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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

How to Choose Soybean Varieties

Choosing the right soybean varieties is a critical factor for profitable soybean production. Variety characteristics that can weigh heavily in the decision include: maturity, disease resistance, herbicide resistance, emergence, standability, row spacing and overall plant type.

Keeping good field records from year-to-year will help determine which characteristics are most crucial when deciding which soybean varieties to plant in a given field in a given year. If there were problems experienced with soybean fields in the previous year (e.g. Sudden Death Syndrome), remember those fields will most likely be planted to corn this coming year. There should not be too much emphasis placed on problems from the previous year; it’s more important to check your field records to see what pressures that particular field faced when it was last planted to soybeans.

It’s always wise to spread risk by planting soybeans with different maturities. To maximize yield potential, choose varieties with a five- to seven-day spread in maturity. Shorter season varieties are at less risk to late-season diseases but limit yield potential. Make sure the fuller-season varieties you select have good disease packages.

Planting varieties with disease resistance can be the most effective and the most economical method of disease control. Latham® soybean brands have good resistance or tolerance to the major diseases that occur in our trade territory including: Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN), Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS), Brown Stem Rot (BSR), Iron Deficiency Chlorosis (IDC), White Mold and Phytophthora. Our 2011 Seed Guide provides a rating provided for each of these on pages 46-47.

If you’re planting soybeans with different herbicide traits (e.g. Roundup^®-resistant versus LibertyLink^®), careful records must also be kept to ensure the herbicide program matches the correct fields. If you’re using a glyphosate-resistant program (i.e. Roundup) in both corn and soybeans, it’s best to use herbicides with alternative modes of action in a pre-plant or pre-emergent program. This will help prevent selecting weed populations that grow resistant to glyphosate.

Don’t be afraid to try new soybean varieties, new traits and even new management practices. Experimenting in your own fields is the only sure way to see if new ideas will work best for you! If you have questions about what soybean brands might be best for your fields, please contact us with a comment in the field below, send an email to service@lathamhybrids.com, or call
1-877-GO-LATHAM (1-877-465-2842).

November 18, 2010

Crop, General, Soybeans
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

ISU Publishes 2010 List of SCN-Resistant Soybeans

The #1 profit-reducing pest for U.S. soybean farmers is soybean cyst nematode (SCN). In years with adequate to excess rainfall, the short-term effect of SCN on soybean yields may only be a loss in a few bushels per acre. In hot, dry years, yield loss can be 50% or more.

At Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, we know that SCN resistance is a primary concern for our customers. We’ve dedicated a lot of time, effort and resources toward developing SCN-resistant varieties. We have one of the industry’s largest lineups of cyst-resistant soybean brands. In fact, Latham Seeds was one of the first companies to breed its own lines of CystX.

SCN was first discovered in Iowa in the heart of Latham’s marketing territory in a field in Winnebago County in 1978. The surrounding counties (Kossuth, Humboldt, Webster, Wright, Hancock) have shown to be “hot spots” for SCN development over the years. Typically, the fields in these counties have soils that are classified as Clarion-Nicolet Webster. The cause is still unknown. However, the theory over the years is that because these soils are also prone to Iron Deficiency Chlorosis, they’re more susceptible to SCN.

Due to the microscopic size of soybean cyst nematodes, they’e easily spread. SCN has now been found in every county in Iowa and Illinois, the southern half of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan, the eastern half of Nebraska, southeastern part of South Dakota, western half of Ohio, northern half of Missouri and parts of most of the soybean-producing states throughout the South. It’s spread by wind and water erosion, farm equipment and all types of animals.

There have been a number of instances where fields in Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota have been infected with SCN because of the migrating waterfowl. These birds start up north before winter from SCN-infested fields and bring mud on their feet and feathers. That small amount of mud can be loaded with SCN eggs and those eggs can then be deposited in fields as the birds continue their migration south.

As SCN populations have increased, so have the number of cyst-resistant soybean brands. Contact your Latham representative for Latham’s complete lineup of SCN-resistant soybean varieties. To help Iowa soybean growers know their options for SCN resistance, ISU Extension annually publishes a list of SCN-resistant soybean varieties in maturity groups, 0,1,2, and 3. Click here for the 2010 version.

(Source: Wallaces Farmer and Mark Grundmeier, Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds Product Manager)

Team Latham

November 15, 2010

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

Superstars Shine in Soybean Super Strip Plots

Most test plots and research trials have been harvested, and as a result, some Latham® superstars are beginning to shine. Latham genetics, combined with the Genuity® Roundup Ready to Yield™ Soybeans (RR2Y) technology, is proving to be a winning combination this season. Following are some early results we’d like to share.

In Group I, Latham Hi‑Tech Soybeans L1985R2 topped a plot near Cylinder, Iowa. It was the earliest soybean brand in the plot and yielded 61.3 bushels per acre (bu/A). In Early Group II soybeans, the following showed tremendous results: L2082R, L2084R2 and L2182R2. Latham L2082R topped a plot near Deerfield, Wisc., with 80.1 bu/A and also took first place in Woden, Iowa, with 67.2 bu/A. Latham L2084R2 took top honors in the following plots: Oconomowoc, Wisc., at 71.4 bu/A; Lakota, Iowa, at 66.6 bu/A; Geneva, Iowa, at 67.9 bu/A; and Greene, Iowa, at 57.6 bu/A.

In Mid-Group II soybeans, Latham L2440R2 has been outstanding! It has consistently been at the top of plots all across Latham country including: Corwith, Iowa, at 64.7 bu/A; Britt, Iowa, at 71.1; Colo, Iowa, at 65.8 bu/A; Steen, Minn. at 64.9 bu/A; Floyd, Iowa, at 69.0 bu/A; Fort Dodge, Iowa, at 72.8 bu/A; Galva, Iowa, at 67.6 bu/A; and Humboldt, Iowa, at 60.8 bu/A. Two other soybean newcomers to watch are Latham L2560R, which topped the plot near Stanwood, Iowa, with 72.8 bu/A, and L2648R2 which placed first near Adel, Iowa, with a yield of 72.9 bu/A.

October 18, 2010

Crop, General, Soybeans
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Field and Hybrid Selections Important in Continuous Corn Cropping Systems

Thanks to advances in seed corn technology and production, many corn growers are forgoing the traditional crop rotation in favor of a continuous corn cropping system. High yields are possible with proper management including field selection, hybrid selection, fertility, tillage, planting rates, as well as insect and disease control.

Only highly productive fields should be placed in corn-on-corn situations. Fields with good drainage/water holding capacity, good fertility, no compaction problems and low insect/disease pressure are best suited for continuous corn.

Once you’ve selected which fields you want to plant corn-on-corn, selecting the correct corn hybrid is of utmost importance. Pay special attention to plant characteristics including high ratings for emergence, seedling vigor, as well as root and stalk strength. Products including insect resistances should be used because continuous corn can increase the likelihood of certain pests.

Nick Benson, a corn product specialist with Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, says it’s important to choose hybrids that exhibit good disease tolerance and have the overall ability to handle stressful situations. His top picks for Latham® Hi‑Tech Hybrids are: LH4943 3000GT, LH5266 3000GT, LH5426VT3 PRO, LH 5645 3000GT, LH5777SS, LH 6025 3000GT, LH6202 3000GT, LH 6255 VT3 PRO and LH6394 3000GT. Corn growers who are planting corn-on-corn in very good soils, using split application of Nitrogen and a foliar fungicide could try LH 4999 VT3 PRO, LH 5228 VT3, LH 5494 3000GT, LH 5877 VT3 PRO, LH 6357 VT3 PRO for corn-on-corn situations. Benson talks about LH 5266 3000GT and LH 5645 3000GT in the videos below.

LH 5266 3000GT

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Bc52BcmaDs[/youtube]

LH 5645 3000GT

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqiKQ-xdWK0[/youtube]

To determine which corn hybrids are best suited for your soils and farming practices, talk to your local Latham® dealer or call 1-877-GO-LATHAM.

(Source: Monsanto’s Agronomic Spotlight)

What are your thoughts on continuous corn production? Please comment below.

Team Latham

October 12, 2010

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

Green Stem Syndrome Slows Down Combines

Despite ideal harvest weather, a recent article in Wallaces Farmer states that green stems and green plants are making it difficult to combine some fields.

The green stems – sometimes referred to as green stem syndrome or green stem disorder – occur when stems remain green . However, yield doesn’t seem to be negatively impacted, says Vince Davis, University of Illinois Soybean Agronomist.

Jim Fawcett, Iowa State University Extension field agronomist in east central Iowa, says that the green stems on the soybean plants could be linked back to the fields affected by severe sudden death syndrome (SDS). Other causes can range from entirely genetic to entirely environmental.

However, there is good news if you have green plants and stems. Davis says green plant issues tend to appear in fields with average to high yields and they are a sign of favorable growing conditions throughout the maturity of the other plants. The only concern is how much the green plants could reduce harvest speed.

If you have to harvest soybeans with green stem syndrome, make sure the combine is in good operating condition and properly adjusted with sharpened cutting knife sections because the green stems are known to plug up combines. It may be necessary to wait to harvest until after a killing frost, depending on the severity of the green stem problem. (Source: Monsanto’s Agronomic Alert)

Are you experiencing any problems with “green stem syndrome?” Please comment below.

For the complete article, click here.

Team Latham

October 11, 2010

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

SDS: What to watch for and how to choose a soybean brand

In recent blog posts, we’ve mentioned the struggle many Midwest farmers are experiencing with SDS in their soybean fields this year. You may have seen one or two of the videos we’ve posted with Mark Grundmeier, soybean product manager at Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds providing tips on SDS management and prevention.

Below are the final two videos in Mark’s SDS series. In the first video, Mark speaks about what symptoms you should watch for in your fields to help identify SDS, including yellowing or dark blotches on the leaves, and in later stages, dropping leaves.

Symptoms of Sudden Death Syndrome

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Sdx4EqpNw4[/youtube]

In the second video, Mark speaks about the importance of variety selection in preventing outbreaks of SDS. Mark recommends finding those brands that have the strongest SDS tolerance, and taking notes about what varieties performed best against the disease in your field if you do experience SDS.

The Best Tolerance Against Sudden Death Syndrome

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9_pXGl7y_Y[/youtube]

Did you have any SDS outbreaks in your fields this season? If so, how do you plan to manage these fields in the future?

Team Latham

September 7, 2010

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

Widespread SDS has many asking, “What do I do?”
In last week’s crop report, we highlighted the fact that SDS has been widespread in Iowa and surrounding states. One reason we’re seeing widespread SDS this year is because fields have experienced the perfect storm: soils that were compacted last fall due to a late and wet harvest were also wet and cool during the 2010 planting season. As a result, ideal conditions were created for the soil-borne fungus that causes SDS.

Farmers throughout Latham service areas, including Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Missouri and South Dakota, have been asking repeatedly, “What should I do?”

Although there isn’t anything you can do right now to minimize the severity of damage from SDS this season, there are multiple management practices you can employ to help ensure SDS doesn’t strike again in the future. Ways to avoid future SDS damage include:
1. Crop rotation – Make sure you don’t plant beans-on-beans in fields that have been hit with SDS. Note fields where SDS is especially prevalent. Crop notes will help you plant a soybean brand with high SDS tolerance in those areas the next time you plant soybeans.
2. Tillage – No-till practices allow soil to remain cooler and wetter longer, which can increase the severity of SDS. Tilling helps change soil conditions to be more adverse to SDS.
3. Planting Date – Planting at a later date can help reduce the risk of SDS, as well.
4. And Variety Selection – Variety selection is incredibly important. Choose soybeans brands that have high SDS tolerance. Latham^® brands that have done very well in SDS-affected soils include the following:
  1. L2085R
  2. L2767R2
  3. L2987L
  4. L2648R2
  5. L2875R
  6. L3268R2
We will follow up with additional blogs on SDS this week. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have about your own fields. Are you seeing SDS in your fields? If so, to what degree?
Team Latham

August 24, 2010

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

How to Check Fields for Soybean Cyst Nematode

Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) is a small, plant-parasitic roundworm that attacks the roots of soybeans. SCN is widespread throughout Iowa and surrounding states, and can cause as much as 40% yield loss without symptoms appearing on the soybean plants.

Symptoms to Watch For

A recent Wallaces Farmer article highlighted what symptoms to watch for when checking for SCN in your field. Symptoms are usually not apparent when temperatures are moderate and rainfall is adequate to excessive in the growing season. Symptoms generally begin to appear in mid-July and last through the growing season, and include stunting of plants, yellowing of foliage (not just leaf margins or areas between leaf veins) and mid-day wilting.

Dig, Dig, Dig

The only way to check for SCN is to dig roots, gently remove soil from the roots, and look for the egg-filled, round, white SCN females on the roots (see image). Females are about the size of the head of a straight pin or a period at the end of a sentence in a magazine – for most people – females can be seen with the unaided eye. SCN females should be apparent on infected roots through August.

While this is an effective way to identify SCN, it’s also an effective way to see which soybean varieties are controlling nematode reproduction in fields known to be infested. If a soybean variety is effectively controlling the nematode, there should be only 10-20 SCN females present on the roots.

Click here for the full article.

Photo courtesy of Iowa State University Extension.

Team Latham

August 5, 2010

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

Keep an eye out for Aphids, SDS and White Mold

Aphids

A recent e-newsletter from the Iowa Soybean Association reminds growers it’s time to begin monitoring fields for soybean aphids and diseases. As you saw in our recent crop report, there have been reports of aphids in Northeast Iowa, but those numbers remain low (about 5% as of July 21). Although aphid numbers may grow in the next two weeks, the impact of the state’s excessive moisture on these numbers remains to be seen.

SDS

Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) may begin showing up in fields early to mid-August, which is two weeks earlier than normal as a result of the wet soil conditions experienced after planting.

Early symptoms of SDS appear on apparently healthy plants in patches within a field. Scout fields with high-yield potential closely; symptoms will first appear in areas with high moisture. The first symptoms of SDS are interveinal chlorotic (yellow) blotches that progress to large irregular patches. The vein tissue remains green.

White Mold

While it’s a little early for white mold symptoms, according to the article, there’s little doubt white mold will prove a highly problematic for fields again this year. Symptoms will begin showing up after pod set.

Feel free to comment in the field below if you have any questions about the above soybean diseases, and we’ll be in touch with a response shortly.

Team Latham

July 27, 2010

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

U.S. Corn and Soybean Development Ahead of Schedule

According to a recent e-newsletter article distributed by the Iowa Corn Grower’s Association, U.S. corn and soybean crops continue to develop faster than average this year, thanks to generally beneficial growing weather. As of Sunday, July 18, 65% of the U.S. corn crop is silking, compared to 30% a year ago and the five year average of 47%, with all major growing states at or ahead of their respective averages. 8% of corn has reached the dough making stage, compared to 4% last year and 7% on average and 72% of the crop is in good to excellent condition, down 1% from last week. For soybeans, 60% are blooming, compared to 41% a year ago and 56% on average, with 18% at the pod setting stage, compared to 8% last year and the five year average of 15%. 67% of soybeans are in good to excellent shape, up 2% on the week.

Source: Brownfield Network, July 19, 2010 and the Iowa Corn Grower’s Association.

Team Latham

July 24, 2010

Agronomics, Corn, Crop, General, Soybeans

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

How to Choose Soybean Varieties

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

ISU Publishes 2010 List of SCN-Resistant Soybeans

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Superstars Shine in Soybean Super Strip Plots

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Field and Hybrid Selections Important in Continuous Corn Cropping Systems

(Source: Monsanto’s Agronomic Spotlight)

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Green Stem Syndrome Slows Down Combines

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

SDS: What to watch for and how to choose a soybean brand

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Widespread SDS has many asking, “What do I do?”

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

How to Check Fields for Soybean Cyst Nematode

Photo courtesy of Iowa State University Extension.

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Keep an eye out for Aphids, SDS and White Mold

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

U.S. Corn and Soybean Development Ahead of Schedule