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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Looking for the Silver Lining

After awaking once again this morning to loud, booming thunder and sharp streaks of lightning, I lay still and willed my body to return to slumber. That’s easier said than done! My mind started to drift…

Mason City, which is about 20 miles from where we live, set a record on Sunday for the maximum daily rainfall. Nearly 2.5 inches of rain fell on Easter, breaking the previous record of 1.7 inches set in 1977.

Then I began to think about the weekly rain totals that I researched in order to write yesterday’s crop report. For the week ending April 20, rain fall varied across the state from 0.07 inches at Rock Rapids in Northwest Iowa to 4.87 inches at Pella in Central Iowa. The statewide average precipitation was 1.52 inches or nearly double the weekly normal of 0.85 inches. This was the wettest week in 42 weeks, which brings us to late June 2013. (Like any of us really want to remember just how wet the planting season was last year!)

Because I’m an optimist – as any farmer must be to keep planting for 40 or so seasons – I decided to look for the silver lining. Rain is needed, albeit we wouldn’t vote for rain at this particular moment. We’d like to schedule timely rains throughout the growing season, but the weather is obviously beyond our control. Hopefully, this rain will soak in where it’s needed.

The U.S. Drought Monitor shows many areas across Minnesota, Nebraska and Iowa remain in a moderate drought. Topsoil moisture levels statewide are reported by the department of agriculture as 6% very short, 22% short, 65% adequate and 7% surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 16% very short, 39% short, 44% adequate and 1% surplus. Northwest Iowa is the driest with 18% of topsoil reported in very short condition.

Planting season is a test of patience, but time has shown us that good things come to those who wait for the right seedbed conditions! Don’t push the panic button. Let soil conditions – not the calendar – dictate planting dates. At this point, fields are not yet fit for planting and yield potential will be more negatively affected by planting in wet soils than waiting even a couple of weeks for better conditions.

Corn planted into wet soils is prone to problems throughout the growing season such as: stunted plant growth; slow infiltration of water and/or ponding; high surface runoff under normal or light rainfall; poor root system development, or rootless corn; and even nutrient deficiency. Potassium deficiency is caused by corn roots not being able to take up potassium from compacted soils.

Set up #crop14 for success! Work your crop plan. Remember, we’re still within the window of opportunity for maximum yields. There are literally weeks of planting dates remaining, so be patient and wait for suitable conditions.

Team Latham

April 24, 2014

Agronomics, Corn, Crop, General, Rain, Season, Soybeans, Spring, Weather
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Watch for these Pests in 2014
There’s a lot of behind-the-scenes work that goes into producing a crop. You take time to choose the right seed products; then wait for fit planting conditions; and do your best to protect yield throughout the growing season. With planting season nearing, today we’d like to remind Midwest farmers to keep an eye out for these yield-robbing pests:
1. Pythium is a soil-borne fungus present in almost every field in the Upper Midwest. It can cause early-season seed decay and seedling blight in both corn and soybean. There are many species of Pythium. Most favor cool, wet conditions at planting and are often associated with low-lying portions of the field. Good seedbed preparation and the use of a seed-applied fungicide like Latham^® SoyShield^TM are the best management tools. At our Latham Research Farm in 2014, we will be conducting trials using a new fungicide component that looks very promising against Pythium spp.
2. Anthracnose Leaf Blight was noticed last year in fields where corn was planted following corn. It rarely shows up in corn following soybeans. This fungus can survive up to 10 months in crop residue. It’s dispersed by early-season rains when spores, present on the soil surface, splash onto the lower leaves of young corn plants and cause infection. Most foliar-applied fungicides do a good job controlling this disease.
3. Brown Spot is a disease that can affect soybeans at an early stage of development. It’s usually found on the lower plant leaves and severity increases with excess moisture in the canopy. Infected leaves turn yellow and drop off the plant. While Brown Spot rarely causes enough damage to warrant a fungicide application by itself; the combination of this disease and other fungal pathogens needs to be considered before using a foliar fungicide.
4. Bacterial Blight symptoms were very common in 2013 and should be on every soybean farmers “watch list” for 2014. This bacteria infects soybean plants through bruised or damaged areas of the plant caused by wind, rain, hail or other means. Reddish-brown lesions with water-soaked margins will appear on the upper leaves of a soybean plant. Eventually, these lesions produce large dead areas causing a torn or tattered appearance. Bacterial Blight is not a fungus, therefore foliar fungicides have no effect on this disease.
5. Bean Leaf Beetles and Corn Rootworm eggs may be affected by extreme cold weather especially if there is little or no snow cover. A reduction in insect pests would be a silver lining to the harsh winter we just experienced! Keep in mind, best management practices for Corn Rootworm include using multiple tools: rotation, rootworm-traited seed, insecticides at planting to kill the larvae, as well as insecticides later to kill adult beetles.
It appears our spring planting will be delayed. As eager as we all are to get into the field, remember that soils are not truly fit to work or to plant unless you can make a ball of soil, toss it into the air and have it fall apart when it hits the ground. “Have a ball” this planting season!
Webspec Admin

April 9, 2014

Agronomics, Corn, Crop, Disease, Fungicide, General, Insects, Soybeans
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Corn. Soybeans. Corn. Soybeans.

Like a pendulum swinging on a clock, many farmers are still going back and forth about which crop to plant this spring.

Unlike corn, which has seen large price declines in recent months, soybean prices have held stronger. That’s why some experts say continuous corn ground will go back to soybeans this spring. Other experts says there is a potential for 9 million acres of farmland that didn’t get planted in 2013 to be planted to corn in 2014.

Regardless of which crop Midwest farmers choose to plant, Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds has a full lineup of products available to meet your needs for 2014 planting. The quality of Latham® products has never been better – and it’s a difference you can literally see! Latham’s production facility doesn’t operate when the weather is below 10 degrees and that leads to higher germinating soybeans. As a result, Latham soybeans had 10 to 15 percent higher germinations in 2013. We expect to see similar results in 2014 since there have been so many days with temperatures below zero this winter.

“Quality” in the bag leads to performance in the field. We believe it so strongly that we print the word “quality” on every bag of Latham Hi‑Tech Soybeans! Rest assured you can count on Latham to deliver the highest quality seed products. During changing and uncertain times like this, you can find comfort in working with a family-owned company that’s been in business for nearly 70 years.

John Latham, President

February 20, 2014

Corn, Crop, General, Soybeans
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

A Story of Love and Hard Work

Team Latham

February 19, 2014

Corn, Crop, General, Soybeans
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Systematic, Diverse Approach Needed for RW Management
A systematic, diverse approach to corn rootworm management is needed if growers are to have successful corn-on-corn acres in the future, said Dr. Aaron Gassmann while presenting last month during the 25^th Annual Integrated Crop Management Conference on the Iowa State University campus.

Since 2009, Dr. Gassmann has studied the use of Bt corn hybrids in Iowa. He says the number of fields showing severe rootworm injury has increased every year primarily due to the overuse of one specific trait on fields for many consecutive years, lack of refuge compliance, and lack of scouting for both larval rootworm and adult beetles.

Farms with continuous corn production, and specifically those fields planted to the same Bt event year-after-year, are most at-risk for developing a resistant population. To delay resistance, Dr. Gassman and his colleagues recommend the following IPM approaches:
- Rotate to soybeans or other crops to break the corn rootworm life cycle between growing seasons.
- Consider using corn that contains different Bt proteins than ones that may have performed poorly in the past.
- Consider using pyramided Bt hybrids, which is defined as corn that contains multiple Bt proteins targeting corn rootworm.
Implementing a long-term integrated approach to corn rootworm management is most important, according to Gassmann. Integration of tactics across seasons is fundamental to prolonging the usefulness of any effective management strategy
Webspec Admin

January 30, 2014

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

Evaluating Foliar Fungicide on Soybeans
Many Midwest farmers are asking questions about the benefits of spraying foliar fungicides on their soybean fields. The simple truth is… there are a lot of opinions.

Be very leery when they are bombarded by claims of yield increases due to improved overall plant health. Do some of your own testing before deciding to make large-scale applications of these products. It may very well prove that fungicides of this type will pay great dividends on certain farms and pay zero dividends on others!

There is one very important thing to remember when conducting trials of this kind: leave some areas in the field unsprayed to “check” the actual value of the products. As you make plans for the 2014 crop, keep these three things in mind:
1. Be sure you’re making an apples-to-apples comparison. For example, I’ve received reports from farmers who advocate the use of foliar fungicides on soybeans. However, the fields they compared were several miles away and some were not even the same soybean variety!
2. There are people out there who want to sell you something, regardless of whether you need it.
3. If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
One of our brand promises at Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds is to help farmers save time. Another promise is to help farmers reduce risk. That’s why I’m being as honest as possible by questioning the investment in foliar fungicide on soybeans. Seed treatments, on the other hand, are worth the investment. Seed treatments are one key to achieving higher soybean yields; click here for others.
Webspec Admin

January 22, 2014

Agronomics, Crop, Fungicide, General, Soybeans
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Resolving to Obtain Higher Corn Yields in 2014
Weather ranks as the most important factor affecting corn yield, says Dr. Fred Below, Professor of Plant Physiology at the University of Illinois. Research he’s conducted show that weather accounts for 70 bushels per acre, or 27 percent, of total yield!

Although we’re all hoping for better growing conditions in 2014, it’s unrealistic to think we can control the weather. That’s why it’s important to focus on the things we can do better in our quest to raise 300-bushel corn consistently.

Planting a portfolio of Latham® corn hybrids is one way to manage risk and improve your chances of achieving record-setting yields. Last season we saw how different genetics handle stress from drought and wind. That’s why genetic diversity is so important.

You can also protect the 2014 corn crop with new technologies. Latham’s 2014 product lineup includes 36 hybrid seed corn products, offering six different trait combinations in various maturities, for rootworm (RW) control. In addition to corn rootworm, be sure to factor in management options to control nematodes that feed on corn.

Nematodes are a growing problem across the Midwest, most likely due to trends of no-till farming. Nematodes are sensitive to soil disturbance, so they tend to thrive in no-till situations. Crop rotation isn’t an effective form of management, however, seed treatments can prevent nematodes from attaching to corn roots. Applied directly to the seed, these treatments help prevent damage to early-season seedlings and roots before pests can strike.

When finalizing your 2014 seed purchases, consider these Latham® Hi‑Tech Hybrids with Genuity® SmartStax® technology and the Poncho/VOTiVO plus Acceleron seed treatment:
- LH 4579 SS
- LH 4679 SS
- LH 4819 SS
- LH 4959 SS
- LH 5088 SS
- LH 5219 SS
- LH 5349 SS
- LH 5689 SS
- LH 5779 SS
- LH 5829 SS
- LH 6089 SS
- LH 6239 SS
- LH 6359 SS
Webspec Admin

January 15, 2014

Corn, Crop, General
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Day 5: 12 Days of Christmas

One of the best ways to manage risk is by planting a diversified portfolio of seed products that includes minimum of three or four different hybrid numbers in varying maturities. Different flowering dates can help reduce yield loss due to heat during pollination.

LH 4819 SS, designated as one of Latham’s top Gladiator hybrids, is an excellent early product for North Iowa. Not only does it portray a great defensive package needed for tough corn-on-corn situations, but this hybrid is high yielding with excellent test weight. It has good stalks with excellent roots, giving this hybrid healthy late-season intactness. Staygreen allows LH 4819 SS to move south of its comfort zone, too.

Talk to your local Latham® representative about planting some 4819 in 2014. If you have questions or need help finding a dealer near you, call the Latham office at 1.877.GO.LATHAM (1.877.465.2842).

Team Latham

December 30, 2013

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

Day 1: 12 Days of Christmas
At Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, we’re extending the spirit of giving for 12 more days! Each day, from now through Jan. 5, we’ll feature some of our top performing seed products.

Wrap up your 2014 seed order and take advantage of great discounts through January 6! Check out these “Big 3” that a great fit for eastern South Dakota, southern Minnesota and parts of northern Iowa:
1. LH 4098 VT3 PRO RIB
  - 186.2 bu/A (2nd Overall) Casselton, ND FIRST Trials
  - 177.7 bu/A First Trials, Colfax, ND
  - 14.3 bushel Advantage over KR4189VT2P at Enderlin, ND
  - 13.7 bushel Advantage over 38N88 in 2012 3rd party replicated trials
  - 18.9 bushel Advantage over P8906HR in 2012 3rd party replicated trials
  - 17.4 bushel Advantage over P8917XR in 2012 3rd party replicated trials
2. LH 4455 VT3 PRO RIB
  - 196.87 bu/A (1st) at Garner, IA (plot #1)
  - 200.15 bu/A (2nd) at Oshkosh, WI
  - 182.15 bu/A (3rd) at Bellingham, MN
  - 187.78 bu/A (4th) at Stewart, MN
  - 13.4 bushel Advantage over P9519HR in 2013 3rd party replicated trials
  - 23.3 bushel Advantage over 38M58 in 2013 3rd party replicated trials
  - 3.4 bushel Advantage over P9853HR in 2013 3rd party replicated trials
  - 29.4 bushel Advantage over P38A57 RRHX in 2012 3rd party replicated trials
  - 41.4 bushel Advantage over P38M58 RRHX in 2012 3rd party replicated trials
  - 19.9 bushel Advantage over N36K 3000GT in 2012 3rd party replicated trials
  - 17 bushel Advantage over N33R 3000GT in 2012 3rd party replicated trials
3. LH 4568 VT3 PRO RIB
Team Latham

December 26, 2013

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

Apply the “Rule of Multiplicity” and Win

A number of years ago, I went to Las Vegas on a business trip and spent some time observing folks in the casino. Some appeared to have Lady Luck on their shoulder while others lost their shirts. After watching for a while, I decided to play a nickel roulette wheel because I didn’t think I’d lose too much too quickly.

The other reason I played roulette was to spread my risk of losing by betting on a number of colors or numbers at the same time. While it did cost me a little more each time I placed a bet, I won more often than others who only bet one color or number at a time. I used the rule of multiplicity: placing multiple bets on multiple numbers increases the odds of winning.

The rule of multiplicity also applies to farming and risk management. One way to reduce your risk is by planting multi-traited Latham® corn hybrids like Genuity® SmartStax® RIB Complete, which uses three different modes of action for control of European corn borer and two modes of action for Northern Corn Rootworm.

Further reduce your risk and increase your odds for greater profitability by planting a diversified seed portfolio that includes Latham® products in varying maturities. Each year our growing environment is different, so what may be your best hybrid this year may be second best next year. That’s why we look at multiple plots over multiple environments to select products for our lineup.

Just like playing the roulette wheel, you can increase the odds of achieving higher overall yields by implementing the rule of multiplicity on your farm. Latham’s hallmark Seed-2-Soil® program can help create a crop plan by matching the right Latham product to the soils on your farm. Learn more by calling 1-877-G0-LATHAM (1.877.465.2842).

Webspec Admin

December 23, 2013

Corn, Crop, General