Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Watch for Sudden Death and Stink Bugs in 2015

Each December researchers from across the Upper Midwest gather at Iowa State University in Ames for the Integrated Crop Management (ICM) conference where they present data and opinions on a wide variety of topics. Information, which I believe is most pertinent to the Midwest states in which we do business, is summarized below.

SDS: Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) was severe in many fields in 2014. Many Latham® Ironclad™ Soybeans were put to the test and did an excellent job of handling the disease! Understanding the extent of SDS infection in each field is key to effectively managing the disease. 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.

However, the very nature of SDS makes it difficult to predict if and when an outbreak will occur. Dr. Daren Mueller, Iowa State University Extension Plant Pathologist, and his team shared years of extensive research on SDS including:

Glyphosate herbicide applications do not adversely affect or enhance the presence of SDS in soybean fields.
A side benefit of this study was a look at glyphosate applications versus manganese availability in plants. Fourteen field experiments were conducted in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin and Ontario, Canada. There were no interactions between glyphosate and the total manganese available in soybeans.
That same study did include a new treatment called ILeVO™ from Bayer CropScience. It showed significant effectiveness at reducing the severity of the disease, resulting in 2½ to 3 bushels of saved yield on average. Bayer expects full registration for this product soon.

NEW, INVASIVE INSECT: The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) is a fairly new insect species that has the potential to cause serious crop injury. It is already considered a severe agricultural pest in New England and East Coast states. It was first noticed in Pennsylvania in 1998 and has rapidly spread to 41 states. It was first seen in Iowa in 2012; in 2014, BMSB was confirmed in eight Iowa counties. This particular species has the typical “shield-like” body of other stink bugs. However, BMSB also has rounded shoulders, white and dark bands along the edge of the body and along the antennae plus the marmorated (speckled) appearance on its back.

This insect will feed on over 100 different species of plants, including many fruits, vegetables and field crops. In corn, BMSB feeds directly on developing kernels right through the husk causing aborted, shrunken and discolored seeds. Similarly, it will feed on soybeans directly through the pods and cause extensive damage to the seeds present. Control can be achieved with several insecticides but residual may not last long enough to prevent the insect from re-infesting the field.

January 15, 2015

Agronomics, Crop, Disease, General, Insects, Soybeans

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Tips for Selecting Corn Silage Hybrids

One question frequently asked by producers – and rightfully so – is 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.

Consider the end use first. Corn kernel attributes can vary greatly, and seed traits can affect the qualities of the end product. For example, the availability of kernel starch and how it is digested is important for ethanol and livestock feed. A softer starch kernel is not preferable for export. When selecting corn hybrids for snaplage, look for excellent fall plant intactness plus a large ear and flared husk to facilitate a cleaner ear snap. Some hybrids have better fiber digestibility than others, but you also have to make sure those particular hybrids work on your soils or have the desired trait package needed in a corn-on-corn situation.

Keep crop rotation in mind. Crop rotation must also be considered when making seed selections. Planting corn on corn creates probable nutrient shortages, as well as increased insect and disease pressure. Residue management also helps prevent disease transmission between seedlings and old residue. Remember when corn is harvested for grain, organic matter is left in the field that doesn’t remain when the corn crop is harvested for silage or when corn stalks are baled. Different hybrids are needed when planting conventional verses no-till or minimum till situations.

Minimize yield-limiting factors. Seed selection and crop rotation are just two of the factors that impact crop yield. Dr. Fred Below, Professor of Plant Physiology at the University of Illinois, has seen up to 50-bushel differences between hybrids on the same field based on the seven primary factors: Weather, Nitrogen, Hybrid, Previous Crop, Plant Population, Tillage and Growth Regulators.

Remember, the potential for next year’s crop begins when the seed is still in the bag! At Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, we can help you layer yield and soil data to determine which seed is best suited for certain soil types and management situations. Talk to your local Latham® seed representative about how the Seed-2-Soil® program can help you reach new yield levels!

January 14, 2015

Corn Silage, Crop, General

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Update On New Soybean Traits & Technologies

U.S. seed companies and farmers were handed an early Christmas present when China approved imports of hybrids with the Agrisure Viptera® corn trait, and many in the ag industry had hoped this one approval signaled a more consistent Chinese regulatory process. As a result, I’ve fielded a fair number of phone calls and e-mails from farmers wondering when they can expect final approval of various new soybean traits and technologies.

Here’s a quick update on those that are reasonably close to hitting the marketplace:

ENLIST™ (2,4-D resistant trait from Dow AgroSciences):
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in January 2014 announced completion of the Draft Environmental Impact Study for the Enlist™ corn, Enlist soybean and Enlist E3™ soybean traits. Following a comment period, the USDA announced on September 17, 2014, the Enlist corn and soybean traits have been deregulated.
On October 15, 2014, the EPA announced Enlist Duo™ herbicide is approved for use with Enlist corn and soybean traits for the 2015 cropping season. This was the final step in the U.S. regulatory process, but one fairly large hurdle remaining is overall foreign approval.
ROUNDUP READY 2 XTEND™ (Dicamba-resistant trait from Monsanto): Like the Enlist soybeans, this trait went through a comment period that ended September 25, 2014, and U.S. approval is expected any day. Roundup Xtend™ is a premix of dicamba and glyphosate. Xtendimax™ will be a straight dicamba formulation that will be used for tank mixing with other herbicide products. Both of these new herbicides will be available with VaporGrip™ technology, designed to help significantly reduce the volatility of the dicamba active ingredient.
BALANCE GT™ (Balance-resistant trait from Bayer CropScience): The Balance GT soybean trait has full U.S. approval, however, full global approval is still pending. It’s possible that Balance GT soybeans will be available for testing and plots in 2015, but a full commercial launch isn’t expected before 2016. As far as the herbicide system is concerned, Bayer has applied for registration of Balance^® Bean herbicide and EPA approval is expected in early 2016.

There is uncertainty as to when these new traits will receive approval from foreign countries like China and the European Union. At Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, we will continue to do our own testing to see which technologies and genetics will be the best fit for our market area. We’ll also keep you updated on the approvals of these exciting new technologies. And, yes, we expect to have them in our lineup as soon as they’re commercially available!

January 8, 2015

Crop, General, Industry News, Seed Technology, Soybeans

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

New Latham® Releases for 2015

Product selection is an ongoing process at Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds. That’s why the following products have been added mid-season to an already outstanding lineup of Latham® brand corn and soybean products.

To help “answer the call” for additional supply of conventional corn, we are pleased to introduce two new hybrids for 2015 planting:

LH 5120 – This 101-day hybrid features high-quality grain on ears that flex well. This medium-tall plant has excellent roots and responds very well to higher populations with top-end management. An application of a foliar fungicide is highly recommended, especially in areas where Gray Leaf Spot is a concern.
LH 5400 – This hybrid responds best to top-end nitrogen management in medium to heavy soils. It should be kept in its maturity zone but will move south well. This medium-tall plant has very good late-season intactness. It also carries very good tolerance to Goss’s Wilt and Northern Corn Leaf Blight.

We’re also adding one new Genuity® SmartStax® and two new VT2 PRO RIB (refuge in the bag) hybrids to our lineup:

LH 5465 VT2 PRO RIB – This is the Double-Pro version of our LH 5466 VT3 PRO. This medium height plant has excellent stalks and roots. It fills a need in our lineup between the LH 5215 and LH 5715 Double PROs. This new hybrid shows a noted suitability to tight, clay soils and is widely adapted east to west as it has excellent drought tolerance.
LH 5509 SS RIB – A high-yielding, widely adapted product has high test weight and excellent quality grain. It responds well to top-end management and higher populations. It has excellent tolerance to eyespot and Southern Leaf Blight. In the 2014 F.I.R.S.T. trials, it placed 2^nd overall in the Southwest Minnesota regional summary and was 9^th at the Flandreau location of the Southeast South Dakota region.
LH 6045 VT2 PRO RIB – Tremendous yield potential and stability under stress are two key strengths of this new 110-day hybrid. It has a very fixed ear, so higher populations and fertility are necessary for optimum performance. The SmartStax version of this hybrid placed very well in the East Central and West Central Iowa regions of the 2014 F.I.R.S.T. trials.

We are also releasing a new 2.3 maturity soybean product:

L2328R2 – This new Ironclad^TM soybean topped many 2014 SuperStrip plots across Latham Country. This medium-tall plants carries the SCN gene from PI88788, the C-gene for Phytophthora and is resistant to Brown Stem Rot. In addition, it features very good tolerance to Iron Chlorosis, Sudden Death Syndrome and White Mold.

For more information on the above listed products, visit www.lathamseeds.com. Click on the “Products” section and then select the product number.

We also will have very limited amounts of two new experimental soybeans, E0836L and E3448R2. E0836L is a new 0.8 maturity LibertyLink® soybean and E3448R2 is a 3.4 maturity Genuity® Roundup Ready to Yield® Soybean (RR2Y). For more information about these two products, contact your Latham representative or call 1-877-GO-LATHAM (1.877.465.2842).

December 4, 2014

Agriculture, Corn, Crop, General, Industry News, Soybeans

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Latham Corn Tops More F.I.R.S.T. Trials

It has been an incredibly exciting harvest season for a product guy like me! I love looking for products that work well for farmers and the specific challenges they face on their Midwest farms.

This year the product team at Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds decided to put our lineup up against the competition in the F.I.R.S.T. Trials, an independent, third party testing service. We’ve always had a lot of confidence in our corn and soybean lineups. For years, we’ve tracked how we not only compete – but beat – national brands in our marketing footprint.

Just like someone entering a livestock show or a team entering a basketball tournament, one never really knows what the actual performance will be at that particular time and place. All you can do is prepare and try your best. That’s what we did when we entered the F.I.R.S.T. Trials, and the results have been nothing short of amazing!

Soybean trial results came first. Last Wednesday I wrote about how “Latham places first again and again.” I’ve never had so much fun checking my emails in the morning as I have this fall, watching test results show Latham® Hi‑Tech Soybeans at the top.

The final total was 18 location or region summary wins for Latham brand soybeans! Unbelievable. Our soybean lineup was hitting a grand slam homerun!

The more I thought about all of our soybean wins, however, the more anxiety I had over the corn results. I’ve known for years that our corn lineup can compete against anyone. After all, we do our own research against industry-leading products to help us choose our product lineup. Such research has given us confidence in our own lineup, yet there are still a great many farmers who are hesitant to give a “new” corn brand a try.

Latham® Hi‑Tech Hybrids are celebrating their tenth year, and we’ve been fortunate to grow our corn lineup for 10 straight year. Our customers have known for years that Latham has great corn, and now thanks to our performance in 2014 F.I.R.S.T. Trials, more Midwest farmers will know it!

This week we were fortunate to win our 19^th corn test – that’s one more test than our decorated soybean lineup! Eight different Latham corn products have won F.I.R.S.T. Trial locations all the way from 90 to 110 days.

Products like LH 4097 VT2 PRO and LH 5215 VT2 PRO have absolutely dominated their area of adaptation. Latham has had 140 Latham corn products place in the top 10 in FIRST Trial tests, which shows the strength and depth of our lineup. Plus, this broad maturity range will allow more customers to try and most importantly profit from Latham corn hybrids!

Again, I credit Latham’s team approach to product selection for this year’s performance. Unlike the national brands that choose products based on a wide area of adaptability, we focus on choosing the best products for local conditions. Latham’s strategy to choose products that perform in specific soil types and field conditions across our marketing area works. But don’t just take my word for it… Look over all the data at www.firstseedtests.com!

John Latham, President

November 12, 2014

Corn, Crop, Fall, General, Season

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Latham Places 1st Again & Again in F.I.R.S.T. Trials

I’ve always been very confident in the corn and soybean products that we offer at Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds. After all, when your name in literally on each bag of seed, you want to do all that you can to protect your reputation! That’s why we take a team approach to selecting products.

Our Product Team members either farm themselves or call on farmers in the areas where they live. This means they not only review data from breeders and their own research plots, but they watch these crops grow and develop. Our corn and soybean specialists walk fields and test plots, searching for the perfect products to perform in our customer’s field conditions. As a result, they have confidence in the products that go into our lineup.

Latham® brand products are selected for their yield potential, as well as for their ability to overcome specific regional challenges. For example: Latham’s IronClad^TM Soybeans receive this unique designation for their rating on Iron Chlorosis or White Mold. Our Gladiator Corn Hybrids are selected to do yield better in corn-on-corn situations. Even Latham’s alfalfa lineup was chosen to address specific needs like high-salt soils or leaf-hopper resistance.

To showcase our lineup, this year Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds made a much larger investment in the independent F.I.R.S.T. Trials. This third-party testing service is proving how well we compare to the competition… The results this fall have been amazing!

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, to date, has won 29 different F.I.R.S.T. Trial corn and soybean locations and region summaries this fall! We’ve won 18 different soybean tests, including 5 different region summaries in Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Dakota and Illinois.

Eleven different Latham soybean products have won F.I.R.S.T. Trial tests from Group 0 all the way to 2.7 maturity. Many of these locations contain as many as 84 different competitive products! In the state of South Dakota alone, Latham won 6 different F.I.R.S.T. Trial Tests with 6 different Latham® Hi‑Tech Soybean products. In the state of Minnesota, Latham L1858R2 is the top yielding soybean in any test in Minnesota, Wisconsin or the Dakotas with a yield of 82.9 bushel per acre!

Latham brand corn is performing extremely well, too. Tests remain to be harvested, but already Latham corn has won 11 different F.I.R.S.T. Trial locations across Iowa, Minnesota and North Dakota. Latham LH 5215 VT2 PRO has won 5 different tests across Iowa and Minnesota PLUS it won the West Central region of Minnesota. In the north, Latham LH 4097 VT2 PRO and Latham LH 4455 VT3 PRO together have won 4 locations so far. In Central Iowa, Latham LH 5829 SS won the Winterset, Iowa, location at 247.9 bushels.

So what’s the secret to Latham’s stellar product performance? Unlike the national brands that choose products based on a wide area of adaptability, we focus on choosing the best products for local conditions. Latham’s strategy to choose products that perform in specific soil types and field conditions across our marketing area works. But don’t just take my word for it… Look over all the data at www.firstseedtests.com!

John Latham, President

November 5, 2014

Corn, Crop, Fall, General, Season, Soybeans

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

How to Interpret Yield Data

This fall Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds has done very well in the F.I.R.S.T. trials all over the Midwest, winning many locations and Regional Performance Summaries. With such great data, it’s no wonder that farmers want to call in and order the winners. If we’re doing our job, however, we may not let you!

Why wouldn’t we let farmers order what they want without asking any questions? The answer is simple: Just because a product placed first in a yield trial in one location, in one year, across one predominant soil type, doesn’t guarantee it will be the yield winner given another farm and a different management style.

When study yield results from independent yield trials, be sure to analyze the information. Here are some tips for interpreting yield data:

Compare to a check strip that helps you check for variability across the field. Look to see if a particular product is yielding exceptionally well or exceptionally low as compared to the plot average. How has this same product been performing across multiple locations?
Is there a disease that has been prevalent this year, like Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS), that you know is affecting that particular product?
How variable was the rainfall in that area this year? What were planting and growing conditions?

To help you select the right seed for your given situation, we’ll ask discovery questions first to determine needs like fighting weed resistance or corn rootworm. We’ll also visit with you about our hallmark Seed-2-Soil program for crop planning and/or nutrient management to help support your product selection.

Don’t get me wrong… Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds is thrilled with how well we’ve performed this season in third party, unbiased, independent yield trials! It is great that we can win yield trials but winning on the farm is what really counts. We want to combine our yield data – with your own farm data – to help ensure you get the best products for your acres.

October 23, 2014

Corn, Crop, Fall, General, Season, Soybeans

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Don’t Pinch Pennies on Potassium!

by Peter Bixel, Seed-2-Soil

With commodity prices lower, it’s certainly prudent for farmers to rethink each input expense. Crop inputs are certainly one big investment! I’m a farmer myself, so I understand the value in evaluating investments.

Analyzing investments is really an exercise in managing expectations. We might settle for returns of 2 to 5% on our bank savings accounts and 401K, right? We don’t want to skimp on investments that will help us in the future. So why skimp on your Phosphorus (P) & Potassium (K) fertilizer investments? After all, an investment in P & K has the potential to return 100-700%!

Phosphorus aids in healthy root growth, as well as flower and seed production. Potassium is responsible for improving overall health and disease.

Local data is critical for analyzing where your fertilizer dollars are best spent. Our data shows that across 400,000 acres, phosphorous values continue to be in the High category of soil test values with an average of 28ppm. This is more than likely because of manure history, fertilizer application and soil types in our area. However, potassium levels continue to be an area that needs to be addressed in order for us to not mine what we have invested in building up. Potassium levels are in the medium category with an average of 160ppm, while we are trying to reach 200ppm and higher.

Take a look at the Potassium Calibration Curve below. With low soil test K values, your potential for high yielding crops dramatically decreases. Take your 2013 Local Data, looking at Corn on Corn Yield to Soil Test K, as soil test levels go from Low to High categories, yield increased 20bu/ac. How do these returns look to you?

Potassium plays an important role in the utilization and uptake of Nitrogen and in turn meaning improved N use and higher yields. Higher rates of K allow for efficient use of more N, which resulted in better early vegetative growth and higher yields. K fertility is another important piece of the puzzle for high yielding crops.

With tighter margins moving into 2015 crop year, it is important to remember to use YOUR data to help make the best investment decisions and to make sure you don’t mine your soil fertility.

Make sure you’re not losing a dollar by trying to save a penny!

Team Latham

October 16, 2014

Agronomics, Corn, Crop, Fertility, General

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Tips to Maximize Bushels during Soybean Harvest

Latham® dealer Kyle Geske starting harvest on Latham L00938RR soybeans

Harvesting soybeans on a timely basis should be every farmer’s goal. Yields are maximized when each field is harvested at 13% moisture and combines are adjusted properly from the start. That being said, I’ve been asked numerous times just what the yield loss is when moisture falls below 13% and how to prevent soybeans from “shattering.”

Let’s tackle the first part of the question right away: “What is my yield loss when soybeans come in below 13%?” A recent article published by Gary Zoubek and Chuck Burr from the University of Nebraska Extension states the following:

Moisture at Harvest	% Yield Lost
12%	1.14
11%	2.25
10%	3.30
9%	4.40
8%	5.43

Using this information, a field yielding 75 bushels per acre harvested at 9% results in 3.3 fewer bushels per acre than if it would have been harvested at 13%. You will lose $33 per acre if the soybean market is at $10 per bushel!

Because life isn’t always perfect and we sometimes are prohibited from harvesting exactly at 13% moisture, here are a few simple suggestions that can help you put more in the hopper:

Begin harvesting soybeans at 14% or even 15% moisture, depending on your plans for the grain. If you are taking it directly to the elevator at harvest, ask the maximum moisture they will accept. If you are storing the grain in a bin, make certain you have fans for adequate ventilation/drying.
When harvesting at higher moistures, you will most likely run into tougher or even green stems. Adjust your combine and operate at reduced speeds to match the conditions of your field. NOTE: You’ll probably need to adjust your combine and your speed several days each day!
When possible, harvest under optimum conditions. We all know that soybeans pick up moisture overnight, especially if there is a heavy dew. They also lose moisture as the day progresses, when the humidity is low, when daytime temperatures are warm and when there is even a slight breeze. Avoid harvesting during hot afternoons when you stand to lose the most moisture.

Another tip for harvesting soybeans on a timely basis is to spread out the maturities. Keep this in mind now as when selecting your soybean seed for next year. Don’t place “all of your eggs in one basket” when it comes to selecting the maturity of soybean seed.

Moving on to the second part of the question stated in the first paragraph: “How can I keep soybeans from shattering?” “Shattering” implies that something is wrong or abnormal. However, I truly believe it’s natural for a pod to split open and soybeans fall to the ground because these plants were created to spread their seeds and propagate! To prevent “shattering,” spread out your maturities so you may harvest your soybeans in a timely manner.

Wishing you a safe and productive harvest!

October 2, 2014

Crop, Fall, General, Season, Soybeans

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Late-Season Scouting Leads to Better Seed Decisions

The effects of our wet, cold planting season continue to surface. As one drives the back roads now, you’ll see where Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) is affecting many soybean fields. You also may notice soybean fields turning yellow, which is a common symptom of Iron Deficiency Chlorosis (IDC). IDC is a function of the soil type, so it’s most common in poorly-drained soils with higher-than-normal pH values.

Plants under stress get taken advantage of by pests like Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN). Doing a “drive by” or even walking through the fields may not be enough to detect SCN. Visual symptoms, such as above-ground stunting and/or yellowing, may not be evident for years. That’s why it’s best to check fields for the presence of SCN during the growing season by digging roots. You can also sample this fall for SCN by gently removing soil from the roots. Look for the egg-filled, round, white SCN females on the roots.

While your shovel is at the ready, also be sure to conduct a few root digs in your corn fields. Latham Corn Product Specialist Nick Benson dug roots Sept. 2 in Fayette County Iowa, where he found evidence of rootworm feeding. In addition to looking for corn rootworm damage, note signs of sidewall compaction and hard pans. Also look at leaves and ears for signs of disease.

It’s important to identify late-season corn and soybean diseases, as well as insect damage, so you can better manage them in the future. One way to control corn rootworms, for example, is to rotate rootworm-resistance traits developed by Monsanto, Syngenta and Dow.

As an independent seed company, Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds has access to traits and technologies from all the major providers. We can work with you to develop a diverse crop plan that include Latham’s Gladiator^TM Hybrids, which combine the best genetics and traits available to help maximize yields from corn-on-corn acres.

To help simplify your soybean seed selection process, our website lists Latham® IRONCLAD™ Soybeans that include exceptional genetics and industry-leading protective traits to battle against yield-robbing threats from pests and diseases. Each IRONCLAD soybean brand must be Soybean Cyst Nematode resistant and carry an Iron Deficiency Chlorosis rating of 2.2 or better. IRONCLAD brands must protect against either White Mold or Sudden Death Syndrome with a rating of 2.2 or higher.

White Mold and SDS have both been an issue this season in different parts of our territory, so farmers will want to plant IRONCLAD soybeans on affected acres in the future. Plus, IRONCLAD products have strong defensive ratings against Phytophthora Root Rot and Brown Stem Rot.

For more information about selecting the right seed for your situation, visit with your local Latham® representative. Also feel free to contact me at 1-877-GO-LATHAM (1.877.465.2842).

September 4, 2014

Agronomics, Corn, Crop, Disease, General, Insects, Soybeans, Weed Control