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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Crop Insurance: What to consider for late and replanted acres

Frequent rains have soaked Iowa and surrounding areas this year, leaving many corn and soybean fields with areas where little or no production will be realized. The past 24 hours in Iowa have been a shining example of this summer’s weather: pounding rain, sweltering heat, and another dose of rain. As a result, many producers are chatting online about what options they have with crop insurance policies due to the extreme conditions the weather is causing in fields.

William Edwards, Iowa State University Extension economist, provided Wallaces Farmer readers with the following insight. For crops already planted, excess moisture is an insured event. The size of insurance payment received will depend on the final quantity and quality of the grain harvested. Indemnity prices for revenue insurance policies this year are $3.99 per bushel for corn and $9.23 per bushel for soybeans.

Contact your insurance agent with any questions because sometimes an option may reveal itself that wasn’t originally considered. Some fields weren’t able to be planted at all due to weather this year; Those fields may be eligible for a prevented planting payment equal to 60% of the original insurance guarantee.

Click here for the full article.

Enter the Tall Corn Contest to Win!

Also, this week marks the last week to plug your guess in for the Tall Corn Contest! Visit www.facebook.com/LathamSeeds and type your guess to the answer, “How tall is the corn in this picture?” in the comment field. The person with the closest guess will win, and be entered to win a grand prize. Click here for more information.

Team Latham

July 22, 2010

Agriculture, General, Industry News
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Family Day at the Latham Country Fair!
The Latham Country Fair will take place in Alexander, Iowa, on Friday, July 30, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. While growers watch key industry leader presentations and product demonstrations, there will be a variety of activities available for women and children. From crafts and games to a petting zoo and T-ball, here’s a quick glimpse of activities kids will enjoy at the Latham Country Fair:
- Bounce House;
- Giant Slide;
- Petting zoo;
- Skee Ball;
- T-ball;
- Basketball Hoop Challenge; and
- Caterpillar Craze, a wacky 50-foot obstacle course.
Silly Sally the Clown

Silly Sally the Clown will also be available for balloon animals and face painting between 11 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Here’s a video of Silly Sally’s performance for children at the 2009 Iowa State Fair!

Click the below link to hear more about the Latham Country Fair. We hope to see your whole family July 30 in Alexander, Iowa!

Family Day at the Latham Country Fair

For more information about demonstrations and activities at the Latham Country Fair, visit www.lathamseeds.com, News and Events, Latham Country Fair.
Team Latham

July 20, 2010

Agriculture, General, Industry News
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

You’re invited to the Latham Country Fair!
Latham® dealers and customers are invited to the Latham Country Fair July 30 in Alexander, Iowa. Those attending will have a unique opportunity to view and learn about some of the latest technologies available to growers in the Midwest.

Here are just a few of the many demonstrations and presentations taking place at the Latham Country Fair:
- Dr. Seth Naeve, Associate Professor and Extension Agronomist and Research; Soybean Management, from the University of Minnesota – “How to Make 80-Bushel Soybeans”
- Daren Mueller, Iowa State University (ISU) Extension Program Specialist – “Stopping Nematodes in Both Corn and Soybeans”
- Dr. Roger Elmore, Extension Corn Specialist and Professor of Agronomy at ISU – “How to Make 300-Bushel Corn”
Corn Field Demos will highlight:
1. VOTiVO^TM biological seed treatment for nematode control (Bayer CropScience)
2. Agrisure^® 3000GT (Syngenta)
3. Genuity^TM SmartStax^TM (Monsanto)
4. Genuity^TM VT Triple Pro^TM (Monsanto)
5. A corn population study featuring four Latham^® Hi‑Tech Hybrids planted at 24,000; 30,000; 35,000; 41,000; 44,000; and 49,000 seeds per acre
6. Using the new Agrisure 3111GT (Viptera) trait from Syngenta to control a broad spectrum of Lepidoptera insect pests in corn
7. The complete lineup of Latham corn genetics for 2011
Soybean Field Demos include:
1. VOTiVO^TM biological seed treatment for nematode control (Bayer CropScience)
2. Genuity^TM Roundup Ready 2 Yield^TM Soybeans (Monsanto)
3. LibertyLink^® (Bayer CropScience)
4. Vistive^® (Monsanto)
5. CystX^® + RR2Y soybean lines
6. Seed treatments
7. The complete lineup of Latham soybeans genetics for 2011
Click the link below to hear about the many presentations and demonstrations you can view July 30 at the Latham Country Fair.

The Latham Country Fair Lineup

Bring the whole family!

There will be fun-filled activities for the whole family to enjoy! Visit www.lathamseeds.com, News and Events, Latham Country Fair to learn more. (We’ll also include a blog post on Tuesday that will highlight the many children’s activities that will be available).
Team Latham

July 19, 2010

Agriculture, General, Industry News
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Fair Highlights: Award-Winning Tractors and Blue-Ribbon Muffins

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds was well represented in Grandpa’s Tractor Cruise on Wednesday, July 14, during the 151^st Franklin County Fair in Hampton, Iowa. Latham® soybean grower Vernon Van Horn of Latimer earned “Best Original Tractor.” Of the more than 25 entries, Gary Bennett of Latimer was awarded a trophy for Best Restoration.

Gary, who has worked at Latham Seeds for 25 years, obviously applies the same patience, care and attention to detail when restoring tractors as he does to researching soybeans. He’s spent the past two years working to restore this 1953 Super M Farmall; Gary first learned to drive a Farmall that same year on his parents’ farm.

County fairs create fond memories for folks of all ages. As a 4-H alumna, I can’t help but remember the countless hours I spent getting both my livestock and food projects ready. I baked batch after batch of cookies and muffins just to get enough – evenly browned, perfectly shaped and uniform in size – to fill a plate.

To this day, I find myself going through these same steps if I’m hosting company or delivering food as a neighborly gesture. Thank goodness the ready-to-bake Nestle Tollhouse® cookies are consistent, or else I’d probably find myself going through these same neurotic steps just to serve my kids an afternoon snack! (If you feel up the challenge, you can link to the original Nestle Tollhouse cookie recipe here: http://www.verybestbaking.com/recipes/specialty/nth-detail-occc.aspx)

On a more serious note – in honor of the life skills I gained through 4-H and in recognition of the new generation this organization continues to serve – today I’d like to share with you the first muffin recipe that I entered at my county fair. What a feeling of accomplishment I gained when I received that blue ribbon!

Now you can be the judge: try this recipe and let me know whether it meets your blue-ribbon standards. Also feel free to share with me your own award-winning recipes or your favorite county fair memories.

Team Latham

July 16, 2010

Agriculture, General, Industry News
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

A week of Recovery Helps Iowa Crops

Wallaces Farmer recently reported that a week of drier weather following the July 4 holiday was welcome across the state of Iowa after an abnormally wet June. Farmers were finally able to apply herbicides in soybean fields and harvest their second cutting of alfalfa. Some farmers were even able to replant areas of fields affected by flooding.

The information shared came from The Iowa Crops and Weather Report released July 12 by the Iowa Office of USDA’s National Ag Statistics Service providing the latest update on Iowa’s 2010 corn and soybean crops. The report stated in areas not affected by flooding, the corn looks good, but despite the week of drier weather and sunshine, crop conditions still vary greatly from field to field. Excess moisture and possible nitrogen deficiency have been attributed to the inconsistent growth.

Watch for symptoms of corn leaf diseases

Mark Licht, field specialist with ISU Extension says corn diseases are starting to show up. He’s seen some eyespot and grey leaf spot, and also heard of Goss’s wilt showing up in some fields.

Licht recommends considering the following points when making a decision regarding fungicide applications (click here for Monday’s post on foliar fungicide application).

1. How susceptible/tolerant to disease is the hybrid?
2. Are weather conditions conducive for disease pathogens?
3. What past field management has occurred; i.e. tillage, crop rotation?
4. Are foliar disease symptoms present in the lower canopy?
5. Do you expect enough yield response to pay for the application costs?

What about soybean diseases? Licht says soybean diseases are currently limited to Septoria brown spot in the lower canopy and bacterial blight in the upper canopy of soybean plants. “Fungicide applications on soybeans should not be applied until R3 (beginning pod set) for best results,” Lict advises.

Click here for the full article.

Enter Latham’s Tall Corn Contest to Win!

Also, congratulations to last week’s Tall Corn Contest winner, Chelsea Ewen! Thanks so much to everyone who participated.

Enter this week’s Tall Corn Contest by guessing the height of the corn in Uncle Jim’s corn in the above photo. Simply visit www.facebook.com/LathamSeeds and enter your guess in the comments below the photo! For a list of contest rules, click here.

Team Latham

July 15, 2010

General, Season, Summer
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Visit Latham Seeds at the Franklin County Fair

One of my favorite events of the year happens this week: the Franklin County Fair, Iowa’s second largest county fair. Ever since I joined 4-H in the third grade, I’ve loved going to the fair. Fair- time brings together a few of my favorite things: family, friends, fun and food. (Not to mention the annual corn dogs, mini donuts and funnel cake!)

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds will have a booth at the Franklin County Fair and would love to have you stop by for a visit! We’ll share information about our exciting new product lineups for the 2011 season and invite you to join us on this year’s Latham Freedom of Independence Ride. We’ll also have giveaways available for those who take a minute to sign up for our Facebook page or register for the Freedom Ride.

The Franklin County’s 151^st fair runs July 14-18 in Hampton. It includes a lineup of great artists including Luke Bryan and David Nail Friday evening at 8 p.m. and activities for all ages to enjoy. Visit http://www.franklincountyfair.com/ for a schedule of events and more details on the Franklin County Fair.

Team Latham

July 13, 2010

Agriculture, General, Industry News
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Should Iowa farmers apply foliar fungicide to corn?
Wallaces Farmer recently reported a summary of a study conducted by the Iowa Soybean Association On-Farm Network, the ISU Corn and Soybean Initiative, and the ISU Northwest On-Farm research program regarding the use of foliar fungicide on Iowa corn. Below are results and recommendations based on the study’s findings.

Is applying foliar fungicide to Iowa corn worth the cost?
- For the total 574 observations included in the above study, the overall mean yield response was 4.04.
- Yield response of small plot trials (173 observations) was 4.39bu/A, compared with 3.89 bu/A for on-farm strip trials (401 observations).
- Applications at the corn growth stages VT, R1 or R2 resulted in the highest mean yield response (4.12 bu/A, 4.21 bu/A and 4/17 bu/A, respectively).
- Based on the price of corn of $3.72 and $24 product + application cost, the breakeven yield response is 6.45 bu/A.
Click here for the full list of study results.

Should you apply fungicide this year?

Alison Robertson and Daren Mueller with the Department of Plant Pathology at Iowa State Extension recommend doing some homework before applying foliar fungicide. Consider the price of corn, price of product plus application, and drying costs. Scout fields to determine disease pressure, consider hybrid susceptibility and the disease history of the field. If you see several spots, and you are growing a susceptible hybrid, you may want to consider spraying a fungicide.

Mark Grundmeier, seed product manager with Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds says to remember that fungicides are effective only on fungal diseases, including Northern and Southern Leaf Blight, Northern Leaf Spot, Anthracnose Leaf Blight, Gray Leaf Spot, Eyespot, Common and Southern Rust, and Common Smut.

For more information about foliar fungicide, and possible best dates for application, click here.
Team Latham

July 12, 2010

Agronomics, Fungicide, General
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Enter the Tall Corn Contest Today!

Thanks to everyone who entered last week’s “Tall Corn Contest” on Facebook. Congratulations to Keesia Wirt! Winner of the first official “Tall Corn Contest” with a guess of 3’9” — just two inches off from the actual corn height in Uncle Jim’s field at 3’7”. We’ll send a prize your way by mail and you will be entered for the grand prize drawing in September.

Enter today!

Below is an updated picture of the corn in Uncle Jim’s field — as you can see it’s gotten so tall we can’t take pictures of him standing “in” the field anymore or guessing would prove pretty difficult. (You’d have to find Uncle Jim first!)

Simply visit www.facebook.com/LathamSeeds and enter your guess answering the question, “How tall is the corn in Uncle Jim’s field?” The person with the closest guess will win a prize and be entered to win the grand prize in September. (Winners will be selected every Thursday between now and September). For a list of contest rules, click here.

We also wanted to share recent news from Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, Bill Northey, on crop conditions in Iowa. While some welcome sunshine helped many fields suffering from too much moisture, rain over the weekend meant many areas in Iowa are still threatened by flood water. Click here for the full June 6 Iowa Crop and Weather Report released by the USDA.

Team Latham

July 9, 2010

Agriculture, General, Industry News
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Water, water, everywhere: Flooding hurts Iowa’s corn, soybean prospects

Wallaces Farmer recently reported how flood waters are impacting Iowa’s 2010 corn and soybean crops, particularly in southeast and west central Iowa. Overall, Iowa fields are on their way to a profitable season, however, wet conditions and standing water remain an issue for many farmers trying to replant before it’s too late.

The article stated Iowa’s 2010 corn crop has fallen from 72% in the good-to-excellent category to 66% due mainly to flooding and excessive rainfall this past week. Similarly, the state’s soybean crop has dropped from 66% in the good-to-excellent category to 64%, according to the government’s weekly weather and crop conditions report released July 6.

The article adds that approximately 8% of Iowa corn crop is tasseled and silking and 27% of Iowa’s soybean crop has bloomed, proving to be good news for soaked Iowa farmers.

Northeast and North Central Iowa areas had a moderate spring but were soaked when they received large amounts of rain this week — the Waterloo area receiving 7 inches in two days.

John Holmes, an Extension field agronomist for Iowa State University, says that in northern Iowa, “We have anything from really nice looking corn that is now tasseling and silking to corn that is probably just over knee-high and is pale yellow and really looks marginal. Not very pretty at all.”

Holmes added, “It’s easy to drive down the road and see the problem fields—and get a distorted picture of the whole county. Keep in mind we do have areas in Iowa, even here in the soggy parts of north central and central Iowa, that are going to produce some tremendous amounts of corn this fall. Some of these fields this summer are indeed looking very nice. However, in other areas of the state—such as in southeast and south central Iowa—they’ve have had one problem after another this year, mainly due to the very heavy amounts of rainfall they received throughout June and into July.”

Click here to read the full article.

Team Latham

July 9, 2010

Flooding, General, Weather
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Profitability Calculator for Precision Agriculture

Precision agriculture is certainly changing the landscape of modern agriculture. We’ve heard many farmers having online conversations recently about precision agriculture, how it’s changing the way they work in the field and how they’re finding the added benefits of saving on fuel and fertilizer. So when PrecisionAg Works shared this tool with us, we wanted to pass it along in case it proves helpful for anyone considering the adoption or expansion of precision agriculture on their farm.

Kansas State developed a calculator to project the profitability of precision agriculture. Simply click on the link below and type in your information to see how you could benefit.

http://www.precisionag.com/works//profitcalculator/

Team Latham

July 6, 2010

Agronomics, General, Precision Ag

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Crop Insurance: What to consider for late and replanted acres

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Family Day at the Latham Country Fair!

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

You’re invited to the Latham Country Fair!

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Fair Highlights: Award-Winning Tractors and Blue-Ribbon Muffins

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

A week of Recovery Helps Iowa Crops

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Visit Latham Seeds at the Franklin County Fair

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Should Iowa farmers apply foliar fungicide to corn?

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Enter the Tall Corn Contest Today!

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Water, water, everywhere: Flooding hurts Iowa’s corn, soybean prospects

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Profitability Calculator for Precision Agriculture