Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Reducing Harvest Loss Begins at the Header
Half of corn harvest loss and a whopping 80% of soybean harvest loss can occur at the header. It’s easy to overlook adjustments to the header because there aren’t any sensors to tell us what’s wrong. That’s why a relatively quick inspection is well worth your time.

A combine performs five key operations during harvest: cuts the crop; threshes the crop (first part of the rotor); separates the grain from the chaff (back part of the rotor); cleans the grain with fans and the cleaning shoe; and handles the crop to move it through the combine and into the grain cart or wagon. We all do our best to adjust our combines for each of these five areas.

Harvest loss can add up in a hurry as 1 bushel/acre of harvest loss is only 2 kernels of corn or just 4 soybeans per square foot.

Be sure to check the following two areas, which are often overlooked when making adjustments at harvest time:
- Reel speed is typically set automatically based on tire speed in modern combines. However, you can adjust reel speed on-the-go and stop loss due to changing field conditions. The reel should be hitting soybeans about one-half to 3/4 of the way up the plant and at a speed that lays them back onto the platform. If your reel speed is too fast, it will cause premature shatter losses.
- Corn harvest loss typically comes from whole ear loss or “butt-shelling” at the deck plates. Whole ear loss can be minimized by installing different things like ear savers for over the throat and at the front of the gathering chains. Upgrades that extend the height of each end of the header help when corn is down. “Butt-shelling” should be adjusted for by adjusting deck plates to stalk size and by making sure there is not extra wear where the ears continually snap.
Adjusting monitors in your combine cab is another area that can have a significant impact on your data collection. Following are a few noteworthy areas for your consideration:
- Don’t lag behind. Inaccurate Flow Delay is the most common issue with yield mapping. Are you noticing red streaks or a gap at the beginning and ending of each pass? This means the flow delay is not set appropriately. The delay is typically between 10 and 20 seconds. If you see lots of red as you start a pass, increase that time. If you see a gap of data points between the end of a pass and the headlands, you need to decrease the delay.
- Calibrate. Yield monitors can be off as much as 100%. Even if you diligently calibrated your monitor in corn last year, you must calibrate it again this year in corn. Make sure the moisture sensor is accurate because that calibration also impacts yield calibration. Electronic sensors are especially prone to needing adjustments.
- Do you run Auto Steer? If you don’t run auto-steer on your combine, you’ll need to adjust the swath width for soybeans if you’re running at an angle or harvesting drilled beans. For example, if you’re leaving about a two-foot gap on a 35-foot header, your swath width should be changed to 33 feet.
Focus on making the adjustments that can have a significant impact on the quality of your data, but don’t sweat the small stuff. For example, if you must stop on a dime for a tile blowout that would swallow your combine or if you skirt around a waterway, that data can be cleaned up later. Feel free to call me if you have any questions or need assistance.
Team Latham

September 3, 2019

Agronomics, Corn, Crop, Fall, Precision Ag, Season, Soybeans, Tech Tuesday
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

See XtendFlex® Soybeans at Sept. 6 Field Day

Are you ready for the next new soybean technology? XtendFlex® from Bayer is expected to attain full global approval by mid-spring of 2020.

These soybeans will be the next triple-stack option for farmers, who continue to battle weed resistance. XtendFlex soybeans will be tolerant to glyphosate (Roundup), dicamba (XtendiMax, Engenia, etc.) and gluphosinate (Liberty®) herbicides.

The last hurdle for Bayer to clear is the European Union (EU). All other major soybean importing countries, including China and the Philippines, have granted their approval for this technology. Bayer has recently received a positive opinion from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), which is a key milestone in preparation for full commercialization in all markets.

Bayer has XtendFlex Ground Breaker Field Trials in place this growing season. In fact, Latham Seeds has an EPA-stewarded trial at our research farm near Alexander, Iowa.

Get a first-hand look at XtendFlex soybeans during our annual field day on Friday, September 6!

Join us to learn about all the exciting new traits and genetics that Latham offers in corn, soybeans and alfalfa! If you can’t make it to Alexander on September 6, contact your Latham® representative to set up a personal tour. You’re welcome to bring other farmers with you either to our field day or to a personalized tour. Load up the truck and head our way! We look forward to seeing you soon.

Mark Grundmeier, Product Manager

August 27, 2019

Crop, Industry News, Seed Technology, Soybeans, Tech Tuesday
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Scout for Soybean Gall Midge

Gall midge larvae and damage under the soybean stem epidermis. Photo by Dr. Bruce Potter, University of Minnesota

Soybean Gall Midge (SGM) caused extensive damage in 2018. It already has been reported in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota this season.

Scout around the edges of your soybean fields, especially those areas that are closest to fields where SGM was spotted last year. The adult stage of this pest is a fly from the genus Resseliella. The adult insects are so small that they go unnoticed in everyday scouting activities. Other midge flies are the Hessian Fly and the Wheat Blossom Midge.

The SGM may be spotted in the larval stages as they feed on a variety of items like decaying organic matter, fungi and, of course, galls on the stems of plants. Affected plants will appear wilted and eventually die.

Wilting also is symptom of Phytophthora Root Rot and Fusarium Wilt, so you’ll need to split the base of the soybean stem to know if the problem is an insect or disease. Once you split the stem, look for orange or white larvae.

You can see in this photo by Dr. Bruce Potter from the University of Minnesota that the larvae look like maggots. If find larvae, contact your local Extension Service immediately! While SGM larvae are almost impossible to control once they have colonized plants, Extension personnel want to learn more about this pest’s lifecycle. Any information you can give on how your field may have been infested will help all of us combat this pest in future years.

Because so many soybeans across Latham Country were planted later this spring than in 2018, the concern is SGM might be even more problematic this year. Last fall SGM was recorded in 69 counties of Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota.

Very little is known about the biology of the Soybean Gall Midge and even less is known about methods to control it. With your help, we can begin to know and understand more about this potential threat to soybean production.

Mark Grundmeier, Product Manager

August 13, 2019

Agronomics, Crop, Insects, Season, Soybeans, Summer, Tech Tuesday
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Soybean Aphids

Photo credit to Purdue University

Soybean aphids can reduce yield by 10 to 15%. The insect is found in soybeans between May and August and are less than 1/16 inches long. Aphids have yellow bodies with a translucent appearance and may be winged or wingless.

Unlike other soybean insects, female aphids can produce clones and can multiply the insect population during the summer months. With the rapid reproduction abilities of female aphids, it is possible for populations to double in as little as two to three days. Males typically do not appear for mating until the late summer.

Apart from reproduction, environmental conditions that fuel infestation can also lead to a rapid increase in aphid populations. Temperatures between 72 and 77° and humidity below 78% drive the development of aphids. Drought conditions also make soybeans more susceptible to infestation.

Implications for Yield

Yield loss from aphids is attributed to the damage caused from feeding on leaves. Their destructive leaf feeding can reduce plant vigor and overall stand along with pod and seed populations.

Aside from feeding damage, waste produced from aphid feeding can leave a soot-like mold on the surface of leaves and reduce photosynthetic leaf area.

Scouting for Aphids

Aphids are most often found on the backside of the newest leaves, especially during the earliest part of the summer when the insect first emerges. Sampling for aphids should begin once the first signs of the insect are spotted. It is recommended to sample 20 to 30 plants across many areas of the field.

As the insect population increases, aphids can begin to inhabit the entire leaf canopy. If aphids are spotted on stems, this is a sign that aphid populations are above 400 insects per plant – an amount considered to be excessive. Be sure to scout for symptoms at least every 7-10 days until R6.

Management

Treatment of soybean aphids is advised if more than 80% of plants are infested and counts are in excess of 250 aphids per plant. Also, if it is evident that the population of the insect is increasing, this is also grounds for beginning treatment.

Foliar insecticides are the best method for combatting aphid populations in soybeans. In addition, biological control plays a role in staving off high aphid populations including pirate bugs and Asian ladybird beetles. When assessing the best treatment options for soybean aphids, be sure to consult with your local Latham representative.

Latham Seeds Precision Agronomy Advisors

July 20, 2019

Agronomics, Crop, Insects, Soybeans

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

#AskTheAgronomist: Soybean Scouting Blitz

It’s time to scout soybeans!! Tune in for a 10 minute soybean blitz on what to look for in the field.

Insects: Japanese Beetles	1:55
Insects: Gall Midge	2:35
Insects: Aphids	3:55
Diseases: Sudden Death Syndrome	4:45
Diseases: Frog Eye	6:10
Diseases: Soybean Cyst Nematode	7:14
Disorders: Iron Deficiency Chlorosis	8:22
Disorders: Root Development	9:33
Disorders: Herbicide Injury	10:55

Laura Cunningham

July 18, 2019

#AskTheAgronomist, Agronomics, Crop, Disease, Insects, Season, Soybeans, Summer

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Scouting soybeans after a cool wet spring
If you’re fortunate to be done with planting your crops, it’s time to get back out there and check your stands. This year I’m especially concerned with soybean stands for three main reasons:
1. Cold soils. Many fields were planted when soil temperatures were below the recommended 60° Fahrenheit. (This link goes into more detail about the importance of soil temperatures: https://bit.ly/2JuHTkO) Cool, wet conditions can lead to severe disease infestation and reduced stands. Seed treatments protect the seedlings before and just after emergence. Historical data shows that not using a seed treatment can cause yield loss of 2½ to 3 bushels per acre if damping off occurs, but many farmers cut back on seed treatments this season to lower their input costs.
2. Wet soils. Farmers felt like they were racing against the calendar during an especially wet spring, so some seed was planted into unfit soils. Planting into wet soils can lead to both sidewall and overall field compaction. Delayed emergence may cause uneven stands and reduce yield. Nutrient deficiency, reduced crop productivity and restricted root development are three of the top 10 reasons to avoid compaction. (Click here for the rest of the story: https://bit.ly/2VS06zo)
3. Soybean Gall Midge. This new insect pest was especially damaging last season in Northeast Nebraska, Northwest Iowa, Southeast South Dakota and Southwest Minnesota. Ask your local Extension Agronomist if any of these pests have been reported in your area. (You can learn more about Soybean Gall Midge in this blog post: https://bit.ly/2JSLetw)
Walking fields right after emergence gives you the most time to make corrections or to replant. Stand reductions rarely occur evenly across a field. That’s why I recommend taking 10 stand counts in the area where the problem is the worst, as well as taking 10 counts in an area that was not affected or is slightly affected. Most university researchers recommend keeping a final stand of at least 100,000 plants per acre.

University trials also indicate that planting soybeans on or before June 1 in northern Iowa and southern Minnesota gives 95% of expected yield. It is usually June 15 before soybean yields drop below 85% of what is expected. Over the years, we have seen decent soybean yields when soybeans were planted around the 4th of July.

Scouting early and often is the best advice I can give, so you can remedy the situation as soon as possible. Different insects, diseases and pests may be present due to weather conditions and stage of crop development. Scout diligently all growing season long!
Mark Grundmeier, Product Manager

June 10, 2019

Agronomics, Crop, Disease, Rain, Season, Soybeans, Spring, Tech Tuesday, Weather, Weed Control
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

#AskTheAgronomist: Delayed Soybean Planting

Tune in to hear how delayed planting will affect your soybean crop.

1:03 – #Plant19 soybean update across Latham Country

2:18 – Deciding factors for delayed soybean planting

4:10 – Yield penalty associated with late planted soybeans

5:18 – Switching soybean maturities

7:02 – Canopy closure and seeding rate

#AskTheAgronomist

Laura Cunningham

June 6, 2019

#AskTheAgronomist, Crop, Flooding, Rain, Season, Soybeans, Spring, Weather
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

#AskTheAgronomist: Imbibitional Chilling or Chilling Injury?

Will your planted fields be affected by imbibitional chilling? Tune in the hear symptoms of the chilling effect.

Laura Cunningham

May 9, 2019

#AskTheAgronomist, Agronomics, Corn, Crop, Emergence, Frost, Season, Soybeans, Spring, Weather
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Key Dates for Switching Maturities
Each day we turn the calendar, I receive more calls from Latham® dealers and farmers asking whether they should change maturities. Keep in mind, the object is to achieve maximum yield potential for this crop. When you switch maturities, you forfeit maximum potential and have essentially decided to lower your yield expectations!

Based on my experiences over the past 40 years – as well as research findings from many Midwest land grant institutions – I can tell you with confidence that full-season hybrids and varieties outperform early maturing hybrids and varieties. Most people jump the gun and make the switch way too soon. Corn planted in mid-June can make decent yields, and there’s no need to switch from corn to soybeans until after that.

There becomes a point in time where the advantages of planting a full-season hybrid diminishes to the point where shifting to a shorter-season hybrid or variety will generally result in drier corn and higher yields come fall. Below is a summary of factors to consider when deciding whether to switch corn or soybean maturities.

CORN

I’ll use northern Iowa and southern Minnesota as an example. If your maturity range is 98- to 109-days (which is what I use for the Latham Research Farm), then you should generally not deviate from those maturities until at least May 25. If all you have left to plant is your 98-day hybrids, then you can safely extend your planting window to about June 7-10. On the other hand, if you only have your 109-day hybrids left to plant, you’ll probably be better off switching to 95- or 99-day products.

That brings us to the next subject… if you must switch, how early of a hybrid is needed? You don’t need to take it to extreme and switch from 109 RM to an 85-day hybrid or something equally silly! Research has proven that it pays to stay closer to your “normal” maturity. Switch to hybrids that are about 5 to 7 relative maturity units earlier than full season for the region. Yields in this scenario will be greatly improved if northern Iowa and southern Minnesota farmers (from the example above) move toward a 92- to 95-day hybrid that is more closely adapted to the area.

The decision to switch maturity with delayed corn planting is difficult because of so many variables including: available GDUs, first frost date and fall drying conditions. With this in mind, here are some general guidelines for Iowa farmers:

Location
within Iowa Full Season RM Switch to
on May 25 Switch to
on June 10

South of U.S. 92 114-117 108-111 105-109

Central 108-115 104-110 100-106

North of U.S. 20 100-109 96-105 94-100

For your convenience, below are few links to related articles: Adjust this information depending on where you farm, but make your decision is based on sound research and not “coffee shop facts.” Just because your neighbor is switching doesn’t mean it’s the best decision. Conduct a little research of your own before deciding what might be best for your operation.
- Soybean Planting Decision Tool by Iowa State University Extension
- Late Corn Planting Options by Iowa State University Extension
- Corn Planting Guide by South Dakota State Extension
- Considerations for Late Planted Corn by North Dakota State University
- Soybean Planting Date and Maturity Considerations by University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension
- Considerations for Late-Planted Corn in Minnesota by University of Minnesota Extension
SOYBEANS

There is absolutely no reason to start switching soybean maturities until at least mid-June. I use June 20 as our cutoff here in North Central Iowa, but again, it depends on what you were planning to plant in the first place. In this area, bean maturities range from 1.8 to 2.7. L 2482 R2’s are still good to plant in this region until mid-June as we’ve done it before with great results.

Soybeans have even more resiliency when it comes to maturity stretch. Because soybeans are more “photo period” sensitive, they actually adjust based on the length of the nighttime. A planting date of June 20 in southern Wisconsin and June 15 in northern Wisconsin, using early maturing varieties, was considered to be the latest practical date by the University of Wisconsin. Soybeans can be planted in our area as late as the Fourth of July with decent yield results as long as we don’t go into a dry period.

The 2019 planting season will certainly test our patience! It’s tough to turn pages off the calendar without putting any seed in the ground, but it’s better to wait a few more days than to mud seed into the ground. Experts warn that compaction and/or inadequate seed-to-soil contact from planting in wet conditions cause yield reductions for soybean farmers. During a wet year, it’s even more important for soybean growers to pay close attention to machinery. Avoiding soil compaction and obtaining good soil closure over seeds will help increase yields. For more soybean planting tips to boost yields, click here.
Mark Grundmeier, Product Manager

May 6, 2019

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

Follow the Rules to Keep the Dicamba Tool
In 2018, the EPA extended the registration for over-the-top use of select dicamba products to control weeds in soybean and cotton fields that are genetically engineered to resist dicamba. This registration included label updates which add certain measures to further minimize the potential of off-target damage. This registration will automatically expire on December 20, 2020, unless the EPA extends it further. Listed below are some of the FEDERAL updates now in effect:
- Only certified applicators may apply dicamba over-the-top; applicators working under the direct supervision of certified persons are no longer qualified.
- Post-emerge applications to soybeans are prohibited 45 days after planting or later.
- Applications are allowed only from 1 hour after sunrise to 2 hours before sunset.
- In counties where endangered species exist the downwind buffer will remain at 110 feet and there is a new 57-foot buffer around the other sides of the field.
- Training periods for 2019 and beyond will be clarified, ensuring more consistency across all three registered products: XtendiMax®, Engenia® and FeXapan®.
- Tank clean-out instructions will be
  further enhanced.
- Enhanced labels to improve the awareness of the impact of low pH’s on volatility.
- Label clean up and consistency to improve compliance and enforceability.
In addition to these updates, some state Departments of Agriculture have additional restrictions. Here are a few standouts from states in Latham Country:

Minnesota: Must not apply dicamba herbicides after June 20th. There will be no temperature restriction for 2019.

North Dakota: Must not apply dicamba after June 30th. Keeping records of dicamba applications is required and will be strictly enforced.

South Dakota: Must not apply dicamba after June 30th, 45 days after planting or the R1 (beginning bloom) stage of soybeans, whichever comes first. Applicators must also pass a short exam after training is completed.

Illinois: Must not apply dicamba after June 30th. Do not apply when the wind is blowing toward adjacent residential areas. Before spraying, the applicator must consult the FieldWatch sensitive crop registry. Further restrictions apply when spraying near the downfield edge of any Illinois Nature Preserves Commission Site.

These are just some of the new requirements for the application of dicamba over-the-top of soybeans in 2019. There may be additional restrictions from the states not mentioned above or from local authorities. If you will be applying any of the dicamba products in 2019, make certain you attend the required ANNUAL training and conform to what the label requires. Please make these restrictions a high priority so we can continue to use this valuable tool in the fight against weed resistance!
Mark Grundmeier, Product Manager

April 30, 2019

Agronomics, Crop, Herbicide Technology, Industry News, Season, Soybeans, Spring, Summer, Tech Tuesday, Weed Control

Location within Iowa	Full Season RM	Switch to on May 25	Switch to on June 10
South of U.S. 92	114-117	108-111	105-109
Central	108-115	104-110	100-106
North of U.S. 20	100-109	96-105	94-100

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Reducing Harvest Loss Begins at the Header

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

See XtendFlex® Soybeans at Sept. 6 Field Day

Get a first-hand look at XtendFlex soybeans during our annual field day on Friday, September 6!

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Scout for Soybean Gall Midge

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Soybean Aphids

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

#AskTheAgronomist: Soybean Scouting Blitz

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Scouting soybeans after a cool wet spring

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

#AskTheAgronomist: Delayed Soybean Planting

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

#AskTheAgronomist: Imbibitional Chilling or Chilling Injury?

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Key Dates for Switching Maturities

CORN

SOYBEANS

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Follow the Rules to Keep the Dicamba Tool

In addition to these updates, some state Departments of Agriculture have additional restrictions. Here are a few standouts from states in Latham Country: