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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

From the Field Crop Report for May 10

Northern Minnesota

Ken Highness

When conditions aren’t fit, the equipment sits!

Unfortunately, wet weather continues to plague my northern territory. Farmers here are eager to get seed in the ground but Mother Nature isn’t cooperating. This area experienced such a wet fall that some corn still needs to be harvested before planting can begin. About 0.5 inches of rain fell near Beltrami, Minnesota on Monday night. The good news is the extended weather forecast looks very favorable for timely spring planting!

Southeast North Dakota

Gary Geske

LH 4242 has a nice sprout even in cooler fields with high residue east Enderlin, North Dakota. We are seeing good early vigor scores with Latham® seeds!

Southeast South Dakota

Ramie Coughlin

After a week of cold and wet weather, Mother Nature has done a 180! Farmers in Southeast South Dakota are now enjoying dry, warm conditions. Latham Dealers are busy loading both corn and beans this week. Lots of acres have been planted during the last seven days. I have also seen lots of applications being done by both ground and aerial sprayers.

Southern Wisconsin

Greg Mair

Wisconsin’s corn acres are 15% planted while the soybeans are slow to go in the ground. Latham Corn SuperStrip plots were planted in Platteville and Ripon on Sunday and Monday, respectively. Some planters are currently postponed due to overnight rains in southern Wisconsin.

Northwest Iowa

Darin Chapman

Soybean planting is starting to take off in Northwest Iowa. Perry Seeds is providing great customer service by delivering soybeans to a grower in Anthon, Iowa.

South Central Minnesota & North Central Iowa

Cory Greiman

We’ve enjoyed about five straight days of clear skies and dry soils in North Central Iowa, but scattered showers starting falling Monday night across the area. Farmers raced against the clock to get as much seed in the ground before it got too wet. In the rain at 9:45 p.m. last night, I finished putting in my fourth Latham plot of the day.

Southeast Minnesota & Northeast Iowa

Craig Haaland

Significant planting progress has been made this past week across northern Iowa and southern Minnesota. Latham Dealer Andy Hemann Stacyville, Iowa, planted 13 Latham numbers May 5 in a corn SuperStrip plot.

West North Central Iowa

Bart Peterson

All the sunshine and warm temps we’ve experienced recently have warmed the 4-inch soil temperatures from 60-66 degrees in western Iowa and from 62-71 in North Central Iowa. Lots of seed has gone in the ground this past week! The first Latham® soybean plot in my territory was planted May 6 by Jon and Jenna Ricklefs.

Pictured second is corn that was planted before the cold front moved in is started to emerge. This field of Latham 5939 SmartStax was planted April 11 south of Hardy, Iowa.

On the right is an awesome looking field of Latham 9700 that was planted last year. This particular variety is known for strong new stands and has a very strong disease resistance package.

Eastern Iowa

Jerry Broders

Consistency is key for picket fence stands. Seed depth is just as important. Ideal planting depth for corn is 2 inches and for soybeans it is 1½ inches. Planting too deep can cause delayed emergence, uneven stands and possibly even stands that are crusted over if you would receive a hard, pounding rain right after planting. Planting too shallow will often result in poor root development and may affect the crop all the way to harvest.

At family-owned Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, we enjoy doing business with farm families. Here Latham® dealer Rodney Bacon and his grandson are talking about how it’s time to get planting.

Central Iowa

Bryan Rohe

Farmers have been burning the candle at both ends in an attempt to cover as much ground as possible while the weather cooperates. Our Latham Dealer near State Center has very few units left to deliver as planting in this area is about 90 percent complete.

Northwest Iowa

Larry Krapfl

LH 5885 VT2 PRO is practically jumping out of the ground six days after planting.

Southern Minnesota

Brandon Wendlandt

Root development looks great on the LH 5095 VT2 that was planted on April 24. Although it hasn’t yet emerged, it survived the cold weather. This corn will be popping up in rows after a few more days of sunshine.

Webspec Admin

May 10, 2017

Corn, Crop, Season, Spring
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

From the Field Crop Report for April 26
Eastern North Dakota

Brain McNamee

As part of our FieldxField crop planning for alfalfa, we test for electro conductivity in soils. As is the case in this particular field with a high reading, we will plant LH 9300 ST salt tolerant alfalfa.
- LH 9300 ST salt tolerant alfalfa
Southeast North Dakota

Gary Geske

Temperatures around Enderlin, North Dakota reached 50 degrees, but a cold front moved in Saturday night. Snow fell across parts of northern Minnesota and the Dakotas, so it’s not planting weather here now. Mostly small grains have been planted. Soil temperatures need to rise and fields need to dry before corn planting gets underway.

Northeast South Dakota

James Keltgen

Very little progress in Northeast South Dakota this past week. Some fieldwork being done, small grains still being seeding and a handful of growers started on a little corn. Very cold this week and growers are waiting for warmer weather and soil temps. Current soil temps are lower 40’s.

Southeast South Dakota

Ramie Coughlin

When it 37 degrees and overcast on the prairie, the seed sits safely in the shed.

Northern Minnesota

Ken Highness

Cloud cover is thick in Northern Minnesota as farmers wait for soil temps to rise and start #plant17

Southern Minnesota

Brandon Wendlandt

A Latham corn SuperStrip plot went in the ground near Morgan, Minnesota this week. These tests, which are proprietary to our company, play a key role in helping us select our product lineup as existing and experimental products are tested across multiple locations each year.

Southern Wisconsin

Greg Mair

In northern Wisconsin, farmers are waiting for the cover crops to be sprayed before they begin planting. This farmer experimented with multiple ways to seed cover crops in 2016. He seeded this rye with an airplane into standing soybeans about 2-3 weeks prior to harvest. Now that the soil has dried, spring fieldwork is underway and the first Latham corn plot has been planted south of Monroe, WI!

Northwest Iowa

Darin Chapman

One of our new dealers prepares to deliver seed and treat soybeans.

South Central MN & North Central IA

Cory Greiman

Pictures above display soil temperatures dropping at a rapid pace.

Southeast Minnesota & Northeast Iowa

Craig Haaland

Farmers across my territory are being cautious about planting because weather conditions could favor imbibitional chilling. Chilling effects are more severe when seeds are planted into soils 50 degrees F and then absorb colder water within the first 24 to 48 hours after planting.

Eastern Iowa

Jerry Broders

#Plant17 is taking place in Eastern Iowa! In addition to fieldwork, new this week is a 14 hybrid plot put in by Iowa City.

West North Central Iowa

Bart Peterson

When the calendar pages turn toward the end of April and seed corn is sitting in the shed, many farmers feel anxious about getting seed in the ground. Yields will be better when seed is planted into warmer soil at a later planting date than they will be if soil temperatures drop and cold rains fall shortly after planting. The biggest threat of imbibitional chillingis 24 to 48 hours after planting. When seed absorbs water colder than 50 degree F, loss of seed vigor and death may result.

Central Iowa

Bryan Rohe

Colder temps and forecasted rain has slowed corn planting across Central Iowa. You don’t want that first drink to be a cold one! Imbibitional chilling can have a big impact on corn yield potential. 24 to 36 hours after planting is critical; a chilling effect can occur when seed imbibes, or absorbs, water colder than 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Imbibitional chilling
Western Iowa & Eastern Nebraska

Larry Krapfl

This plot cooperator finished corn #plant17 when this Latham plot went in the ground.
Webspec Admin

April 26, 2017

Alfalfa, Cover Crops, Crop, Season, Spring
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Control Planting Conditions to Maximize Yield Potential

The planters are ready to roll as this is coming to you! That’s why I’m reminding everyone how important the proper start to the season is.

If the planting season gets off to a bad start, it’s only going to get worse throughout the growing season. That’s why it’s so important to plant into fit soil conditions, at the proper depth and at a slow enough speed.

As a farmer, I understand the urgency to get seed in the ground. We’re so eager that sometimes we mud the crop into a less than desirable seed bed, and sometimes we plant at higher speeds to get more acres planted in a day. However, days on the calendar don’t make up for mistakes in the field. Keep in mind that haste makes waste.

A few years ago, I conducted speed and planter depth testing on our farm. I found that our John Deere 7000 planter was most accurate at 4.5 to 4.8 miles per hour (mph), and our yields were the best at a depth of 1.75 to 2 inches. I saw as much as a 10-bushel difference at higher planting speeds and a 20-bushel difference when seed was planted at 1.25 to 1.5 inches deep. Root systems were considerably smaller where the seed was planted shallower and at faster speeds.

Also remember to check depth and spacing each time you move to a different field to ensure depth and spacing works in that field’s soil type and texture. Wishing you all a safe and great planting season!

Webspec Admin

April 20, 2017

Corn, Crop, Soybeans
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

From the Field Crop Report for April 19

The time is here! #Plant17 has arrived, and farmers throughout the region are gearing up for the 2017 growing season. Pictures can often best portray what is happening in the world around us, so we have updated our weekly From the Field crop reports! We will be sharing #crop17 highlights throughout our marketing territory, with a photo or two to accompany it. These pictures are submitted from our Regional Sales Managers who are in the field every day with our dealers and customers. We hope you enjoy our first From the Field report for the 2017 planting season below!

Eastern North Dakota

Brain McNamee

Spring fieldwork in underway. Farmers in western North Dakota are applying anhydrous and focusing on getting small grains planted.

Southeast North Dakota

Gary Geske

There’s still snow in the ditches between Minot and Bismarck, so it’s evident that not all fields are fit for planting yet in North Dakota. Small grains are going in the ground in the southeast part of our state. One Latham® customer who lives north by Rolette said it might be mid-May before they’re able to get in the field.

Northeast South Dakota

James Keltgen

Fog looms in Northeast South Dakota. Very little fieldwork and small grain seeding has been done here as soils are wet. Fieldwork is progressing in Central SD where moisture is lacking.

Southeast South Dakota

Ramie Coughlin

A view of some spring prep work from the driver’s seat in South Dakota.

Planting conditions have been ideal for small grains in South Dakota!! Corn will have to wait, but until then small grains are in full swing.

Northern Minnesota

Ken Highness

Preventative maintenance is underway near Gilby, ND for spring planting.

Southern Minnesota

Brandon Wendlandt

Rain showers have been falling this week across southern Minnesota, but the seed I’m moving around is under cover and dry.

Southern Wisconsin

Greg Mair

Areas of the state were affected by winterkill on their alfalfa acres. Pictured here is a good stand of alfalfa in southern Wisconsin. It’s estimated that 75,000 to 100,000 acres of alfalfa in Wisconsin is suffering from some sort of winter damage.

As farmers wait for fields to dry out, there are still many farms that need to haul manure before planting can begin. A farmer is loaded up with turkey manure headed to the field, attempting to beat the rain.

A semi backs up to the seed shed of a dealer in Wisconsin. As the last bit of corn arrives, dealers are making sure to deliver seed to the growers before they hit the fields.

Seed sits in the shop awaiting dry weather to get planted. Most of the state has been blanketed with rain over the past two weeks, and more rain on the way Wednesday afternoon. Much of the state is waiting for the ground to dry out before working up any ground. Depending on how much rain is received Wednesday evening, I expect tillage equipment and planters to be rolling this weekend.

Northwest Iowa

Darin Chapman

This season we’re looking forward to conducting a variable planting rate and multi-hybrid research study for Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds on our family farm near Spencer. Here my brother, Tim, and my six-year-old son and I are working on the multi-hybrid planter. Photo credit to my nephew, Dan, who’s studying Agricultural Systems Technology at Iowa State University.

We’ve been busy preparing our new planter, which is color coordinated. Blue indicates one particular hybrid and orange is another. Blue supplies the odd rows of the planter and orange supplies the even rows.

South Central Minnesota & North Central Iowa

Cory Greiman

Winter kill is evident in alfalfa fields across North Central Iowa due to ponding and ice cover. Check out these articles on The Field Position to help evaluate winter kill and to manage alfalfa based on winter injury.

Southeast Minnesota & Northeast Iowa

Craig Haaland

A few units of seed has yet to be delivered as wet weather stalled planting progress here in North Iowa. Rain is in the forecast again this week for Wednesday and Thursday.

West North Central Iowa

Bart Peterson

Farmers across western Iowa worked around rain showers to get seed in the ground. In this photo, LH 5096 VT PRO was being planted near Rolfe on April 11.

Latham® dealer Jenna Ricklefs making seed corn deliveries.

Eastern Iowa

Jerry Broders

Latham® seed sorted and ready for delivery.

Central Iowa

Bryan Rohe

Latham dealer in Pella, IA discusses the benefits of using cover crops the last 3 years consecutive.

Western Iowa & Eastern Nebraska

Larry Krapfl

Pictured above is a great stand of alfalfa in western Iowa. Outstanding weather has contributed to the great stand is because of increased seeding populations. Research has shown a remarkable response to increased seeding populations.

Webspec Admin

April 19, 2017

Corn, Crop, Season, Soybeans, Spring
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Quick Steps to Slow Spread of Soybean Aphid Resistance
The number one soybean insect pest is growing across the Upper Midwest. Recent reports indicate some aphid populations are developing resistance to insecticides, especially pyrethroid products.

While we may not be able to stop the spread of this resistance, we can certainly slow it down by using these best management practices:
- Avoid spraying any insecticide if the economic threshold has not been reached. The accepted economic threshold is 250 aphids per plant in 80% of the field as long as the aphid population is increasing. This should not be confused with the injury threshold, which ranges from 600 to 700 aphids per plant. The economic threshold is designed to give farmers time to apply insecticide before the field reaches the injury threshold.
- Use insecticides with different modes of action just like we use herbicides with different modes of action to help control resistant weeds. Some common examples of pyrethroid products include Warrior®, Mustang®, Asana®, Baythroid® and Pounce®, as well as a host of generic products. Lorsban® is an example of an organophosphate insecticide that may be used for aphid control.
- Avoid adding insecticide to herbicide application just as “insurance” or to save a trip across the field, as this can easily lead to resistance problems.
- When applying insecticides, good coverage is essential. Higher spray volumes and pressure help to move the product down into the soybean canopy.
- As with many potential threats, scouting early and often is crucial to overall success!Soybean aphids can greatly increase in numbers if the weather is cooler than normal and if natural predators are not present.
First identified in Wisconsin during the summer of 2000, soybean aphids are found in 21 states and three Canadian provinces. Besides the damage they do by sucking sap from plants, aphids also are vectors of several viruses that attack soybeans.

Scouting for aphids is key for maintaining the health of your soybean crop now… and in the future. Do what you can now to keep numbers down and to avoid insecticide resistance from building.
Webspec Admin

April 12, 2017

Agronomics, Crop, Insects, Soybeans
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Xtend Soybeans: Frequently Asked Questions
There are lots of questions with any new products, and that’s also the case with Xtend soybeans and the new herbicide XtendiMax™ with VaporGrip™ technology. Below are answers to frequently asked questions:

Q. Do Xtend soybeans yield as well as other soybeans?

A. The short answer is yes. Latham’s Xtend soybeans excelled in the 2016 F.I.R.S.T. Trials. Like any soybean variety, optimal yield is achieved by placing them in the correct environment.

Q. Does VaporGrip control drift?

A. VaporGrip does NOT control drift, but it does significantly reduces the potential of volatility.

Q. How can I control drift?

A. Here’s a summary of required application requirements:
- Use nozzles and operating pressure listed on the herbicide product label to minimize driftable fines. These nozzles make bigger droplets that, when used with lower pressure and a minimum of 10 gallons of spray solution per acre, help minimize drift.
- Use at the application rate of 22 fluid ounces per acre for any single, in-crop application.
- Do not exceed a boom height of 24 inches above the target pest or soybean canopy.
- Apply when wind speed is between 3-10 mph, and avoid application if there is no breeze at all.
- Do not exceed 15 mph ground speed.
- Do not apply when wind is blowing toward adjacent susceptible crops.
Q. Do I have to put in a buffer strip?

A. The label requires a buffer to protect sensitive areas. Read and follow the label instructions.

Q. Can I apply Ammonium Sulfate (AMS) with XtendiMax with VaporGrip?

A. Ammonium Sulfate and ammonium-based additives are prohibited in applications that include XtendiMax with VaporGrip Technology.

Q. Can I tank mix any Roundup with XtendiMax herbicide?

A. To find a list of approved products for tank mixing, click here. Before application, farmers and applicators should visit http://www.roundupreadyxtend.com/ to see if any new products have been approved for tank mixing.

Q. Am I required to use a residual herbicide with XtendiMax with VaporGrip?

A. You are not required to do so, but using a residual pre- and post-emergence strategy as outlined in the Roundup Ready Xtend Crop System for in-crop use will give better weed control and can net you $14/acre cash back.

Q. Do I get any residual activity with XtendiMax Herbicide with Vapor Grip?

A. You can get up to 14 days of soil activity from Dicamba on certain small-seeded broadleaf weeds to help other residual herbicides control weeds.

Q. Do I have to spray XtendiMax Herbicide on Xtend soybeans.

A. No, you can spray Xtend soybeans with any herbicide approved for Roundup Ready soybeans.

This Q&A is not meant as a substitute for reading and following all product labeling. Find more insight below:
- Farmers Have More Options to Fight Weeds
- Latham Offers Xtend Products for 2017 Planting
Webspec Admin

March 29, 2017

Crop, Seed Technology, Soybeans
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Balance™ GT Soybeans: One Step Closer to Commercialization
Visitors to Latham headquarters last fall for our field day saw replicated tests of Balance GT along with EnlistTM, Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® and LibertyLink® soybeans. Plots conducted by Latham’s Research Team show there are good genetics to go with the Balance GT technology, so we’re eager for full approval to make them available.

February and March are key months for Latham’s product team as we focus on choosing next year’s product lineup. What we grow in 2017 becomes the seed we offer for 2018, so you might say our 2018 guide “hangs in the balance.”

Last month, Balance™ GT soybeans received import approval from China. Balance™ GT has already received approval from these critical countries: Argentina, Brazil, Canada and the European Union. However, Balance® Bean herbicide is pending registration.

Bayer has announced it won’t release the technology until the chemical is fully approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Balance GT soybeans may be sprayed with glyphosate and with Balance Bean herbicide, which contains the same active ingredient as Balance herbicide for corn. Although the first generation of Balance GT products won’t have resistance to Liberty herbicide, Bayer plans to add Liberty resistance in the near future.

Balance™ GT and Monsanto’s Xtend™ soybeans have both been approved in the past year, and we’re hopeful that Dow’s Enlist™ soybeans will be approved in 2017. We’re eager for this approval for two reasons:
1. Farmers need new tools to win the fight against weed resistance.
2. Increased competition helps keep seed prices down. With the Bayer/Monsanto merger pending; all of these technologies would be controlled by one company: RR1, RR2, RR2 Xtend, Liberty and Balance GT. There’s a good chance one of more of these technologies will be sold for the Justice Department to approve the merger. I believe it’s in farmers’ best interest for these technologies to be owned by competing companies.
One benefit of our family-owned seed business is that we can access the industry’s latest and greatest technologies, regardless of which trait providers own them! That means Latham dealers can sell seed that best fits a customer’s situation.

As well, stay tuned for updates on new approvals. You can be sure we will offer new products as soon as they become commercially available!
John Latham, President

March 22, 2017

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

Tips for Controlling Palmer Amaranth Across the Upper Midwest
Palmer Amaranth, called Palmer Pigweed, has been confirmed in 48 of Iowa’s 99 counties. When Bob Hartzler of Iowa State University Extension made this frightening announcement during a recent crop meeting that I attended in Ames, the atmosphere in the room changed — and for good reason.

To say this weed is “aggressive” is an understatement. To win the battle, farmers must employ an aggressive weed management system. It’s important to start with a clean seedbed, and then integrate more than one herbicide to prevent weed escapes by:
- Using full rates of a pre-emergence residual herbicide that kills Palmer Amaranth.
- Applying post-emergence herbicide before pigweeds are 3 inches tall.
- Tank mixing another residual herbicide to extend control.
- Applying a second post-emerge application if needed.
- Removing surviving plants by hand or mechanically.
Every attempt must be made to completely eradicate it from fields, as Palmer Amaranth is truly “waterhemp on steroids.” Palmer is closely related to Common Waterhemp but is much more invasive. It can get so bad that literally entire fields must be tilled up to prevent further infestations.

Both Palmar Amaranth and common Waterhemp are dioecious, meaning there are male and female plants, as opposed to most other pigweeds species that have male and female parts on the same plant. Many scientists believe this characteristic gives these weeds an advantage to developing herbicide resistance.

Both Palmer Amaranth and Waterhemp have become resistant to numerous herbicide groups. Many populations are resistant to multiple groups — as many as five in one population has been documented in Illinois!

Pollen spreading within fields and to neighboring fields spreads that resistance, so farmers must be even more diligent to control weeds in both corn and soybeans. Diversity of weed control tactics key. We won’t be able to rely on just Roundup Ready 2 Xtend®, Enlist™ or Balance™ GT — nor any other future trait system.

Take some time now to attend some weed control meetings in your area, and learn how to identify and manage this potentially devastating pest.
Webspec Admin

March 1, 2017

Agronomics, Crop, Weed Control
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Three Ways Latham Helps Farmers Reduce Risk
Due to another down year of commodity prices, combined with uncertainty in the marketplace and the transition to a new presidential administration, many Midwest farmers are looking for ways to limit their risk exposure. Here are three key ways farmers can limit risk in 2017:
1. LATHAM’S FREE REPLANT POLICY. Qualifying is simple: Purchase at least 60 units more of Latham® corn than was ordered in 2016 and/or a minimum of 120 units of treated soybeans, and you will qualify for free replant! This low-cost insurance policy offers a great options for our customers.
2. SEED TREATMENTS. The old saying, “It’s hard to save your way to prosperity,” really holds true here! So much of a farmer’s money is invested in seed that it’s hard for me to understand why some people forego seed treatment. This is where the saying, “Penny wise but pound foolish” comes into play. Seed treatment is a good return on investment. Data shows a 3 – 5 bushel advantage on fungicides and insecticides that provide protection against diseases and insects in certain parts of our market. Last week, Mark Grundmeier wrote about how soybeans treated with ILeVO® yielded 8 – 18 bushels per acre, even where Sudden Death Syndrome wasn’t severe.
3. FIELDXFIELD™ YIELDS. Crop planning, field by field, helps farmers reduce risk by placing the best products on given soil types and farming practices. It also takes into consideration disease, plant population and weed control. Determining the best population for both corn and soybeans also is a good way to reduce cost since many farmers plant soybeans too thick. Paying special attention to ear type (flex, semi-flex or determinate) makes a big difference in choosing the right population.
One final point to make is the stability and proven performance of Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds and its products. Our family-owned, independent company will celebrate its 70th year of business in 2017. In addition, we set records (again) in 2016 with our F.I.R.S.T. Trials Seed Tests across the regions we serve. Go to lathamseeds.com to see the data.

Feel free to also contact us at 1.877.GO.LATHAM. Also remember to “search” for specific agronomic topics like “risk management” on TheFieldPosition.com for more information.
Webspec Admin

February 15, 2017

Agronomics, Crop, Soybeans
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Tips for Managing SDS in 2017 and Beyond
Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) in 2016 affected numerous soybean fields in the Upper Midwest. We saw SDS in fields where it had never been a problem, and some of that can be attributed to Mother Nature. Frequent or heavy rains can add to the severity of the disease, and irrigated fields are also at higher risk.

While we cannot control the weather and it’s not possible to get rid of this soil-borne fungus, there are strategies you can implement to protect future yield:
- Studies show SDS severity increases when high populations of Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN) are present. Practices that lower the SCN population may also help decrease SDS, but note SDS and SCN can infect fields on their own.
- Improving drainage and soil structure, as well as reducing compaction, can help reduce the severity of SDS. Any movement of infected soil spreads both SCN and SDS within the field and to other fields.
- Wait for fit soils. Working or planting into wet soils greatly enhances the disease. I spoke with farmers who rolled their fields in 2016 when conditions were too wet, which increased the severity and incidence of SDS in their fields.
- Crop rotation. There have been reports of farmers using an oats and alfalfa/clover rotation in a third year that seemed to reduce SDS severity. However, crop rotation in general hasn’t been effective in managing SDS, as the SDS fungus readily invades corn roots. Legume crops like alfalfa, clovers, navy beans and pinto beans also can host the SDS fungus.
- Plant soybean varieties that are tolerant to the disease. While no soybean brand is completely resistant, planting tolerant varieties can minimize yield loss. At Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, we evaluate soybeans for a wide range of diseases, including SDS. Only those with the best defensive packages earn the IRONCLADTM distinction.
- Delayed planting allows the soil to dry and warm. Because overall soybean yield research shows higher yield potential with early planting dates— even if SDS is present at moderate levels — I recommend delayed planting only when a field has a history of severe SDS and yields have been drastically reduced in past years.
- Employ ILeVO®. The most exciting new tactic for SDS management is ILeVO seed treatment from Bayer CropScience. Numerous university trials have shown IleVO effectively reduces SDS severity and protects yield. Latham’s own research across 26 locations in 2016 showed an average benefit of 3.64 bu/A, which easily pays for the cost of the treatment.(See the January 2017 issue of TECHtalk for more details.) Other seed treatments claim efficacy on SDS, but university research shows the level of effectiveness from thiabendazole products like Mertect® are not quite as good as what ILeVO shows.
If Sudden Death Syndrome is a potential problem in your area for 2016, do all that you can to limit its effect in the future. Feel free to call me if you have any questions.
Webspec Admin

February 8, 2017

Agronomics, Crop, Disease, Soybeans