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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Ask the Agronomist: New Soybean Technology Approvals

Thanks for tuning into our weekly “Ask the Agronomist” Audiocast! Play the audio file below to listen to Mark’s response to this week’s question about the new soybean technology approvals.

Q: New soybean traits and technologies have been making headlines since last Friday when it was announced that Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybeans received EU approval. There have been rumblings that the Balance Bean also received EU approval last week. What is the status of these two new soybean technologies?

A: It’s important to understand that none of these technologies have actually received full approval. Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® soybeans received their final approval from the European Union in the global approval process. However, the low-volatile formulation of dicamba herbicide intended for Xtend soybeans has not received approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Use of existing dicamba herbicides over top of Xtend soybeans is not allowed at this time.

Meanwhile, the Balance GT soybean also received EU approval last Friday but has not yet received approval from key markets such as China. The accompanying herbicide has not received approval from the EPA either.

Q: Since seed for the Xtend products has global approval, will it be commercially available for 2017 planting?

A: Yes, in fact, there are 13 new Xtend varieties in Latham’s 2017 lineup. Six of these products are designated as IRONCLAD™. Soybeans with the Ironclad designation have the toughest defense systems and are unique to Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds.

Q: What are IRONCLAD Soybeans and why are they unique to Latham Seeds?

A: Research has shown that the best defense against Soybean Cyst Nematodes and Iron Deficiency Chlorosis is diligent seed selection. In 2003, Latham Seeds was the only seed company to introduce SCN-resistant soybean brands. Because we’re headquartered where soils are more prone to IDC, our soybean lines have been bred to overcome it.

The IRONCLAD series was introduced to help farmers distinguish which products have the best defense packages. IRONCLAD soybeans have been proven to yield the highest in difficult conditions. Many of our IRONCLAD products have taken first place over the past two years in the F.I.R.S.T. Trials!

Q: What does it take for a soybean product to receive IRONCLAD designation?

A: To be considered IRONCLAD, the soybean must have a Soybean Cyst Nematode and Phytophthora Root Rot deficiency gene. It must also score an Iron Deficiency Chlorosis rating of 2.2 or better. Depending on the needs of the variety geography, it can also protect against White Mold and Sudden Death Syndrome.

Q: What about Enlist products? Will they be offered in 2017?

A: It’s very possible that Enlist will receive full approval in time for 2017 planting. Opposite of Xtend, Enlist has herbicide approval from the EPA but is awaiting Chinese approval.

Depending on regulatory approval, two Enlist products could be offered. Both Enlist soybeans and E3 Enlist soybeans will be tolerant to 2,4-D choline, glyphosate, and glufosinate.

So far, Enlist Duo is approved for use in the U.S. in 15 states on corn and soybeans. They are Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and North Dakota.

We’ll be providing an update on these emerging soybean technologies, as well as new corn technologies as part of Latham’s Technology Road Show. The first tour stop will be Friday, August 19, in Eldridge, Iowa near Davenport. While the Latham Freedom of Independence Ride is traditionally a field day on two wheels, we will make groups available for people who prefer to drive cars or trucks.

July 28, 2016

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

Soybean Seed: To Inoculate or Not To Inoculate?
It’s that time of year again… Harvest is over. The holidays are upon us, and once more, it’s time to turn our attention to the next crop year! During this crop planning time, I am frequently asked if I recommend using an inoculant on soybean seed. The answer is more complicated than a simple “yes” or “no.”

Proper nitrogen fixation is absolutely crucial to obtain high soybean yields. For this to happen, nitrogen-fixing bacteria (specifically Bradyrhizobia japonicum) must be present in sufficient quantities in the soil. This bacteria stimulates plant roots to produce nodules that absorb nitrogen from the air and convert it into ammonia, which is a useable form that the plant can then take up through its root system. This nitrogen is then used to make amino acids, which are the building blocks for proteins, and also chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is the molecule that converts sunlight, an energy source, into carbohydrates through the process of photosynthesis. Researchers estimate that between 50 and 80% of the nitrogen needed to produce a normal soybean crop can be provided in this way.

Active fixation usually starts at the V2 stage. From there on, more nodules develop and the amount of nitrogen that is fixed continues to increase. The highest demand for nitrogen begins when seeds begin to form in the pods and continues through full maturity.

So when should farmers use inoculants? That’s always a tough question to answer since each crop year is different and there are literally a 1,000 variables that can factor into the decision. Let’s start with the “no-brainers.” I would use an inoculant when:
- Soybeans have NEVER been grown in this field.
- Soybeans have not been in the field for three years.
- You are planting into soils that have a pH of 6.0 or lower.
- You are planting into high pH soils. I would use an inoculant at a pH of 8.3 and above.
- Your soil has a high sand content. Rhizobia bacteria do not survive as well in sandy soils as they do in soils with high organic matter content.
Times when an inoculant might be recommended include if a field was flooded the previous year for more than a week and also in cool, wet soils like no-till fields. The downside of not using an inoculant when one is needed can be as much as a 50% loss in yield! For the cost, inoculants can be a great insurance policy.

Feel free to call me with any questions related to this or other crop production practices.
February 3, 2016

Crop, General, Soybeans
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

High Quality Soybean Seed and Record-Setting Yields in 2015

Although I’ve spent my career in agriculture, I don’t remember a harvest season in North Central Iowa where combines rolled almost non-stop for six weeks or more without a single rain day. The hours were long for everyone involved, but it was such a rewarding year.

We saw some of the best yields I’ve ever seen in the 19 years that I’ve worked at Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds. An all-time record yield of 77.21 bu/A from a 105-acre production field came in October 7. Two days later, that record was broken when a 137-acre field yielded 81.13 bu/A! Both of these fields were Latham L 2228 R2 brand soybeans.

Not only were yields this fall impressive, but the quality is equally impressive. Once our growers deliver their soybeans to Alexander, our crew places each variety in a bin and takes a composite sample. We take samples from every one of our 50+ bins to check that seed for germination, and the germination percentage of all samples were in upper 90s! Keep in mind that these samples are the raw seed taken directly from the bin, and conditioned lots can be even better since we strive to remove all of the lower quality seeds before we bag them.

You can count on our professionals in the conditioning plant to do their very best to keep with the tradition of producing top quality, Latham® soybean seed. “Hat’s off” to plant manager Greg Jaacks and the crew in Alexander for doing another outstanding job of keeping all the soybeans that came in separated and stored in the best possible condition. They know that quality seed in the bag leads to high yields in the field.

We believe quality seed, combined with industry-leading genetics and geographic selection, are key to Latham Seeds’ standings in the independent F.I.R.S.T. Trials. For the second year in a row, Latham’s L 1858 R2 was the highest yielding product across Minnesota, South Dakota and North Dakota!

Latham brand soybean products won 36 times in 2014-2015 F.I.R.S.T. Trials, and Latham corn products won 29 times! During this time period, our products earned 289 Top 10 finishes in soybeans and 291 in corn.

Increase the odds of winning on your farm with Latham Seeds! Apply the rule of multiplicity. Contact your local Latham® representative or call 1-877-G0-LATHAM (1.877.465.2842).

December 30, 2015

Crop, General, Soybeans
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Order Early as Demand for LibertyLink® Soybeans May Exceed Supply

Throughout the growing season, we’ve talked about how keeping good field notes helps farmers select the best seed for each of their fields. One challenge that many farmers across the Upper Midwest have encountered this season is weed pressure. Waterhemp and ragweed, in particular, are showing resistance to glyphosate. That’s why it’s so important to put a weed management strategy in place.

Weed specialists like Dr. Mike Owen at Iowa State University say that “diversity of tactics” is key to combatting weeds. One such tactic involves using different modes of action, or switching from glyphosate to glufonsinate herbicides. LibertyLink soybeans are the only non-selective option on the market to combat glyphosate-resistant weeds and break the cycle of continuous glyphosate use.

Liberty is effective for control of many ALS- and glyphosate-resistant weeds, including waterhemp, marestail and common and giant ragweed. Using residual herbicides can reduce weed populations, slow weed growth and provide flexibility in the post-emergence application window. Make sure you apply Liberty post-emergence at the proper time, according to weed size, and use the full recommended rate.

Many of our customers have achieved their best soybean yields ever with Latham’s Liberty soybeans. (Side bar: Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds released its first LibertyLink soybeans in 2009, so there’s no need to worry about yield drag!) Several customers have told us all growing season long that they’re impressed by the weed control they’ve seen this season and are eager to see yield results from #harvest15.

With so much concern about weed resistance, an industry-wide shortage of LibertyLink soybeans is expected. We have seen demand double for LibertyLink Soybeans each of the past two sales years, so we increased production of our LibertyLink soybean brands for 2016 planting.

Another major concern this growing season has been soybean diseases. Latham® IRONCLAD^TM offer the industry’s strongest defensive package to combat Soybean Cyst Nematodes (SCN), Iron Deficiency Chlorosis (IDC), Phytopthora Root Rot, Brown Stem Rot (BSR), Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) or White Mold.

Selecting seed is one of the single most important decisions a farmer makes each year. That’s why we work with farmers to get the right seed for each particular field. As an independent, family-owned company, Latham Seeds’ top priority is helping farmers select the best possible products – regardless of whether the traits came from Monsanto, Dow or Syngenta. Contact your local Latham® representative by October 15^th for the best pricing and availability.

September 17, 2015

Crop, General, Soybeans
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

White Mold? Your Best Offense is a Good Defense!

Weekly “From the Field” crop reports filed by Latham’s regional sales managers show that diseases from Iron Deficiency Chlorosis to Sudden Death Syndrome and White Mold are prevalent this season in soybean fields across the Upper Midwest. What can you do if your crops are suffering?

The best thing you can do now is take good field notes. That way, if you practice a corn-soybean rotation, you’ll remember to plant more defensive soybean products on those fields in the future. Seed selection is key to reducing risk and minimizing damage.

Be sure you note the rating given to each product in a seed catalog before you select it for a particular field. Plant tolerant varieties, or avoid very susceptible varieties, is to manage soybean disease. Also remember the seed treatments are effective insurance policies.

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds’ signature SoyShield^TM, a fungicide-only package, and SoyShield Plus^TM with fungicide and insecticide, protect seeds from disease and insect damage for up to 30 days. This time frame is longer than many other seed treatments and is typically an adequate window of protection. SoyShield includes an exclusive fungicide combination that provides excellent protection against seed and soil borne diseases including: Pythium, Phytophthora, Fusarium and Rhizoctonia. SoyShield Plus features that same fungicide combination with an imidacloprid insecticide that gives early season control of many seedling insects. In addition, seed treatments can provide health benefits for more rapid and increased germination under certain conditions.

Do what you can now to protect yield in 2016 and order Latham® IRONCLAD soybeans. To make seed selection easier, below is a list of products in our 2016 lineup with the best White Mold tolerance. Contact your local Latham dealer or the Latham Seeds’ office for help choosing the best product for each of your fields. FieldXField^SM Yields!

2016 Latham® Soybeans with the best White Mold tolerance:

*rating score of 2.2 or better

L 0256 R2

L 0683 L

L 0765R 2

L 0836 L

L 1156 R2

L 1328 L

L 1438 R2

L 1548 L

L 1673 R2

L 1848 L
L 1882 R2
L 1968 R2
L 1985 R2
L2083L
L2084R2
L2128R2

L2186L
L2228R2

L2358L
L2482R2

L2558L

L2628L
L2758R2

L2787L
L2884R2

L2978L
L3048R2
L3158L

L3384L

September 3, 2015

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

Latham® IRONCLAD is Your Best Defense Against IDC

With warmer temperatures, soybean plants across the Upper Midwest are entering a rapid growth phase. It’s no wonder so many of our sales managers, in Wednesday’s #FromtheField crop updates, reported seeing signs of Iron Deficiency Chlorosis (IDC) symptoms now.

The most common symptom, interveinal chlrosis, is a yellowing of the leaf tissue between the veins while the veins themselves remain green. The yellowed portions eventually turn brown, and the entire leaflet may drop off the plant. If severe, entire plants can be stunted or even die causing major yield loss.

Although not completely understood by researchers, the most likely cause of IDC is a soil pH level above 7.3. Symptoms are severe in soils with pH levels of 7.8. However, soil pH alone may not be the only factor in limiting iron. Other factors are poor drainage, high soluble salt content and excess calcium carbonates.

Research has proven planting IDC-tolerant soybean brands is really the best management practice. To help farmers better identify those soybeans that have high tolerance to IDC, Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds has designed a lineup of soybeans as IRONCLAD™.

Only a soybean brand that is Soybean Cyst Nematode resistant with an Iron Deficiency Chlorosis rating of 2.2 or better can earn the IRONCLAD designation. Depending on your specific needs, IRONCLAD brands must also protect against either White Mold or Sudden Death Syndrome with a rating of 2.2 or higher. Furthermore, these products must have strong defensive ratings against Phytophthora Root Rot and Brown Stem Rot.

IRONCLAD soybeans have been especially developed to withstand the high pH, high salt soils in our marketing area. Be assured these Latham brand soybeans have undergone thorough testing and are the best possible choices for fields with a history of severe Iron Chlorosis. Protect yield with Latham® soybean brands proven to have good IDC tolerance.

P.S. Just because these products are selected for their “defensive” characteristics, however, doesn’t mean you’re sacrificing yield. Check out our 2014 F.I.R.S.T. Trial results!

June 25, 2015

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

Watch for Early Soybean Insects & Diseases
Guest post by Kilah Hemesath, Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds Marketing Intern

With nearly all of the soybeans for the 2015 planting season in the ground, crop scouting becomes a necessity. Early soybean pests and diseases can create issues for newly emerged soybean seedlings. Becoming knowledgeable on what to look for in a field can make identification of these pests and diseases simpler.

As soybeans emerge, the bean leaf beetle may make a presence in your fields. This pest is distinguished by a small black triangle located at the base of the forewings. Adult bean leaf beetles are approximately ¼-inch long. They feed on the cotyledons, stems, unifoliate leaves and emerging trifoliates. Discolored, moldy, shriveled or diseased beans may be the result of bean leaf beetles in your field.

Even if seedlings are emerged, stay on the lookout for Pythium. Pythium can cause post-emergence damping off under wet conditions. This disease commonly occurs during wet and cool conditions, particularly in poorly drained fields with compacted soil. Properly manage soil drainage in your fields to combat this issue.

Septoria leaf blight, more commonly known as brown spot, is a soybean disease that spreads from the soil to the soybean plant by splashing rain. The infection of the soybean plant will leave small, irregular brown spots on the lower leaves. Favorable weather for this disease is warm, wet weather. Brown spot can move up the plant, causing leaves to turn yellow and drop. It is necessary to be aware of this disease and what is going on in your fields.

Not necessarily a disease, iron deficiency chlorosis (IDC) is described as poor condition between the soil and plant. If your fields have a history of high pH and without enough iron to grow a healthy plant, the best decision is to choose an IDC-resistant seed brand.

At Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, we make it easy to choose such brands by designating them as IRONCLAD^TM. Latham® IRONCLAD Soybeans include exceptional genetics and industry-leading protective traits, battling against yield-robbing threats from pests and diseases. To bear the IRONCLAD distinction, each soybean brand must be Soybean Cyst Nematode resistant and carry an Iron Deficiency Chlorosis rating of 2.2 or better.

Also remember to watch for aphids, too. Latham Product Manager Mark Grundmeier stresses the importance of crop scouting regularly from within the field, not just a drive-by. To inquire about soybean pests or diseases in your area, contact your local Latham® representative by calling 1.877.GO.LATHAM (1.877.465.2842)

Sources:
bonnie-harris

June 12, 2015

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

Battle Weed Resistance with Herbicides from Different Groups

Weed resistance continues to be a topic of discussion during winter meetings with farmers and others in the ag industry. Many are anxiously awaiting full global approval of herbicide traits like Enlist™, Xtend™ and Balance GT,™ but remember, herbicides alone will not remedy weed resistance.

“Diversity of tactics is key to consistent weed management and high crop yields,” said Iowa State Extension Weed Specialist Dr. Micheal Owen while presenting at Latham’s field day in September 2011. He pointed out that rotating crops, rotating traits and rotating pesticides is the best way to slow down the very natural process whereby pests develop resistance to products that mankind uses to protect crops.

Herbicide products kill plants by binding to specific proteins and inhibiting the functions of those proteins. This is commonly referred to as the site (mode) of action. Check the numbering system, usually printed on the first page of the manufacturer’s label, to categorize each herbicide by its site of action.

“Weeds will adapt, so you must know your herbicide action group,” Dr. Owen during a recent Crop Advantage Series jointly presented by Iowa State University and the Iowa Soybean Association.

For example, say a farmer has been using Prowl® and FirstRate® pre-emergence on Roundup-Ready® Soybeans followed by Roundup® and FlexStar® post-emerge. He wants to rotate chemicals for better weed management. Next year he’s planning to use Treflan® plus Raptor®, followed by Roundup and Resource®. The problem? Prowl and Treflan are both classified as group 3 herbicides. FlexStar and Resource are group 14, and Raptor and FirstRate are in group 2. He might see some improved weed control simply because the herbicides have slightly different active ingredients, but his rotation will not help prevent weed resistance.

A better plan would be to use Dual® (group 15) plus Sencor® (group 5) pre-emergence followed by Roundup plus Basagran® (group 6). And the BEST plan would be to plant LibertyLink™ Soybeans instead of Roundup-Ready and then switch Liberty® herbicide (group 10) in that plan for the Roundup (group 9) and the Basagran!

Using multiple products with different sites of action, however, is not enough. Farmers must also make certain the herbicides are effective against the weeds they are trying to manage. Mechanical methods of weed control including cultivation even hand-weeding must be considered, as well as crop rotation and other cultural practices.

More information on which herbicides belong to which site-of-action group is available at http://www.weeds.iastate.edu/HerbicideChart.pdf. This website also gives information on many of the premix herbicide combinations and the groups to which they belong.

January 28, 2015

Agronomics, Corn, Crop, General, Herbicide Technology, Industry News, Soybeans, Weed Control
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Roundup Ready 2 Xtend™ Soybeans Get Closer to Commercialization

One week after Latham Product Manager Mark Grundmeier posted an update on new soybean traits and technologies, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the deregulatation of Roundup Ready 2 Xtend™ soybeans. Soybeans with this Dicamba-resistant trait from Monsanto will provide farmers with another option for managing tough broadleaf weeds.

“This announcement marks an important milestone for farmers around the world,” said Robb Fraley, Ph.D., Monsanto’s chief technology officer in a news release. “Weeds represent a key pest to agriculture operations around the world and limit crops of much-needed nutrients, sunlight and access to available water resources.”

Weeds are the most economically damaging pests that Iowa corn and soybean farmers face every year, according to Iowa State University Extension Weed Specialist Dr. Mike Owen. The best management practice for achieving weed control is still a diversity of tactics: cultural, mechanical and herbicide. Soybean growers should use products from as many herbicide groups, or families, as possible.

Using one family of herbicides is not a sustainable choice, so weed management specialists like Dr. Owen continue to recommend multiple sites of action herbicide programs as part of Best Management Practices. Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybeans can help preserve the effectiveness of glyphosate by providing one more important and much needed tool to fight weed resistance.

USDA approval is a major step forward in the process toward full-scale commercialization of this technology. Now with de-regulation, this spring we’re planning to plant production fields of 12 Latham® Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybeans. This will allow us to make Xtend soybeans available for 2016 planting should full global approval happen.

Chinese approval will be the last step before full-scale commercialization of Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybeans. With China’s recent approval of the Agrisure Viptera® corn trait, I’m hopeful this bodes well for future trait approvals.

John Latham, President

January 21, 2015

Crop, General, Industry News, Seed Technology, Soybeans
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:
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