latham

September 21, 2023

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

#FromtheField – Central Iowa – September, 2023

It’s harvest time in Central Iowa! Aaron is southeast of Des Moines, scouting #FromtheField to determine where to start first.

Shannon Latham

September 19, 2023

#FromTheField Crop Reports, Agronomics, Corn, Crop, Fall, From the Field, Season
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Late Summer Can Lead to Better Harvest Decisions
Steve Sick, Latham Product Manager

Taking field notes on what you observe in late August and early September can provide valuable information as you move into harvest, as well as confirm or reprioritize agronomic goals for next year.

Notes I take this time of year generally answer these questions:
- What diseases are the most prevalent?
- Which areas of the field exhibit poor growth or yield potential?
- Should I conduct a pre-harvest yield estimate?
Late-Season Scouting Suggestions

Evaluate areas of poor crop growth and potential yield. There can be multiple reasons why a crop didn’t grow well in portions of a field or yield estimates are low in some spots.

To help determine if soil fertility and health is the cause, try these steps:
- Mark on a map or GPS reference the location, so you can take directed soil samples after harvest.
- Pull paired samples. Take one composite soil sample in the poor growth area and then take another composite sample in an area of good growth nearby in the same field. (Soil sample bags are available from many sources and easily available through your local university or co-op.)
- Use yield maps. These are another great data layer to compare and contrast what you observed during scouting in late August.
Think About Pest Management While Scouting

Observe the severity and distribution of diseases, insects, and weeds in a field to help make future adjustments to pest management plans.

For example, Goss’s Wilt and bacterial leaf streak are two bacterial diseases found this year in cornfields with no previous history. Tar spot is also a new disease that carries over in residue the following year. Hybrid selection for improved tolerance or resistance to these bacterial diseases maybe something to talk about with your seed dealer this fall.

Some hail and wind-damaged fields now have a late-season weed flush in portion that might warrant a more aggressive herbicide program next year.

Scouting Now Can Help Predict Yield Potential

The most compelling reason to scout fields in late summer is to estimate yield potential. There are differing techniques on estimating corn yield in terms of how to sample and the number of ears to pull. I suggest using information from satellite or drone images to direct sampling across the variability that exists in all fields.

Another word of caution is with the seed size factor used to calculate kernels/bushel with the extremely dry grain fill period we have experienced in parts of Latham Country. For dry areas, that number may need to be much larger than normal.

Scouting late in the growing season is almost always hot, itchy, sweaty, wet and uncomfortable! However, the insights gained with field observations — when paired with knowledge of the growing season — can help tweak management decisions going forward. This will ultimately lead to more productive growing seasons in the future.

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Team Latham

August 30, 2023

Corn, Crop, Fall, General, Growth Stages, Soybeans, Summer, Tech Tuesday