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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Scout Now for Black Cutworm

Black cutworm larval activity in Iowa may occur for an extended period of time this season, according to data collected from black cutworm traps in 64 Iowa counties. Fields of higher risk to black cutworm 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. Black cutworm also may cause more damage in fields where corn is planted later.

In a recent Integrated Crop Management News article, Iowa State University Extension entomologists urge corn farmers to scout fields weekly until the corn reaches V5 stage. Examine 50 corn plants in five areas of each field. Look for plants with wilting, leaf discoloration and damage, and those that are either missing or are cut off at the soil surface. Note areas with suspected damage and return later to assess further damage. Larvae can be found by carefully excavating the soil around a damaged plant.

“What if you’ve applied an insecticide mixed with a herbicide when you made your weed control application? Should you still scout for cutworms? ‘The answer is yes,’ says Erin Hodgson, an Iowa State University Extension entomologist, in a recent Wallaces Farmer article. ‘Actually, preventative black cutworm insecticide treatments applied as a tank-mix with herbicides are of questionable worth. Black cutworm is a sporadic pest and therefore every field should be scouted to determine the presence of the insect prior to spraying insecticides. The scouting and rescue treatment approach is the best strategy’.”

To help determine the threshold for treatment, the ISU Corn-Soybean Initiative has developed an Excel spreadsheet to serve as a dynamic decision-making tool.

Webspec Admin

May 18, 2011

Agronomics, General, Insects
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

ISU Tailgate Tour to Stop May 25 at Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Coach Rhodes visited Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds last summer during our Freedom of Independence Ride in Ames. Here he is with Chris, Bill, Shannon and John Latham

Multiple “cyclones” will hit Alexander, Iowa, on the afternoon of Wednesday, May 25, when the 2011 ISU Tailgate Tour comes to North Central Iowa.

Several head coaches, ISU Athletic Director Jamie Pollard, and ISU’s mascot, Cy, will be on hand to sign autographs and pose for pictures with Cyclone fans.

“We’ve hosted many tailgates before ISU games in Ames, but this is sure to be one of our best,” says John Latham, president, Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds. “We’re excited to host the ISU coaches and athletes on our home turf.”

Shannon Latham, Jim Heckman and Amy Rohe pose with Cy at the 2010 Freedom of Independence Ride

The bus is expected to roll into company headquarters about 2:15 p.m. Fans of Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds are invited to attend.

Team Latham

May 17, 2011

Agriculture, General, Industry News
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

The Race is On!

The race is on at the Latham plant. Three forklifts make quick work of this customer loadout.

The 2011 planting season got off to a slow start, but farmers have put seed in the ground at record pace over the past two weeks. Last week in Iowa, corn planting was 69% complete and soybean planting was 40% complete. From the reports we received from the country, most farmers are nearly finished with soybean planting as of the end of last week, so we’re anxiously awaiting this week’s USDA Crop Report to release this afternoon.

Corn "spiking" after ten days of being in the ground. Whirl is now visible.

It’s amazing what a few days with 80 degree temperatures and good moisture can do to new seeds being planted, says Peter Bixel, Latham’s Seed2Soil® program lead. Peter took this photo of a corn field that was planted 10 days ago. He also took this photo of a soybean from a field that was planted just four days ago in North Central Iowa.

This soybean seed was planted just four days agodeliver the last pallets of seed in time for customers to hit the ground “planting.”

Here at Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds headquarters, the race is on to deliver the last pallets of seed in time for customers to hit the ground “planting.”

How is planting progressing in your neck of the woods?

Gary Geske

May 16, 2011

Agriculture, General, Industry News
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Fire Up the Grill: It’s Beef Month

Earlier this year, I wrote about one of my favorite agvocates, Debbie Lyons-Blythe. A Kansas cattle rancher and mother of five, Debbie grew up on her family’s Angus ranch. She has continued her passion and involvement in agriculture by caring for 500 cattle each day in the heart of the Flint Hills.

In an effort to share her passion and help educate consumers about modern agriculture and animal care, Debbie started a blog, Life on a Kansas Cattle Ranch. Debbie says her ultimate goal in creating the blog was to connect with the individuals buying groceries and educate them about their food choices. She wanted to bridge the gap between the knowledge we often take for granted in rural America and the average consumers’ agriculture background and knowledge. Thus, she says, it seemed natural to start sharing some of her family’s favorite recipes with blog readers.

We were lucky enough to receive just such a recipe from Debbie in honor of National Beef Month. I must admit that I was thrilled to see that this recipe involves steak, grilling and butter! Not only that, it’s an award-winning recipe. Debbie’s children made this recipe for the CAB Beef Cook Off last year, and won the senior steak division.

Give the Blythe’s recipe a try and let us know what you think! For more of her delicious recipes, visit Debbie’s blog.

Team Latham

May 13, 2011

Beef, General, Recipes
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Time to Begin Early Crop Scouting

Many Midwest farmers will wrap up the 2011 planting season this week, but there won’t be much rest for the weary. As soon as seed is in the ground, it’s a good idea to start scouting fields.

Post-planting is an ideal time to begin scouting one’s crops. Many soilborne pathogens strike as soon as the seed begins to take on water; others strike young seedlings. Because seeds can germinate quickly and emerge in 3 – 5 days, it’s not too soon to start walking your fields.

Check plant populations, evaluate stands and be on the lookout for early summer diseases. Is there a germination problem? Do you see effects of chilling or crusting?

Assessing your situation ASAP will allow you to formulate a plan while there’s still plenty of time to implement it. You could replant in parts or in all of a field now, so you can attain the yields and returns you want this fall. Information on corn replanting decisions is available from www.agronext.iastate.edu/corn. Click on the “Planting” topic, then click on the “Replant Decision Aid Calculator” tab and use that tool and related information to help make a replant decision. For a resource on soybean replanting decisions, go to www.extension.iastate.edu/publications/pm1851.pdf.

Another benefit of evaluating current stands is to help you determine what adjustments should be made before planting next year’s crop: Do you need to adjust your planter settings or your planting speed?

Once you get past the mechanical issues, look at the disease pressure. If soybeans are damping off, perhaps next season you should opt for seed-applied fungicides? Do you need to pay closer attention to a particular soybean brand or corn hybrid’s disease rating? Seed selection is one of the most important decisions affecting yield. Click here for tips on selecting soybean brands and selecting corn hybrids.

Webspec Admin

May 12, 2011

Agronomics, Disease, Emergence, Fertility, Fungicide, General, Growth Stages, Insects, Weed Control
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Straight from Corn to Soybeans

What a difference one week makes! A weekly survey shows 69% of Iowa’s 2011 corn crop was planted as of May 8 compared to only 8% on May 1.

Yesterday, while being interviewed as part of Latham’s Crop Tour, Latham® dealer Mike Aldinger said he finally started planting his corn on Monday, May 2. He finished planting the last of his corn acres Monday, May 9, on his farm near Iowa Falls, Iowa, in the North Central part of this state.

Without delay, Mike started planting his 2011 soybean crop. Going straight from planting corn to soybeans appears to be the trend this season, but it has caused many farmers to question whether it’s the right thing to do. Optimal soil temperatures for soybean germination and growth is a minimum of 55-60 degrees Fahrenheit, and soil temperatures statewide are averaging well above that this week.

“Last year many soybeans were planted in mid-to-late April in absolutely perfect soil and weather conditions. Then cold, rainy conditions followed,” John Holmes, Iowa State University Extension crop specialist at Clarion in north central Iowa, was quoted in yesterday’s Wallaces Farmer article.

That’s why it’s important for farmers to take a look not only at current weather conditions but also at the short-term forecast. If the seedbed is suitable, we’re encouraging our customers to start planting soybeans without delay.

Soil temperatures have climbed an average of 1 degree daily for the past three days in a row in Franklin County, Iowa. And, soil temperatures should only continue to climb thanks to 90-degree temps yesterday and highs in the 80s and 70s forecast for the next two days. The five-day forecast calls for temperatures to cool slightly and for rain to set in late this week, so it appears there is a window of opportunity to plant soybeans now. Why not take it?

Webspec Admin

May 11, 2011

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

Legislation could help Iowa reclaim top biodiesel position
Article contributed by Randy Olson, Executive Director,
Iowa Biodiesel Board

As the leading soybean-producing state in the nation, it’s hard not to argue that Iowa should also be the top biodiesel-producing state. Last week, the Iowa Legislature passed a biodiesel bill that would help it stand shoulder-to-shoulder with neighbors Illinois and Minnesota. This is a good thing for the state’s job market, energy security, and environment.

The bill, Senate File 531, does three things to promote the growth of Iowa biodiesel:
1. Extends a tax credit to encourage retailers to make biodiesel available at the pump;
2. Provides a production incentive for the state’s biodiesel producers; and
3. Helps pay for the infrastructure needed to move biodiesel in the state and beyond.
This legislation, if signed by Governor Branstad, will make biodiesel more available and increase sales. In turn, this would make Iowa more energy independent while putting Iowa biodiesel producers back to work and supporting thousands of direct and indirect jobs in our state.

This comes just in time for keeping Iowa in the foreground of the renewable energy landscape. There is a federal renewable fuels standard now that is expected to create demand for 800 million gallons of biodiesel nationally. It’s widely believed that those states with the strongest biodiesel policies will be the states where that demand is mostly met. Iowa is now poised to capture a large share of that market.

Biodiesel is America’s only commercially available, advanced biofuel. It’s about time our state policies encouraged its growth. This is a locally grown and produced fuel – if we don’t make the change ourselves, who will?
Gary Geske

May 10, 2011

Agriculture, General, Industry News
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

“NOW” Technology Takes Center Stage Today

Iowa will be front and center today as Des Moines is hosting the National 140 Character Conference. This conference is so named to reflect the number of characters (i.e. numbers, letters and spaces) that a person has to Tweet, or to communicate a message via Twitter.com.

Yours truly will be presenting at 10 a.m. If you aren’t able to join us for the event in the Stoner Theatre, you can join us online. All presentations will be streamed from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.

When Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds began blogging in 2008, many people questioned why we would devote marketing funds to communication tools that none of our current customers were using. (SIDE BAR: Remember the fax machine? Despite little initial demand, it became main stream in the 1980s. What about the automobile… why drive a Ford Model T when you could take a horse and buggy?)

Just as the fax machine helped us transmit exact copies of documents faster than standard mail and the automobile allowed us to travel greater distances in less time, new communications technology (a.k.a. “now technology”) allows us to have more frequent conversations in a more cost-effective way.

Our blog, TheFieldPosition.com, allows us to communicate agronomic information and publicize events in a more timely manner than traditional newsletters and invitations. Twitter and Facebook help us promote what we’re covering on the blog, plus they allow us to share what we’re seeing and doing in real time. In addition, our Facebook and Twitter accounts have connected us to many like-minded individuals who share our passion for “feeding and fueling world.” These communications allow us to talk daily – sometimes several times a day – with our customers and friends.

If you’re already comfortable with blogging or posting messages on Twitter and Facebook, you’re probably nodding your head in agreement as you read this article. If you’re not using “now technology,” give it a try today.

You’ll never know what you’re missing unless you try it! We hope you’ll follow us on Twitter @LathamSeeds, befriend us on Facebook and/or visit us at TheFieldPosition.com. C U online soon! 🙂

Team Latham

May 9, 2011

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

Plan a "Fancy" Tea for Mother’s Day
Throwing a party for your mom and her friends tops the list of “How to Celebrate Mother’s Day.” That’s all well and good for older children, but it might not be so practical for an 8- or 9-year-old child – unless you’re a Brownie Girl Scout!

Tomorrow our Brownie troop – 19 members strong – is hosting a Fancy Nancy Tea Party. We’ll be breaking out the boas and bringing the bling. “Pink” will be the theme of the day because Nancy wouldn’t want it any other way!

Fancy Nancy is a fictional character in the best-selling books by Jane O’Connor. Nancy loves everything fancy, from clothing and accessories to activities and words. (Yes, she’s a girl after my own heart! Nothing makes me smile like a fun pair of shoes, and I’ve always loved using fancy words – even before fancy words were cool.)

To keep with our theme, we’ll be serving a menu of fancy foods including:
- Pink mints – thanks to Laura Cunningham for sharing her grandma’s recipe;
- Pink Lemonade Cupcakes – thanks to Leslie Maynes for sharing the recipe below;
- Strawberry Sherbet Punch – thanks to Mary Schumacher for sharing her family tradition; and
- Ribbon sandwiches – thanks to my own mother for this one; plus
- PB&J, using a Pampered Chef® Cut-N-Seal® to make them fancy, too!
While our Brownies are busy in the kitchen with food preparation, their mothers will be treated to manicures. We’ll also show a PowerPoint presentation that highlights our troop’s activities throughout the year. In addition, each girl will have the opportunity to have a “party pic” taken with her mother.

Tomorrow’s tea is sure to be Très Magnifique! How will you make your Mother’s Day extra fancy?

Special thanks to all of the special ladies below, who are helping make our Fancy Nancy party extra special:
- Michelle Carlson Hartman, Michelle’s Country Cookin’;
- Cathy Carlson, Cathy’s Country Cookin’;
- Lori Sanders, Forever Yours Flowers & Gifts;
- Sharon Sanders & April Sanders, Sanders Photography; and
- fellow Brownie leaders, Beth Strike and Tracy Dirksen.
Pink Lemonade Cupcakes

Photo from Fabulessly Frugal

Ingredients:
- 1 c. all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/4 tsp. baking soda
- Pinch salt
- 1/2 c. granulated sugar
- 1/4 c. vegetable oil
- 2 egg whites
- 1/3 c. thawed frozen Pink Lemonade Concentrate
- 1/4 c. buttermilk
- 2 or more drops red food coloring
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Line muffin pan with liners. In a small bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together sugar, oil, egg whites and lemonade concentrate. Alternately whisk in flour mixture and buttermilk, making three additions of flour mixture and two of buttermilk, beating until just smooth. Add just enough food coloring to turn the batter a light shade of pink.
4. Scoop batter into liners (fill about three-fourths full).
5. Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until tops of cupcakes spring back when lightly touched.
6. Let cool in pan on rack for 10 minutes.
7. Remove from pan and let cool completely on rack.
8. Top cooled cupcakes with frosting (see below).
Lemonade Buttercream:

Ingredients:
- 3 c. + 3 Tbsp. confectioner’s sugar
- 1 stick unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1/8 tsp. salt
- 2 Tbsp. pink lemonade concentrate
- Red food coloring
Directions:
1. Add the butter, confectioner’s sugar, salt, lemon juice, and a few drops of food coloring to the stand mixer and mix on low using the paddle attachment until combined.
2. Turn the speed to med-high until the buttercream is fluffy and uniformly pink.
3. Pipe or spread onto cooled cupcakes.
Team Latham

May 6, 2011

Desserts, General, Recipes
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Conditions Favor Soybean Pathogens: Seed-Applied Fungicides Prevent Damping Off

As soybean growers begin another season, ISU Extension Plant Pathologist Alison Robertson says there are four main seedling pathogens to be aware of:

Pythium;
Fusarium;
Phytophthora; and
Rhizoctonia.

Certainly this year is starting out to favor the Pythium species that are more prevalent in cool, wet soils. While Pythium and Fusarium are usually limited to damaging the early seedling stage of development, Phytophthora can be a season-long problem. I have also noticed that Rhizoctonia can linger in the soils and cause damage at a later time.

Pathogens can start infecting the seed as soon as it begins to take in water, which is the very first step in the process toward germination and emergence. It doesn’t, however, stop there. As that seed continues to absorb water, swell and develop a hypocotyl, pathogens can attack and destroy the seedling even after emergence.

The good news is these four particular soybean pathogens can be managed very well by using seed-applied fungicides like Latham’s SoyShield. Note that Dr. Robertson references using a combination of active ingredients, which is exactly what SoyShield is – and it was specifically designed with that in mind.

Benefits of seed treatments far outweigh the costs. In a wet, cool planting season like this, fungicide-treated seed is a must to prevent damping off from Pythium, Rhizoctonia, Phytopthora and Fusarium.

Webspec Admin

May 5, 2011

Agronomics, Fungicide, General