Phil Long discusses the difference between Sudden Death Syndrome and Brown Stem Rot. Tune in to learn about the identification, life cycle and management practices for both of these diseases. Also, find differentiating pictures of both of these diseases below.
Thanks for tuning in and find us back here next week!
Craig Haaland
Found these nice, consistent ears and ear height in this field of Latham LH 5175 VT2 in Clayton County. This looks like a good yielding corn. Farmers are going to start chopping these next few days the way there talking.
Latham® Hi‑Tech Soybeans 2084 and L 2228 in this county are podded nicely and filled to the top.
Jerry Broders
Latham L2887 R2X are looking great in Eastern Iowa! If you’re looking for a high yielding soybean with a super defensive package, look no further.
The sun is setting on another field day during the 2017 crop season. With harvest approaching, only a few field days remains. Come see what Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds has to offer for 2018 at Alexander on September 15. Tours begin at 9 AM and 1 PM. You can come early and stay for lunch or come for lunch and stay for the afternoon tour. Mike Pearson of Market to Market is our luncheon speaker, so make plans to join us next Friday!
Cory Greiman
Although with Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) infects soybean plants right after germination and emergence, symptoms generally do not appear until mid- to late summer. Future management tactics include: reducing soil compaction; planting fields with a history of SDS towards the end of a planting schedule when soils may be warmer and drier; and testing for the presence of Soybean Cyst Nematodes. Planting tolerant varieties, or avoiding very susceptible varieties, is the most effective way to reduce losses from SDS.
Bryan Rohe
Soybean harvest has begun in Prairie City, Iowa. These soybeans were planted April 11 and are running around 12.5 moisture.
Bart Peterson
Latham® L2558L was planted May 12 in this SuperStrip plot near Steamboat Rock, Iowa. This photos shows a side-by-side comparison of soybean seed treated only with SoyShield (on right side) and those treated with Soyshield/ILevo (on left side). Notice how much greener the Soyshield/ILevo side is!
Darin Chapman
Look at the kernel depth on this LH 4955 VT2 PRO! This is one of my favorite hybrids for Northwest Iowa, and I’m looking to seeing harvest results.
Larry Krapfl
Pretty happy with this second cutting of new seeding Spring 2017. It’s been an extremely dry summer in the Loess Hills of Western Iowa but 455TQ is handling it well.
Greg Mair
The late-plated soybeans in Wisconsin are finally starting to fill the pods. This plant from a field of L 1845 R2X is one I randomly sampled last week in Watertown, Wisconsin. There are 103 pods on this plant with excellent lateral branching. Wet weather has white mold showing up in places we haven’t seen it before, so this would be a good variety to look at for selecting resistance in 2018.
Brian McNamee
2017 continues to be a real struggle for growers across my region. We have seen an extensive drought, causing failure of pre-emergence chemicals leading to expansion of resistant weeds into new areas. Then after a seemingly saving amount of rain we observed reduced pollination with poor grain fill. So now what? Well, no we’re seeing disease pressure. Goss’ Wilt is showing up in areas where we have never ever had symptoms before.
The disease went undetected for sometime and spread across the plant very rapidly. We’ll be noting where this disease is present, so we can change hybrid placement in the future. Because this is truly a new event in our area, there will be a bit of a learning as we go. Hopefully, this is the last of our hiccups before harvest!
James Keltgen
Some of the earlier corn is 30-40% milk line, nearing full maturation. Heavy dew and high humidity is creating disease pressure from rust, Northern Corn Leaf Blight and Goss’s Wilt. Soybeans are really starting to turn yellow as they are nearing maturity. Some areas in the drought will get better than expected yields thanks to some saving rains! Pictured below is John Latham, Myron Keltgen and Phil Long inspecting LH 5245 VT2 PRO. The soybean picture is L0982R2 on the left half and L1438R2 on the right half. L1438R2 showing a little white mold possibly from time of irrigation application. (Brown in center)
Ramie Coughlin
This field of Latham® 2228R2 near Beresford, South Dakota, was planted at 160,000 in 30-inch rows. It has lots of 4+ pods per node with 3-4 beans in each pod and is filled all the way to the top.
Ken Highness
These pictures were taken last Tuesday in a field of corn near Beltrami, Minn. Samples were taken to NDSU for diagnostics and confirmed Goss’s Wilt. This corn disease was first confirmed in Minnesota 2009, and the first I have seen in my region North of Interstate 94. This disease can be managed by using resistant hybrids, rotating from corn production, using tillage that buries corn residue after harvest, and controlling grassy weeds. Latham has hybrids that are designated as “the boss on Goss,†so be sure to check those out for 2018 planting.
Brandon Wendlandt
L 1787 L are looking great in the late season! Now is a good time to evaluate your weed control program. Maybe Liberty will be a fit. Go ahead and call Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, and I’d be happy to talk with you about your needs.
Craig Haaland
This week’s crop report is a “mixed bag.” The good news is we’ve received moisture, but temperatures have been cooler than normal. The month of August brought lots of cool temperatures, so let’s hope early September is usually warm!
Soybeans are looking pretty good, but they could really use some heat. This field of soybeans in Mitchell County was planted to our popular L 2084 R2. As you can see, there 4-bean pods in there.
Jerry Broders
John McGillicuddy, independent agronomist, addresses the group at our South English, IA field day last night. Thanks John for coming to speak to our dealers and customers!
Cory Greiman
Scouting crops all season long is especially important because different insect and disease pressures become evident at this time of year. Any type of stress greatly enhances the likelihood of opportunistic insects such as corn leaf aphids, European corn borer and army worm to feed upon plants. This week I noticed corn aphids in a field near Estherville.
Bryan Rohe
It’s that time of year when farmers ask themselves what they can do differently to improve yield for the next season. Seed selection is certainly a major factor – some some might argue it’s the most important consideration – to increasing yield. Soil fertility and reducing weed pressure also are among the Top 10 Tips for increasing yield.
I am encouraging farms to look at hybrids that either have a strong drought score or to plant Genuity® DroughtGard® hybrids from Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds in 2018. The longer you can keep plants alive, the more ability they have to do their job. Health corn dies from the ground up, so I’m sure we’ll see an ROI on fungicides this year due to keeping plants health long enough to finish their jobs.
Good plant health is also key to increasing soybean yields. Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) is starting to show up in Central Iowa soybean fields. The time is right to start watching any side by sides with ILevo and without ILevo. Also, it is a good time to make notes for future years seed treatment plans if SDS is showing up in your fields.
Soybean product selection is key. Prevention is the best defense against SDS. Soybean Cyst Nematodes (SCN) are associated with SDS. The best way to combat SCN is to plant resistant varieties or avoid susceptible varieties. Be sure to keep Latham IRONCLAD™ soybeans in mind when mapping out which varieties will be used on different fields for 2017.
The time is right to also start noting results from studies using ILeVO treated seed. Latham Seeds’ research staff to conduct 2016 studies using ILeVO treated seed side-by-side with seed that was not treated with ILeVO. We saw an average yield advantage of 3.64 bushels per acre across 26 plots, so ILeVO definitely provided a return on the investment.
Bart Peterson
Silage harvest is underway near Alta, Iowa.
Producers often ask what the most important characteristics are when selecting corn hybrids for silage or grain. To pick the best hybrids for his situation a farmer should follow 3 basic steps: (1) Consider the end use first; (2) Keep crop rotation in mind; and (3) Minimize yield-limiting factors.
Click here for more silage selection details from Latham Forage Products Manager Corey Catt.
Latham® Dealer Brian Schafer and his son, Adam, prepare for area farmers to show up to their Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds plot tour.
Everthing is looking good here in Northwest Iowa. The ear in the center is LH 5505 VT2 PRO, which has looked consistent in Latham’s SuperStrip plots all season long. I’m really looking forward to seeing yield results this fall!
Larry Krapfl
Last silage crop of the year being harvested near Emerson, Nebraska. Click here if you would like tips for selection corn silage products for next year!
Greg Mair
The Latham Technology Tour stops in Platteville, Wisconsin tonight, Aug. 30. The plot is located at 3775 State Road 80 between Platteville and Cuba City. Tours are at 5:30 and 6 pm. We’re excited to offer our customers so many options in our lineup for 2018! We would love to see you there.
Despite not having the desired heat units, the corn is still moving along. LH 5245 VT2 PRO appears to have great yield. With ears of 16×33 and 16×36 planted at over 36,000 plants per acre (ppa), it’s sure to catch your eyes this fall.
Brian McNamee
Is this some new type of nurse crop?
This season, across my territory in North Dakota, I have been taken aback by the number of semi-resistant or fully-resistant weeds I have been seeing. I had no idea that marestail was as bad as it is and spread so far west. This particular field is the worst infestation I have ever seen. You can just barely make out the soybeans planted in this field.
A full grown marestail can have upwards of 200,000 seeds per plant. Just think of how many seeds are in this field… Crazy!
This year was the perfect storm for these issues to arise: pre-emergence not working; droughty conditions with slow and poor seed emergence; and periods of late-season rains that produced flushes of all weeds.
This now has the potential to be an epidemic problem not only for this farmer but all the adjacent landowners, as well. It’s going to be a challenge and will have to be monitored especially closely.
Herbicide rotation is important, but mixing herbicides with different sites of action makes weed resistance 83 times less likely to occur. Click here to learn more about weed management, including how and why herbicide resistance occurs.
Gary Geske
Despite very dry conditions on the Red River Valley, the corn and soybean plots we viewed at the plot day are still in good condition.
James Keltgen
Another widespread rain event this week will benefit the crops. Early corn is denting and converting to starch. Soybeans are filling pods. Early soybeans are beginning to yellow, signaling harvest just around the corner.
Ramie Coughlin
With all the rain we’ve been getting, growers are getting a nice 2nd and some 3rd cuttings of alfalfa and hay.
Ken Highness
Congratulations to Latham rep Ryan Skaug of M&R Seed for hosting a successful plot day yesterday in Beltrami, Minnesota! The main topics of discussion among growers in attendance was weed management plus corn and soybean technologies.
Weed management is certainly more challenging! Plants that develop resistance to herbicides are simply following the age-old process of “survival of the fittest.” That’s why seed product selection and herbicide rotation are more important than ever.
Brandon Wendlandt
Latham 2084 R2 is looking great in southern Minnesota! Now is a great time to scouting soybeans for things White Mold and Sudden Death Syndrome. The best defense is a great offense! Be sure to note problem areas and look at disease ratings when selecting future products. Also know that IRONCLAD soybean products are exclusively available from Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds.
Craig Haaland
With photos like these that were taken in Mower County, Minnesota, it’s easy to see why L1858R2 soybeans are so popular! The Latham product has dominated F.I.R.S.T Trials for the past two years. Put this soybean on order and place it on your better soils!
It looks to be another banner year for LH 5215 VT2 PRO, too. North Iowa and Southeast Minnesota has received adequate rainfall lately, but we could use a few more heat units.
Jerry Broders
The future is here! L 2887 R2X soybeans are going to be hard to beat with their yield potential along with their superior defensive characteristics. They are so good that they’re giving our ever popular L 2884 R2 soybeans a run for the money.
Cory Greiman
White Mold is showing up in southern Minnesota where they’ve been getting excess rainfall and cooler temps. Be sure to note areas with White Mold because this will aid in future product selection. The best offense is a good defense! Plant tolerant varieties, or avoid very susceptible varieties, is to manage soybean disease. Also remember the seed treatments are effective insurance policies.
Bryan Rohe
Soybeans are maturing rapidly on these sandy and clay soils near Jefferson, Iowa. Nick Coleman of Coleman Ag Solutions counts pods on Latham 2228 R2 soybean and compares it to a competitor’s brand in a plot near Ogden.
Bart Peterson
Latham® Dealer Troy Johnson of Odebolt, Iowa, this week pulled one plant in a field of L 1858 R2. This one plant had 6 pods with 4 beans in each pod. I’ve never seen anything like it! August rains help fill the pods. With findings like this, a person can’t help but look forward to harvest.
Darin Chapman
You’re invited to join Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds for a Seed-2-Soil® Technology Plot Day on August 31 near Spencer, Iowa! Our presentations will focus on hot topics in agronomy including: Weed Management, Corn and Soybean Technologies, Cover Crops and Seed Treatment.
Location: 2515 410th St., Greenville, IA 51343
Agenda:
5:00 PM — Tour Option #1
5:30 PM — Tour Option #2
Dinner & Speaker to follow
Greg Mair
Topics on farmers’ minds this week are diseases. Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) and White Mold are back in 2017 and Goss’ Wilt has affected some areas of Southwest Wisconsin. The best plan for mitigating these diseases in 2018 is selecting a seed product with resistance. Contact your Latham(R) Sales Rep for information on our 2018 IRONCLAD Soybean Lineup and Goss Boss corn hybrids.
Brian McNamee
Now that small grains and early crop harvest is almost complete, it’s time to walk the corn fields. Pay special attention to pollination, especially in areas that saw significant drought stress throughout the first few months of this growing season.
Like many others, I thought the recent rains might be our saving grace. The new growth and greening up appears misleading. There is a considerable amount of acres with poor to very poor pollination. The crop looks great from the road, but you can see the damage that was done once the husks are pulled back.
Gary Geske
I was doing some crop scouting on my way to Brainerd, Minnesota last weekend. While we were watching the races, it occurred to me that Latham’s Technology Plot Tour is a little like “speed week” at the track. Latham’s management team and product team members are putting on lots of miles, driving to Latham Seed-2-Soil Plots and visiting with farmers from across our 7-state marketing area.
Last night the first in our series of Technology Plot Tours was held near Mountain Lake, Minnesota. Tonight we’ll be in Fargo, North Dakota. Click here to see our schedule. We hope to see you at one of these events!
James Keltgen
Widespread rain finally fell this week in Northeast South Dakota. Some areas received more than 4 inches while others received less. Hail fell west of Milbank. It looked as if a winter storm had occurred because the ground was pure white! Corn is beginning dough stage and soybeans are filling pods.
Ramie Coughlin
With August rains coming down like it’s May, most of the soybeans across Southeast South Dakota have plenty of moisture to fill the pods nicely. Many soybeans are in the R5 (beginning pod fill) stage.
Ken Highness
We’re hosting Latham’s Seed-2-Soil® Technology Plot Day this evening, 5 to 7 PM, near Fargo. Stop out look at our complete lineup of soybean and corn products! Our plot is located on the southwest corner of HWY 10 and HWY 9, just three miles east of Glyndon, Minnesota.
Discussion will follow the tour on topics of weed management, corn and soybean technology, cover crops and seed treatment.
Brandon Wendlandt
Thanks everyone who attended the regional field day last night in southern Minnesota! Those who attended got a sneak peek at Latham’s 2018 lineup, learned about new technologies including Nemastrike seed treatment, and got tips on growing cover crops.
Mother Nature threw us some real challenges during the 2017 growing season. While the conditions vary by region – and even within a state — there is one thing we all have in common and that’s “risk management.” We can spread our risk by planting three different Latham® hybrids of different maturities. Planting 1/3 of our acres to an early hybrid, 1/3 to your typical relative maturity (RM) and 1/3 to a little later maturity will help us improve overall yield!
The value in working with a financial planner comes from diversifying one’s portfolio and reducing financial risk while maximizing returns. For the same reasons, it’s advantageous for corn growers to work with a knowledgeable seed representative to create a diversified hybrid seed corn portfolio.
No financial planner worth his weight is going to advise clients to invest solely in mutual funds or high-risk stocks. That’s also why farmers shouldn’t choose their seed portfolio based only on top-yielding varieties in F.I.R.S.T. Trials. Choosing seed based on growing conditions in one location during one year is like picking your stocks based on only last year’s performance without considering factors that might cause market shifts.
The stakes are too high to not manage risk. Latham Seeds’ Seed-2-Soil® program helps corn growers determine which hybrids will help minimize risk while maximizing returns.
Planting a “Portfolio” of Corn Hybrids has Multiple Benefits:
1. HEDGE RISK WITH DIFFERENT GENETICS.
As an independent seed supplier, Latham provides you with more seed product choices — more genetic options — than
companies that rely on a single supplier for their genetics.
2. PLANT HYBRIDS WITH VARYING MATURITIES.
Different flowering dates help reduce yield loss due to heat during pollination. Some years hybrids don’t want to dry down
and the earlier products can really pay off while the exact opposite happens in other years.
3. BALANCING OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE CHARACTERISTICS.
Each year presents its own set of challenges: weed pressure, insect pressure, heat stress, moisture stress, emergence issues, disease pressure, overall yield. That’s why planting both “offensive” and “defensive” products is advantageous.
Welcome back to our Ask the Agronomist podcast! This week, Phil and Kilah discuss cover crops & Phil shares a #fromthefield update! Tune in for a 10-minute agronomy tidbit!
Submit your #crop17 growing questions to us on either Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat or Instagram. Thanks for tuning in!
Craig Haaland
We got a much needed rain. Last Wednesday 0.4” fell, and then we received another 0.8” on Sunday night into Monday morning. It looks like more is on the way, too.
This corn pictured here is Latham’s popular LH 5215 VT2 PRO RIB. Due to dry growing conditions, it’s showing a little tip back but is still a nice looking field in Grundy County.
The soybean field in Floyd County was planted to Latham’s popular L 2084 R2. We haven’t seen aphid pressure yet here, but keep an eye on your fields. Soybeans are starting to finish out the top of the plant, so hopefully August rains will come and we’ll see some good yields again this fall.
Jerry Broders
Be sure to come to the Latham® Seed-to-Soil Technology Plot at South English on August 29 at 5 pm. Independent agronomist John McGillicuddy will be speaking at the event. Click here for more information about this field day!
Cory Greiman
LH 5339 SS looks pretty good, considering the dry conditions. This war measures 18 kernels around by 30 long at 34,000 population.
Bryan Rohe
Full maturity Latham Liberty Link soybeans doing well in Pella!
Bart Peterson
Check out the power of waterhemp kill with Xtendimax on Xtend soybeans!
Darin Chapman
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds and its dealers understand the importance of service after the sale. That’s why Latham® Seed Representative Andrew Perry used his drone to uncover issues in a grower’s field. We could see where some Nitrogen applicator knives must have been plugged and talked about different tillage practices.
Click here for ideas on how drones may be used during each season of the year.
Greg Mair
Tonnage and Digestibility are two very important criteria used when selecting Corn Silage Hybrids. Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds “Leafy” hybrids offer the perfect package. Leafy hybrids generally have two times more leaves above the ear, increasing both tonnage and digestibility. These soft starch kernels offer the best in starch digestibility for maximum energy intake.
This variety in the photo has tonnage. You can see this leaf has a width of more than 6 inches. This plant is taller than 10 feet and is still stretching. To get the right balance of starch, leafy hybrids perform best for corn silage when planted at populations between 29,000 to 30,000 plants per acre.
If you’re looking for heifer feed, push the population to 32,000 or 34,000 plants per acre. Contact your local Latham Sales Rep or shoot me an e-mail for more information on these leafy genetics.
Brian McNamee
This Latham® seed rep in training is standing in a field of our LibertyLink soybeans. He likes these experimental 0.7’s the best and thinks they will take the plot. This little guy was such a trooper! He “helped” us sign the plots and even kept that smile when rain started to fall.
Gary Geske
Check your fields for white grubs and Iron Chlorosis.
Iron Chlorosis is a serious threat to soybeans. There is no such thing as complete resistance to IDC, however, some soybean brands (i.e. varieties) are better than others at handling this condition. Because Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds is headquartered right in the heart of North Central Iowa where Iron Chlorosis is a familiar challenge to us, we have always tried to choose soybean genetics that have the best possible scores against this condition. Latham IRONCLAD soybeans are your best defense. Talk to your local Latham® dealer to find out what products are best suited for your fields.
James Keltgen
We experienced cooler than normal temps again this week. While more rain fell, it came with hail. Corn is in the milk to dough stage. No insect pressure but starting to see some aphids.
Ramie Coughlin
The skies are cloudy and dropping some moisture as we kickoff Dakota Fest in Mitchell, SD.
Ken Highness
This field in Clay County Minnesota is severely damaged by white grubs, which are sometimes called May/June beetles. As the picture shows, the damage is wide spread in this quarter section. There is no rescue treatment available for white grubs in soybeans.
Brandon Wendlandt
We have been blessed with ample rainfall this season so far in southern Minnesota. This is a picture of 5025 VT2 DroughtGuard, planted on sandy soils at a lower population.
Look at both of those ears on one stalk! I’m looking forward to weighing this corn.
Brian McNamee
Wow what a difference a week and 2.5 to 3 inches of rain makes. Phone calls went from customers calling asking about mycotoxins, poisonous nitrates and whether to bale or cut for silage to asking if they should now spend the extra money to push yield with all the lost fertility. Made the job way more enjoyable! I am amazed how much better these new corn hybrids and soybean varieties take adverse conditions.
Gary Geske
This photo was taken yesterday of our experimental conventional silage hybrid. It’s 11 feet tall and green.
James Keltgen
Leaves are puckering from lack of moisture in this Enlist demonstration plot. Most of the corn in my territory is done pollinating and is in the milk stage. Soybeans rea beginning to fill pods with little to no insect pressure so far. Some rain has fallen in drought-stricken areas, however, the damage has already been done to crops.
Ramie Coughlin
This week has been quiet in Southeast South Dakota. Recent rains and cooler temperatures have allowed the crops to do what they do best, produce. Some of those rains came very timely for many acres where others it was a bit to late already. This next week I look forward to visiting with many of you at Dakota Fest in Mitchell and learning about how your acres are looking.
Ken Highness
Latham’s corn and soybean research plots help us evaluate products to bring into the product lineup. Latham Seed Product Manager Mark Grundmeier and Gary Geske, our Northern Product Specialist, are pictured here evaluating potential products on August 8 in Grand Forks, ND.
Brandon Wendlandt
The Latham regional plot in Minnesota is signed and ready to go! You’re welcome to join us in Mountain Lake on Tuesday August 22, at 5 PM.
Greg Mair
Herbicide-resistant weeds becoming a growing problem in Wisconsin, so farmers and custom applicators have begun switching up herbicide programs. With the changes in herbicide programs, come changes in the sprayer tank cleaning procedure. A rinse or flush with water may have worked in the past for glyphosate, but it does not work for all herbicides. I’ve seen numerous soybean fields this year affected by improper tank cleaning when switching chemistry or fields, such as this one showing affects of ALS-inhibiting herbicide damage.
Darin Chapman
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds provides leadership to Upper Midwest farmers when choosing the right products for their specific geographies. We understand that precision agriculture plays a big part in helping us make these decisions. This is why we are doing research with our multi-hybrid planter to really micro-manage product placement.
Cory Greiman
Aerial view of our dealer’s super strip plot near Garner, IA. It had some hail damage back on 7/10/17.
Craig Haaland
Corn and soybean crops are looking really good throughout my territory. This picture of Latham’s 2358 Liberty soybeans was taken in Mitchell County.
The Mitchell County cornfield was planted corn-on-corn in late April to our popular LH 5509 SS RIB. Fungicide was applied to this field about 10 days ago, and it’s looking extremely good.
We could use a shot of rain this week, which is in the forecast. We also need to keep scouting fields to stay ahead of pest problems. At this point, I haven’t seen any aphids in soybean fields, but as we all know, they can move in quickly. Keep a watchful eye on them!
Bart Peterson
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds has a strong lineup of IRONCLAD soybeans, which offer the toughest defensive package. These soybeans are selected for “defense,” but they still pack a yield punch. Click here to see why IRONCLAD is your best defense against Iron Deficiency Chlorosis (IDC).
If you’re looking for a soybean with outstanding IDC tolerance, then L 1882 R2 is the product for you! This photo was taken of a field located 3 miles west of Gilmore City Iowa on Highway 3. Some areas in this field have a pH ranging from 8.0 to 8.3, but there’s no yellowing. High PH causes iron to be unavailable to plants, leading to stunted growth.
Jerry Broders
Keep scouting soybean fields for aphids and Sudden Death Syndrome. Keep an eye on corn for diseases that can rob yield. Gray Leaf Spot starting to appear in some Eastern Iowa corn fields. Crop stage and amount of infection make a difference when making the decision to apply fungicide.
Bryan Rohe
Larry Krapfl
In spite of hot and dry weather there doesn’t appear to be any pollination issues!
Brian McNamee
Test plots are starting to show well. Varieties are starting to stand out and separate themselves. Some of the newer products, especially 0263 R2x, look exciting.
Gary Geske
You can’t scroll through Facebook or Twitter or tune into the radio this summer without hearing talk about herbicide-damaged crops. The buzz has been so centered on dicamba that many people are quick to make assumptions.
In this photo, dicamba was blamed for the damage when it actually resulted from an HPPD-inhibiting herbicide like Balance or Callisto.
How can you tell the difference? Check out this injury summary from Penn State, and learn the four signs of dicamba drift from the Prairie Farmer.
Crop consultants and college diagnostic labs can aid in proper diagnosis. Correct diagnosis is needed, so the correct actions may be taken to correct the problem in the future. Correct diagnosis is also important for insurance purposes.
James Keltgen
Milder temperatures prevailed this last week of July, which coincided with much of tasseling. Many farmers are still waiting on rain. Pastures and crops have been damaged due to lack of rain. Soybeans are beginning to fill pods as some are now waist high. August rains can make a soybean crop, so we’re hoping precipitation is on the way!
Ramie Coughlin
The last two weeks have brought some much needed rain to South Dakota. Rain fall amounts ranged from one to 11 inches. These two photos were taken only a few miles away and 6 days apart. Wheat harvest is well under way, and yield reports are variable. Some wheat is coming out with good yields, test weight, and protein; other fields got hit by the drought. I have a feeling we’re going to see variable yields across the board this crop year, depending on where and when fields got rain.
Ken Highness
This is 160 acres of Latham’s LH 4242 VT PRO planted April 18 in Clay County near Moorhead, Minnesota. This field is currently in the R2 stage (blister stage) where the kernels are white on the outside, with clear liquid inside. This is a great looking field of corn, but we could use rain to finish out strong at harvest!
Brandon Wendlandt
We’re having a great time at FarmFest! Be sure to stop by Latham Seeds’ booth (#4106) on Wednesday and Thursday to see the exciting new products we’re offering for 2018.
Greg Mair
In Wisconsin, we have been spared the waterhemp resistance issues up until now. Waterhemp is showing up in full force including the northwest, southwest, and northeast corners of the state.
Latham® Seeds Rep Clinton Buss discusses weed escapes with a customer in Southwest Wisconsin. Ignoring weed resistance issue will only create more resistant weeds. Now is the time to evaluate your herbicide program and plan ahead for next season. Keep in mind that Latham’s product lineup includes options such as LibertyLink and Xtend Soybeans. Contact a Latham® Seeds rep to discuss the best option for your fields in 2018.
Darin Chapman
These future Latham® Seed reps are excited to try flying the drone over their family farm! We took good look at our Northwest Iowa Regional Plot.
Cory Greiman
These photos remind us of the importance of properly rinsing sprayer lines and tanks.
Craig Haaland
August is a key time for soybean fields to receive moisture. Soybeans in southern Minnesota are really taking off and growing rapidly now. It’s important to keep scouting as aphid populations are growing.
Managing your corn and soybean fields is critical now. Planes, helicopters and ground sprayers have been really busy this past week putting on fungicide.
Bart Peterson
This field of LH 5939 SS was planted April 12 near Humboldt, in a corn-on-corn situation at 33,000 plants per acre. This field had some pollination issues due to very little rain in the last month in a half. Corn ears don’t look too bad, considering the lack of rain during grain fill.
Jerry Broders
Japanese beetles have been a problem in Eastern Iowa this summer, and some farmers are spraying for them now. The economic threshold is 20% defoliation a reproductive growth stage in soybeans and 30% for pre-bloom soybeans. Also check your corn for silk clipping by the Japanese beetles.
Bryan Rohe
Japanese Beatles are showing up in fields near Madrid, Iowa. It’s important to scout fields and note defoliation as treatment might be warranted. Also look in corn fields for leaf clipping.
Lack of moisture has been a problem for many fields across my territory this season, and we’re seeing signs of heat stress. For example, this field of corn near Cambridge is showing little tip back.
Larry Krapfl
Just as Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey states last week, much of the state is very dry. Farmers are hoping for a good soaking rain as we enter August, which is a critical time for soybeans. Pastures also are in desperate need of rain, and livestock producers hope much needed moisture will fall soon.
Welcome back to our Ask the Agronomist podcast! This week, Phil and Kilah discuss corn rootworm and how scouting now can help you plan for #crop18. Tune in for a 10-minute from the field agronomy update!
Do you have #crop17 growing questions? Submit them to us on either Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Snapchat. Thanks for tuning in!
