Join us this morning on #AskTheAgronomist as we discuss pertinent planting tips with the recent addition of snow in the forecast. #LathamSeeds
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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds
Cutting Costs in Production
As prices have dropped over the last two months, farmers are second guessing planting intentions. They are looking to cut costs, and often times cost cutting starts at cutting seed costs. Keeping the hybrids with top yield and proven performance versus picking up a cheaper option is key to end-of-year profit. Cheap seed options can be older genetics, poor performing genetics or even discontinued genetics reaching the end of their life and viability.It doesn’t take much to make up for inferior genetics as in perceived seed savings. Cutting $50 a bag is only saving $20 an acre, or roughly seven bushels. One cost savings that may be applicable to North Dakota farmers would be changing from a VT2 PRO to a Roundup Ready 2 trait. Keep the genetic that performs on that particular field and save the difference in trait costs. However, It may require more attention to pests throughout the growing season and an additional cost of an aerial application with insecticide. Check with your Latham® dealer on availability and your agronomist about the rising potential for future pest issues in your area.
Farmers can add fertility after the crop is established. They can also add weed control after the crop. However, there’s only once chance to place the right seed on the right acre. Seed is truly the foundation for every successful crop. Why limit net farm profitability from the onset?
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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds
Select Plant Genetics to Help You Manage Risks
Webster’s Dictionary defines “risk” in many ways, including a chance that an investment will lose value or something that creates a hazard.No matter how one defines risk, it’s a reality of production agriculture. Each decision farmers make comes with varying degrees of risk. That’s why it’s helpful to take an annual inventory of details in your own crop production. Bottom line: Check your production-limiting factors to set yourself up for success.
“Trust but verify,” is a famous quote by President Ronald Regan that appeals to my data-driven personality. This quote applies to crop production because now is a good time to verify that the seed corn you ordered early is the right hybrid for the majority soil type on the field in which you will plant it. Now is also a good time to ensure you have enough genetic diversity in your crop plan. On page 12 of Latham Seeds 2019 Product Guide, there is a corn placement chart to help you verify that the genetics you have selected for that soil type is the best fit.
Margins are super tight, and we’re looking for ways to cut costs. If we cut fertility, we risk losing potential yield. Many researchers suggest that up to 60% of yield is dependent upon fertility. If we plant inferior genetics, or place the genetics on the wrong soil type, we run the risk of yield reduction. While this is a review for most, my point is that plant genetics are critical to managing risk.
Understanding – and acknowledging – the depth of the genetics will pay dividends. I’m a very big believer in planting agronomically-stable products on a percentage of your acres. As margins thin, I look for hybrids with proven stability. I know each farmer has his or her own beliefs, but one thing we have in common is that we’re all trying to manage risk.
Some risks are outside our control, but we can reduce risk with our input choices.
- Disease– Select hybrids with superior disease resistance, especially to foliar leaf diseases, if you aren’t planning on investing in a foliar fungicide.
- Drought– Plant a portfolio of seed products, including planting a percentage of your total acres to a hybrid with unapparelled drought tolerance. It’s about building a system of risk management and finding that delicate balance of hybrids to give you the best “team” possible.
- Fertility– Some hybrids use nutrients more efficiently than others. Suggestions are shown in the Latham® product guide, and you can talk with your Regional Sales Manager (RSM).
My hope is that you go into the spring planting season with a sense of confidence, knowing you have done the best job you could with product selection, product placement, fertility and planting conditions. Have a little fun this season and remember to take care of yourself, too!
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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds
Alfalfa Winter Survival
Click below to hear Phil Long address winter survival in alfalfa! #AskTheAgronomist
Here we can see slight discoloration coming into the crown, but overall, a very healthy plant. -
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds
Evaluating Winter Kill
Evaluating alfalfa stands is a spring-time ritual for every alfalfa grower. This winter presented several challenges to strong, hardy alfalfa varieties. This includes above average soil moisture going into winter, soil temps that dipped below 15 degrees Fahrenheit in areas without snow cover and below average snowfall followed by above average snowfall in February.
Remember, patience is a virtue. Winter-injured plants are often slow to recover in the spring, so avoid making a quick decision to destroy a winter-injured stand. Allow the alfalfa to green up.
Tips for evaluating alfalfa stands:
- Select at least four areas of the field and count stems. Wisconsin research has shown that counting stems provides a more accurate yield estimate.
- Dig plants from four locations of the field, including top 6 inches of the root. Examine the crown for size, symmetry, and number of shoots present.
- Cut the root of these plants lengthwise. Check for rot or discoloration of the crown and root. Healthy stands have fewer than 30% of the plants in categories 3 and 4. (Seed tables.)
Additional considerations when deciding whether to tear out existing alfalfa stands:
- You have heavy weed pressure but a light alfalfa stand.
- You have adequate alfalfa or hay inventory, so you can use the nitrogen credits and rotate that field into another crop.
- If the alfalfa stand is more than a year old, you may have high concentrations of the autotoxicity compound present. That will reduce the effectiveness of interseeding alfalfa, so producers can interseed Italian ryegrass, clover, or oats as a temporary solution to thicken the stand.
For additional information, feel free to contact me or your Latham regional manager. We’d also love an opportunity to talk with you about the placement for Latham Seeds’ outstanding lineup of high-quality forage products.
While we obviously can’t control the weather, there are other factors we can manage to help reduce the risk of winter kill in the future.
- Stand Age – Older stands are more likely to winterkill.
- Soil Fertility – Stands with high fertility, particularly potassium, are less likely to experience winter injury.
- Cutting Management – Both harvest frequency and timing of fall cutting affect winter hardiness. The shorter the interval between cuttings, the greater the risk of winter injury.
- Variety – Varieties with superior winter-hardiness ratings and a high disease resistance index are less likely to experience winter injury.
- Soil pH – Stands growing on soils with a pH above 6.6 are less likely to experience winter injury.
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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds
Phytophthora Root and Stem Rot – “Damping Off”
Rotting of soybean stem and root tissue, or “damping off,” can jeopardize stand quality and reduce yield. The Phytophthora fungi can impact seedlings both before and after emergence. Even if seedlings successfully emerge above the soil, they will have poor vigor and slow early growth.Poor stand is one of the primary consequences of damping off, though replanting may be possible. North Dakota State University research cites that Phytophthora-related yield loss has reached up to 30% in states throughout the Midwest.
Cool weather is a major cause of damping off as it slows germination and stifles growth. Phytophthora thrives in soil temperatures between 70 and 77°F but can also survive in extremely cold temperatures. Warm temperatures, poor drainage and/or clay soils create a susceptible environment for damping off.
Scouting for Phytophthora
Before seedlings emerge, the fungi can cause seeds to rot. Rotten seeds will appear to be caked in soil with discolored roots. Roots may not be fully developed or even exist.Wilting can occur in emerged seedlings as the cotyledons will appear brown and saturated. Plants that developed leaves before showing signs of damping off will begin to turn a grayish color before turning brown.
Treatment
Damping off can sometimes be confused with herbicide injury. Whereas fields impacted by herbicide injury will have uniform damage, damping off will create inconsistent patches of impacted crops.
With the overwintering nature of the Phytophthora fungi, controlling the amount of field residue can make the environment less conducive for fungal growth. Also, when planting early or in fields with poor drainage consider using fungicide seed treatments to protect seedlings.
Varieties equipped with genes resistant to Phytophthora will protect plants after they emerge and later in the season as well. Contact your local Latham® representative to determine which varieties will work best for your needs.
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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds
Stalk Lodging
Credit: The Ohio State University Stalk lodging can lead to reduced yield and grain quality. Lodging refers to the breakage of the stalk below the ear and is often connected with stalk rots, soil-borne pathogens and other environmental stressors that occur after pollination.
Causes of Stalk Lodging
Carbohydrate demand during grain fill is the primary driver of stalk lodging. When carbohydrate reserves in corn leaves are depleted during ear development, the plant will begin sourcing the macronutrient from stalks and roots. Environmental stresses can feed into this cycle. For example, warm weather and high temperatures increase plant growth which can lead to high demand for carbohydrates.
While energy demand during grain fill is the primary cause of lodging, fungal pathogens can reduce stalk vigor. Stalk rot pathogens can also weaken stalks and are another major cause of lodging. Generally, if more than 10 to 15% of stalks exhibit rotting, stalk lodging is likely to be a significant problem.
As it relates to weather, high winds and heavy rainfall can also cause stalks to become physiologically weak and eventually lodge. Injuries from hail or frost damage, or insect feeding that creates lesions on leaves, can reduce the amount of energy created by plants. This leads to a higher use of stalk carbohydrate reserves.
Nutrient deficiencies are also a major cause of stalk lodging. Excess nitrogen and low levels of potassium have been associated with reduced stalk quality. Maintaining sufficient potassium levels in corn is especially important as it is the building block for leaf and stalk tissue.
Scouting and Treatment Options
When scouting for stalk lodging, choose ten consecutive plants across ten different areas of the field. Check for signs of lodging by pinching the stalk at the first or second internode above the ground, or by pushing the plant over 8 to 12 inches at ear level. If the plant fails to stay standing upon exerting force, it is considered lodged.
Adjust your harvest plan to harvest lodged corn first before lodging becomes more widespread. Selecting the right corn hybrid for your farm can mitigate issues with insect feeding that would otherwise reduce stalk quality. The level of resistance to stalk lodging among hybrids is highly variant and some have genetically stronger stalks than others. Be sure to consult with your local Latham representative to determine the best management strategy for stalk lodging.
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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds
Sclerotinia Stem Rot or “White Mold” in Soybeans
Credit: University of Wisconsin Sclerotinia stem rot – also known as White Mold –can lead to significant yield loss in soybeans. Yield loss from white mold is attributed to the damage it causes to leaves, pods and stems. Research from the University of Wisconsin estimates the disease has costed growers in the U.S. and Canada 101 million bushels of soybeans – equal to $1.2 billion.
White mold is caused by the fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and overwinters in the soil for a number of years. After the fungus emerges from the soil, mushroom shaped structures known as apothecia will form on the soil surface. The apothecia, ranging between ¼ and ½ an inch wide, will first infect through soybean flowers before it reaches the stem.
While the fungus primarily spreads through the air via spores, moisture is required for infection to take place. As a result, cool and wet weather along with high humidity are the main causes of white mold.
Credit: University of Wisconsin Scouting for White Mold
While Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is often confused with other fungal pathogens, the sclerotia distinguishes white mold from other look-alike diseases. Symptoms of white mold will be most prevalent between R3 and R6. Infected plants will exhibit white fuzzy growth on the lower stem.
Soybean blossoms are the first area of the plant to exhibit signs of infection and neighboring stems and pods may appear water-saturated. After infecting blossoms and pods, white mold may eventually spread through the entire stem causing it to turn tan or bleached of color. As the mold growth becomes thicker, black spots will begin to surface throughout the fuzzy white surface.
White mold also creates foliar symptoms, causing leaves to completely die while still attached to the stem. In infected soybeans, the tissue area between the leaf veins will turn gray and cause leaves to become wilted and curled.
Treatment Options
Due to the overwintering nature of the sclerotia, a two to three-year rotation away from soybeans is advised. When it comes to genetics, some soybean varieties are more resistant to white mold than others. Varieties with resistance to the fungus may recover better than others. It is also important to consider planting practices that cause white mold growth. Shade created from high plant density and growing canopies can lead to the fungal disease. Increasing row width and reducing planting populations are the best methods to improve airflow through the canopy and reduce infection from white mold.
In addition, broadleaf weeds are notorious for hosting white mold and herbicides should be used to control weeds. Fungicides are a viable method for treating white mold and can reduce the negative impacts incurred by soybeans. However, they are most effective when applied just before infection takes place. Be sure to consult with your local Latham representative to determine the best treatment plan for white mold.
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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds
Physoderma Stalk Rot
There are a variety of stalk rots that infect corn, causing extensive damage to crops and losses in yield. Common factors make corn susceptible to stalk rot including warm and wet weather, stress after pollination, fertility issues, stalk boring insects, and the presence of other foliar diseases. There are key signs, symptoms and differences that distinguish the different types of stalk rot.
Credit: Crop Protection Network Scouting for Signs and Symptoms
Physoderma stalk rot is caused by the pathogen Physoderma maydis, the same fungus responsible for causing Physoderma brown spot. The fungal disease seems to be showing up in more and more corn fields each year, but typically shows up on random plants and and has minimal impact on yield. Like most stalk rot diseases, warm and wet weather favor the development of Physoderma stalk rot.
Physoderma stalk rot infects corn between the V4 and V9 stages. The disease is not associated with any foliar signs, so it is important to inspect plants closely at the base. Dark brown or black lesions will appear at the base of the stalk, and rotting of the pith will be observed upon splitting the stalk open. Overtime, blackening of the pith will move to higher nodes. Sporangia can also be found on the outside of nodes and within the rotted pith tissue.
Scout for symptoms of Physoderma stalk rot across five areas of the field. Stalks will make a distint “pop” and snap at one of the first 3 nodes above the soil line. If more than 10 to 15% of plants exhibit stalk rot, the field should be harvested early.
Management Strategies
With this being a newer disease we are still learning differences in hybrid tolerances to both stalk and foliar phases of this disease.
As a majority of stalk rots overwinter, one to two-year rotation away from corn and controlling corn residue are key for preventing the return of the disease. Fungicides may also be applied to prevent Physoderma leaf blight , but these studies are in early phases as well given the novel nature of this diesease
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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds
Corn Aphids
Credit: Purdue University Corn aphids have the ability to negatively impact yield end of year. Proper identification and management can protect your crop.
Identification
Corn aphids have a blue-green to gray appearance and are 1/16 inch in length. Aphids extract sap from corn plants and excrete honeydew. The honeydew creates sooty-looking mold that can interfere with pollination.
As opposed to laying eggs, female aphids reproduce by giving birth to nymphs. The insects can build large colonies comprised of more than one species such as bird-cherry oat aphids. Aphids are most often wingless, but when the size of their colonies begin to grow, some can form wings to migrate to other corn plants. Corn leaf aphids cannot overwinter and usually migrate to southern states ahead of the cold months.
Scouting and Implications
Aphids will begin to appear in corn around mid-June and early July. Mature aphids can be found near the tassels, silks and the base of the corn stalk. The insects predominately live in the whorls where they are protected from outside elements. Infected corn plants may exhibit stunting or wilting and curling of the leaves
When scouting for aphids, select 20 non-consecutive plants from five different areas of the field. Unroll the whorl to count the number of insects present. The general treatment threshold advised by Iowa State University is when 50% of corn plants have more than 100 aphids per plant.
Overall, aphid infestations have been found to reduce grain quality and decrease kernel size. A study from Penn State University finds that 30-40% of aphid-infested corn stalks will become barren or earless. Drought stress can also worsen the impacts of aphid feeding and should be included when considering a treatment plan.
Treatment Options
The best time to begin manage aphid-infested corn is two to three weeks prior to tasseling. Corn plants with aphid colonies above the ear are more susceptible to yield loss than plants with aphids found below the ear.
Since aphids mainly colonize inside corn whorls, spraying insecticides is not the most effective solution. Insecticide application is most effective when aphids are found on the outermost areas of leaves. If corn plants that have reached the hard dent stage, applying insecticides will not pay.
Fungi and other beneficial insects including lacewings and lady beetles can reduce aphid populations. Look for signs of bloating or discoloration in aphids – this could be evidence of fungi at work. If over 20% of aphids appear to be parasitized, consider holding off on a management plan. Be sure to talk with your local Latham representative to develop an effective treatment strategy for managing aphids.
