Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Minimize Risk through Crop Planning

No two crop years are exactly alike, so why base next year’s potential off last year’s results? In 2010, we received excessive rainfall. In 2011, we experienced three weeks of 100-plus degree heat. In 2012, we experienced the most severe drought since 1956. 2013 appeared to be a combination with widespread flooding and prevented planting in early spring following by long spans of extreme temps and little rain later in the growing season.

We can’t predict the weather, but we can minimize risk from weather events through crop planning. Farmers, who planted both defensive and offensive products, will see higher yields overall. Make sure these numbers have varying maturities, too.

Consider traits to help combat growing season risk (4) balance offensive and defensive characteristics. Keep your refuge strategy in mind as you crop plan. Latham’s Refuge in a Bag (RIB) is making the complex world of refuge simple with a broad list of options including Genuity SmartStax RIB, VT Triple PRO RIB, VT Double PRO RIB and Agrisure’s brand new 3122 E-Z Refuge option.

Farmers in dry or light soil conditions may consider a strategy including moisture management products like the new Agrisure Artesian and Genuity DroughtGard traits newly available in the Latham product lineup this year. These products have proven to save yield in dry weather while boosting yield in those years when moisture is adequate.

Rootworm control is a must in corn-on-corn protection, so it’s important to determine which trait is right for your situation. In an area with heavy rootworm pressure or multiple years of corn-on-corn, plant Latham hybrids with two modes of action against CRW like Genuity® SmartStax®, or the brand new Agrisure Duracade or 3122 dual mode of action.

It’s all about balance… No matter how good a particular football team is, it can’t win on the gridiron by having a strong offense or a strong defense. It takes both! And the same is true whether you’re planting in a corn field or a soybean field. Remember to plant a minimum or three different seed numbers, with a mixture of offensive and defensive traits.

Webspec Admin

October 3, 2013

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

Tips for Late-Season Scouting

Detecting late season corn diseases ASAP will help you prioritize fields for harvest. Hybrid maturity and crop residue management should take a backseat to weak stalks. Start by harvesting fields with the weakest stalk to help preserve the quality and quantity of grain that goes into your hopper.

At this time of year, the biggest concerns are stalk rots or fusarium. Warm, moist weather with extended periods of overcast skies and high humidity makes conditions ideal for stalk rot. Later in the season, you might see stalks break or bend below the ear.

Walk fields now and note what you believe is the cause of stalk rot or lodging: fertility, hail, high wind, amount of rainfall, or the genetic predisposition of a hybrid. The cause of stalk rot could affect the seed you purchase or your management practices in 2014. There’s no better time than the present to plan your next crop! Get your seed ordered while the availabilities of all products are at their highest.

Webspec Admin

September 12, 2013

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

Save Yield by Scouting for Stalk Rot

Warm, moist weather with extended periods of overcast skies and high humidity makes conditions ideal for stalk rot. That’s why it’s so important to continue scouting your fields. Detecting late season corn diseases ASAP will help you access the potential impact and harvest early to preserve the quantity and quality of that grain that goes in your hopper.

Start looking for stalk rot pathogens problems about 30 to 40 days after pollination. Monitor stalk health over the next few weeks, and adjust harvest strategies accordingly to manage fields where stalk lodging may be a big problem. Plants that were damaged by wind and hail earlier in the season are vulnerable to a number of problems that may show up, so it might be necessary to harvest those fields first to prevent stalk lodging or dropped ears.

photo from the ISU Extension

Later in the season, as the plant matures, you might see stalks break or bend below the ear. Many factors can contribute to this situation: fertility, hail, high wind or level of rainfall, as well as the genetic predisposition of certain hybrids. Goss’s Wilt and Gray Leaf Spot may also be contributing factors. Knowing the true cause will help you determine how to better manage stalk rot.

Stalk rots reduce standability. Fields where greater than 10% of plants are affected by stalk rots should be scheduled for an early harvest. The following video shows how to detect stalk rot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c064-2Pd-do&feature=youtu.be

To minimize damage from stalk rot in the future, consider these three best management practices: (1) maintain proper fertility in fields; (2) plant at recommended populations; and (3) rotate crops. It’s important to note stalk strength and the disease package when selecting hybrids. Only those corn hybrids with the toughest defensive package are designated as Latham’s Gladiator^TM products. They’re selected to do battle and win! Talk with your local Latham® representative about Gladiator corn hybrids for your 2014 seed needs.

Webspec Admin

September 5, 2013

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

Tips to Assess Rootworm Activity

Two months ago I posted a blog, encouraging farmers to scout every field for rootworm. Because of the wide variance in planting dates in 2013, it’s important to continually inspect every field – regardless of seed selection – for insect pressure.

With adult corn rootworm becoming active during silking this year, we highly recommend keeping an eye on fields in order to protect yield. Now it is a good time to assess corn rootworm activity: score injury caused by larvae, and monitor adult activity in corn. Late-planted fields or late-flowering hybrids are generally attractive to adult corn rootworm beetles. Silks will still be developing in these fields when older fields have brown or drying silks. Adults may migrate and aggregate in this later-maturing fields.

Also evaluate root injury to better understand the efficacy of your management program. Monitoring over several years will help establish a historical record of how larvae respond to management tactics (e.g., crop rotation, Bt corn, soil insecticides, etc.). One common outcome of severe larval feeding is lodging of corn plants. However, it is important to confirm that feeding from corn rootworm was the cause of lodging and that it did not results from other factors such as strong winds.

To help assess injury, ISU Entomologist Aaron J. Gassmann developed an Interactive Node Injury Scale. Injury assessment made now and field notes taken will help you select seed products for 2014. To prevent corn rootworm damage from reaching devastating levels, plant a portfolio of products.

Continued use of the same rootworm-resistant trait in corn hybrids, an increase of corn-on-corn areas, plus a lack of refuge acres, has caused rootworm resistance to become an issue in some areas. Best management practices to reduce corn rootworm pressure in the future include: crop rotation, trait rotation and respecting the refuge.

Respecting the refuge just got easier thanks to the EPA last week granting approval of Agrisure Duracade E-Z Refuge trait stacks. New, for 2014 planting, Latham® Hi‑Tech Hybrids is offering Agrisure Duracade^TM as another option in the fight against corn rootworm.

Farmers have a chance to see Latham’s new 2014 products this Saturday, Aug. 24, when we host the 5^th Annual Latham Freedom of Independence Ride. This year’s ride begins and ends in Lewis & Clark State Park in Onawa. It’s free and open to motorcycles, classic cars and even pickup trucks. For more details, visit our company website lathamseeds.com. Then click on the Freedom Ride icon. Pre-register today, and we’ll see you Saturday on the open road!

Webspec Admin

August 22, 2013

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

Cool, Damp Weather Creates Ideal Conditions for White Mold
White Mold, or Sclerotinia Stem Rot, is becoming evident now in many soybean fields across the Upper Midwest. Like weed seeds, sclerotia can lay dormant for years and then grow when the conditions are suitable. Cooler than normal temperatures, combined with ample moisture in fields, has created a favorable environment for the fungus in recent weeks.

Today we’re providing tips to help you prevent the fungus from spreading this season and remedying it for the future.

White Mold starts to show when soybean plants are in the early reproductive stages and there is moisture in the crop canopy. This usually happens in July and August, but we’re just starting to notice it now since it took longer for soybean crops to reach the reproductive stage due to later planting dates.

In addition to the fluffy white mycelium of the fungus, a closer inspection of the plant will turn up sclerotia. These black, oblong structures resemble rat droppings. Sclerotia form in the center of the bleached plant stem and also develop inside the stem, so they can be easily seen when the stem is split.

Sclerotia are the fungus’ survival structures. Although they are initially soft, sclerotia harden with age and basically encapsulate the fungus. Deep tillage can bring sclerotia to the surface, causing White Mold to be found in areas where it hadn’t been seen for a decade or more.

Preventing the Spread

Because infected soybean plants may not produce seed, a little White Mold can have a big impact on yield. Most likely, you won’t be able to do anything for the plants already infected with the fungus but you can protect the rest of the field. Certain foliar fungicides may be applied when you see White Mold starting to attack, so contact your local Ag Retailer or Crop Consultant for specific recommendations.

There are also Best Management Practices to help prevent White Mold from surfacing in future years. In fields with a history of White Mold, be sure to select soybean seed with resistance to White Mold. Research shows that it also helps to lower the plant population in these fields; avoid planting 200,000 plants per acre regardless of row width.

The most effective defense against White Mold is to keep the fungus out of a field, but this is easier said than done. To prevent White Mold from spreading:
- Avoid harvesting disease-infested fields before harvesting healthy fields
- Clean your combine thoroughly after a field with White Mold is harvested. It’s important to clean the combine before moving to a field with no history of the disease.
- If White Mold is restricted to a portion of the field, that restricted area should be harvested last and independently from the rest of the field.
- If White Mold is already present in a field, keep sclerotia out of the upper layer of the soil, and prevent the sclerotia from distributing over a wider area
Soybeans with very good to excellent White Mold tolerance:

L1568R2
L1783R2
L1868L
L1948R2
L1985R2
L2083L
L2084R2
L2183R2
L21B53R2
L2253R2
L2440R2
L2483R2
L2648R2
L2758R2
L2780R2
L2883L
L3158L
Webspec Admin

August 15, 2013

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

Pressure on the Rise from Insects & Disease
Gray leaf spot (early symptoms). (photo from Alison Robertson)

Corn diseases will likely be more prevalent this season due to an excessively wet spring followed by humid summer weather. Plentiful moisture or dew is ideal for most fungal corn diseases. Watch for Gray Leaf Spot, Southern and Common Rust, Northern & Southern Leaf Blight and Eyespot.

Later planted crops can get stressed more easily, which also makes them more prone to insect pressure. It’s likely we’ll see different insect and disease pressure now than we typically would because our corn is not as far along in its development as it would be in late July.

Corn rootworm are strongly attracted to corn during pollination and can trim back silks to the husk. Photo by Marlin E. Rice.

Watch for these insects now that corn is silking: adult corn rootworm beetles, Japanese beetles, western bean cutworm, aphids, corn flea beetle, corn borer and grasshoppers. Consider infection levels, potential economic damage and weather conditions before determining a treatment strategy.

Take good field notes to help you select the right seed for the future. For example, fields with confirmed Goss’s Wilt should be planted to a hybrid that is more resistant to Goss’s wilt in subsequent years. Tillage and crop rotation can also help reduce corn rootworm. Tillage and crop rotation also can help reduce the amount of residue that can harbor bacteria for the next corn crop. For additional information about managing disease or insects, click on the related links below.

Related Links:
Webspec Admin

July 25, 2013

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

Be a Vigilant Scout

Walking fields and noting where there is weed and insect pressure will help you determine what you select seed products in the future.

“Be prepared” is the Boy Scout motto. Like a good Scout, farmers across the Midwest should be prepared for the unexpected this season as pests aren’t following their typical developmental patterns. Corn and soybean plant development is later than normal, so they could be more susceptible to insect and disease pressure as pests prey on weaker plants.

We haven’t seen much insect pressure yet this year, and that could be for a couple of different reasons. First of all, the wet spring delayed planting and spraying. Many farmers have gone straight from planting and tillage to spraying and haying. Not many people have had the time to walk their fields and really take a close look for signs of insect and disease pressure. Secondly, just as crop development is delayed, so is insect development. We know the corn rootworm hatch was delayed. We also know Japanese Beetles have been delayed.

Just because the weather slowed them down, don’t count them out! The Japanese Beetle is becoming a more common pest for both corn and soybean crops. These voracious eaters literally eat anything that’s green. They seem to prefer the leaf tissue between the veins of soybean leaves and the soft silks of corn plants. Both activities can result in significant yield loss, so it’s important to scout for Japanese Beetles.

Also watch for Bean Leaf Beetles, which have adapted to winter by protecting themselves in leaf litter. Although overwintering beetles rarely cause economic damage, their presence may be an indicator of building first and second generations later in the season. While feeding on young soybean seedlings, these beetles have been known to infest them with disease that leads to Bean Pod Mottle Virus.

Another insect that could do some damage this season are corn rootworm. Because of the wide variance in planting dates in 2013, rootworm beetles may move between fields in search of the best “buffet.” A late maturing corn field may attract a large numbers of beetles if neighboring corn stopped producing pollen, for example. Rootworm beetles may also move into corn and/or soybean fields that have an abundance of pollen-producing weeds, including volunteer corn, ragweed or foxtails. Controlling weeds will also help control corn rootworm populations.

In addition to corn rootworm, black cutworm could a larger problem this year as they’re known to cause more damage in fields where corn is planted later. Fields of higher risk also include those that are poorly drained and low lying; those next to areas of natural vegetation; and those that are weedy or have reduced tillage.

Walking fields and noting where there is both weed and insect pressure will help farmers determine an action plan for the future, too. It will help you determine if you need to change modes of action in future years. Remember, family-owned Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds offers the industry’s broadest product portfolio. New for 2014 planting are Latham® Hi‑Tech Hybrids featuring Artesian and DroughtGard technologies. We also will offer a complete portfolio of Refuge Made Simple products including corn hybrids with Genuity® SmartStax, VT2 and VT3, plus Agrisure 3122 E-Z Refuge. For more details, contact your local Latham® representative or call the Latham office at 1-877-GO-LATHAM.

Webspec Admin

July 11, 2013

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

Scout All Fields for Corn Rootworm
With most of the 2013 crop in the ground, it’s time to walk fields. Crops should be scouted within 3 to 5 days of planting and then regularly throughout the growing season. Be on the lookout for: (1) crop emergence; (2) nitrate leaching and (3) insect and disease pressure

It’s a good idea to walk fields within 5 days of planting. Evaluating current stands can indicate whether to replant portions of the field. Notes you take now also could impact your seed buying decisions this fall. Plus, evaluating current stands can help determine if adjustments should be made to your equipment or planter speed next spring.

When checking fields where the corn is more developed, look for signs of nitrogen loss. Iowa State University Nutrient Management Specialist John Sawyer says the best options for sidedressing, in order from most to least preferable, include:
1. injected anhydrous ammonia, UAN or urea,
2. broadcast dry ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate or urease treated urea,
3. surface dribbling UAN solution between rows,
4. broadcast UAN, and
5. broadcast urea.
Also walk every field for signs of corn rootworm (CRW), regardless of what traits they planted. The corn rootworm hatch is underway, so larvae will soon begin feeding on roots if they aren’t already doing so. Corn development, although delayed, still provides plenty of plant material for the CRW larvae to feast upon. Severe infestation can destroy nodes 4-6, which effect water and nutrient uptake.

Because of the wide variance in planting dates this year, rootworm beetles can move between fields in search of the best “buffet.” A late maturing corn field may attract a large numbers of beetles if neighboring corn stopped producing pollen, for example. Beetles may also move into corn and/or soybean fields that have an abundance of pollen-producing weeds, including volunteer corn, ragweed or foxtails.

Weed control is important for several reasons. Crops have a better chance of reaching optimal yield when they’re not competing with weeds for sunlight, water and nutrients. Plus, controlling weeds helps control corn rootworm populations. The rootworm hatch is underway; expect 50 percent hatch between 684-767 degree days. Click here for current degree day accumulation for corn rootworm provided by the Iowa Environmental Mesonet, ISU Department of Agronomy.
Webspec Admin

June 27, 2013

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

Corn Rootworm Hatch is Delayed but Underway

Expect 50 percent hatch between 684-767 degree days. Click here for current degree day accumulation for corn rootworm, courtesy of Iowa Environmental Mesonet, ISU Department of Agronomy.

Cool, wet spring weather delayed corn planting and the corn rootworm hatch, which is largely dependent upon soil temperature. When soil temperatures accumulate between 684-767 degree days, 50 percent of the rootworm hatch occurs.

Although corn is not as far along in its development as it normally is at this time of year, there is still plenty of plant material available to provide a feast for the CRW larvae. It won’t be long before newly hatched larvae begin feeding on corn roots. Severe infestation can destroy nodes 4-6, which effect water and nutrient uptake.

Shortly after larvae begin feeding on roots, adult beetles begin to emerge from fields and begin feeding on pollen, green silks and leaves. The males emerge first, and the females follow about 5 to 7 days later. Mating takes place, and then females will lay eggs toward the end of July through August.

Because of the wide variance in planting dates this year, it will be important to inspect every field – regardless of seed selection. Rootworm beetles can move between fields in search of the best “buffet.” A late maturing corn field may attract a large numbers of beetles if neighboring corn stopped producing pollen, for example. Beetles may also move into corn and/or soybean fields which have an abundance of pollen-producing weeds, including volunteer corn, ragweed or foxtails.

Note areas where corn rootworm damage is the highest and create a plan of action if root injury is high. To help assess injury, ISU Entomologist Aaron J. Gassmann developed an Interactive Node Injury Scale. To help develop an action plan, keep best management practices in mind.

Field notes from 2013 will help you select seed products for 2014. To prevent corn rootworm damage from reaching such devastating levels, plant a portfolio of products. Remember, that in 2104 Latham® Hi‑Tech Hybrids, will offer Agrisure Duracade^TM as another option in the fight against corn rootworm.

Webspec Admin

June 20, 2013

Agronomics, Corn, Crop, General, Insects

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Rules of Thumb for Late Planted Soybeans

This spring has been anything but normal. We are currently sitting at 67% of corn planted and 39% of soybeans planted. With the higher-than-average number of unplanted acres, we could be looking at a contender for 2013 prevent plant numbers. Although this has been tough for many of our farmers and dealers throughout the growing season, there has been a positive response for corn and soybean markets. With a few more days of drier weather, Latham Country could make a lot of #plant19 progress.

We have received many questions this spring about when it is time to switch soybean varieties. The good news is soybeans are not as picky about maturity and delayed planting as corn. The typical maturity range for your area can be planted up to Mid-June without any worries. For those in the northern part of the territory, that date is closer to Early June. Its not a good idea to jump down more than 0.5 maturity group for your area. Remember soybeans mature based on night-length and not heat units, so they will make it to maturity, but the full season maturity encourages them to accumulate more nodes (i.e. more pods) before fully switching to seedfill.

Rules of Thumb on Later Planting:

Each 4 days later in planting date causes 1 day later maturity. One month later planting causes 1 week later maturity.
Farmers should not switch to a soybean variety that is out of their maturity zone.
For later planting, use narrower rows and slightly higher seeding rates whenever possible. We need to get canopy coverage as soon as possible.
When planting between June 1-10, expect a yield loss of one half bushel per day. When planting between June 11-20, expect an additional yield loss of one bushel per day.
Yield predictions for planting July 1 or later are extremely variable depending on growing conditions and frost date.

Soybean Yield Expectations & Physiological Maturity
Relative yield percent and Bushels Per Acre based on a 60 bpa potential yield

Planting Date	Northern Iowa		Central Iowa		Southern Iowa
Late April	100%	60.0 bpa	96%	57.6 bpa	98%	58.8 bpa
Early May	96%	57.6	100%	60.0	100%	60.0
Mid May	99%	59.4	96%	57.6	98%	58.8
Early June	81%	48.6	93%	55.8	89%	53.4
Mid June	61%	36.6	59%	35.4	82%	49.2
Early July	33%	19.8	45%	27.0	47%	28.2

NOTE: All yields through mid-May are not statistically different from 100% yield.

SOURCE: ISU Extension publication PM 1851, “Soybean Replant Decisions”

Team Latham

June 13, 2013

Agronomics, Crop, Growth Stages, Soybeans, Tech Tuesday

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Minimize Risk through Crop Planning

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Tips for Late-Season Scouting

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Save Yield by Scouting for Stalk Rot

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Tips to Assess Rootworm Activity

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Cool, Damp Weather Creates Ideal Conditions for White Mold

Preventing the Spread

Soybeans with very good to excellent White Mold tolerance:

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Pressure on the Rise from Insects & Disease

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Be a Vigilant Scout

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Scout All Fields for Corn Rootworm

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Corn Rootworm Hatch is Delayed but Underway

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Rules of Thumb for Late Planted Soybeans

Soybean Yield Expectations & Physiological Maturity