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  • Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

    Three Generations of Franklin County Farmers Raise Latham Seed Beans

    200731jacobsen125re PRINT

    Producing corn, soybeans and pork on a farm is commonplace in Iowa, where livestock feed has been the primary use of grain crops throughout that state’s 175-year history. Families, like the Jacobsens of Dows in Franklin County, are proud of their farming legacy.

    200731jacobsen125re PRINT
    The Jacobsen Family

    Doug and Carolyn Jacobsen began growing seed beans for Latham Seeds in the 1970s. Their Iowa Century Farm is located one mile from where their son, Corey, and his wife, Kim, farm. Corey began growing seed beans in 1986 when he rented his first farm. Corey and Kim’s oldest son, a fifth generation Iowa farmer, began growing Latham seed beans in 2018.

    “I appreciate the opportunity to raise Latham seed beans because most years we get access to newer genetics a year earlier than if we raised soybeans just commercially. I like seeing what’s new in the lineup,” says Corey. “It’s fun visiting with everybody in the fall when we deliver beans to the plant. Plus, it’s nice to know we can pick up the phone or stop by the office whenever we have questions about production or want input.”

    Corey has been working toward his goal of farming since he graduated from high school. While studying ag business at Iowa State University (ISU), he helped plant four crops and maintained his breeding-to-finish swine operation. Corey traveled home each weekend to do chores and made countless other trips whenever needed for breeding or farrowing.

    “I met Corey at the 1985 Franklin County Fair where he was showing pigs and I was working in the Extension office,” says Kim, who grew up on a farm south of Coulter and enjoyed showing horses in 4-H. It’s only natural their three sons would become showmen.

    When Corey graduated from ISU in 1990, he began working at Brenton Bank in Clarion. One year later he started at Dows United Bank & Trust. Corey retired as bank president in 2000, and then he and Kim began farming full time. Kim also retired after teaching high school math and coaching volleyball and track for 10 years at Clarion-Goldfield Dows. Their more flexible schedules allowed their family to spend more time on their pork operation.

    “Pork is truly a family project that we all enjoy,” says Kim. She and Corey custom-finished pigs for years and raised show pigs. Now they run an independent wean-to-finish operation. “Raising livestock taught our boys day-to-day responsibility that many other activities can’t provide. They learned that it takes teamwork to be successful and to accomplish what needs to be done.”

    When their boys were in middle and high school, the Jacobsen family participated several livestock shows annually including: the Iowa State Fair, Ak-Sar-Ben, World Pork Expo, National Barrow Show, Sioux Empire in South Dakota, Iowa State University’s Block & Bridle, as well as numerous county and state 4-H and FFA shows. Ben had the honor of showing the Reserve Champion FFA Market Hog at the 2013 Iowa State Fair.

    “Through 4-H, our boys learned skills they use on the farm also such as welding, woodworking, small engines, along with the communication and record keeping,” says Kim. “Now that they’ve all graduated from high school, I love to see our sons use their skills and continue to educate others about agriculture. Caleb won the Outstanding Agriculture Exhibit by ISU College of Agriculture and Life Science at the Iowa State Fair for his project teaching the truth of GMO’s. Matt is known as the ‘farm kid’ and go-to resource at college. He has skills in welding, woodworking, painting and general carpentry that most other students do not have. He laughs at all of this, especially the time he was a hero changing a gas tank on a gas grill, much to the amazement and awe of others. He also educates classmates and others in the city about livestock and agriculture.”

    Matthew will graduate in May 2022 from Harvard College in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with a degree in Molecular and Neurological Biology. He has been a part of the Harvard Curling Club, John Adams debate society and Harvard Pro-Life while keeping up with research projects. Matthew plans to continue research for another year and then attend medical school.

    The Jacobsen’s youngest son, Caleb, is a freshman majoring in Ag business at Iowa State University. He enjoys being active in the Ag Business Club and the SALT network through Cornerstone Church. Caleb is following the steps of his oldest brother, Ben, who graduated from ISU in 2018 with a degree in ag business. Ben farms with Corey and Kim. Frances is a Talent and Acquisition Specialist for Boston Scientific, working from their home in Ames. They are expecting their first child in June.

    “We feel blessed to have our children grow up on the farm learning the value of honesty, hard work and sacrifice to accomplish goals,” says Kim. “Now the next generation will grow up farming in a community that has been so supportive. We couldn’t ask for anything more.”

    During this time of transition, Corey and Kim are freeing up their schedules to make more time for travel. Corey had served on the Dows school board for 20 years and retired when the school district merged. Kim has relinquished most of her off-farm obligations but continues to serve on the Iowa Specialty Hospital Board. They enjoy following the Iowa State Cyclones to Bowl games and other destinations. They have greatly enjoyed making spontaneous trips and have especially enjoyed visiting Matt in Boston.

    “We love traveling, trying restaurants, experiencing other cultures and visiting farming operations in other places,” says Kim. Today they’re sharing with us one of their favorite game day recipes of Sausage and Cheese Egg Roll Wraps.

    Shannon Latham

    February 10, 2022
    Appetizers, Breads/Breakfast, Food & Family, General, Recipes, Soybeans
  • Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

    Start the Season Right by Planting the Right Genetics

    Wooden block with GOAL, PLAN and ACTION on table background

    With the 2022 planting season right around the corner, it’s time to focus on the one thing that will help you capture the most ROI in each field.

    Field-by-field product placement is key to maximizing yield – and in turn – profit. Research shows plant genetics account for a 20% difference in yield. This means you could raise 12 more bushels of soybeans and 40 more bushels of corn PER ACRE simply by paying closer attention to your crop placement.

    Below are three factors to consider when double-checking your crop placement for 2022:

    • Study Field x Field® Ratings. Look at the Field x Field Ratings in the Latham® Product Guide for corn and soybeans. These charts simplify where you should place hybrids and varieties. A “1” rating means it’s a great fit for a particular environment; a “3” rating means you should not plant that product if your field conditions match that description. Your Latham Dealer has seen most of our products in environments, so call him or her if you have additional questions about where to place a particular product.
    • Stick to the plan. If your seed dealer has provided you with a Field x Field plan, organize your seed shed so you can stick to the plan. Subscribers to Latham Seeds’ Data Forward® program receive a crop plan book, which you can keep in your planter tractor. It’s a good practice to double check that the right seed gets in the planter. If planting conditions change in a particular field, then take the time to move products. It will be worth an hour of your time to capture the extra $150 to 200 per acre in profit potential.
    • Match Genetics to Management. If a certain corn product is described as “likes high management,” then you should not place that product in a field with poor fertility levels. Your seed dealer may not know your fields’ fertility levels unless you share it. That information is critical for accurate product placement as some genetics can handle tough fertility situations and others will fall apart in those environments. Also make sure you aren’t overplanting or underplanting each hybrid. Look at the “suggested populations” in our Product Guide, as well as the “Ear Type” rating and our stress wheel poster. We want to help you capture yield!

    If you’re planting soybeans early or at the same time your planting corn, treat the seed with SoyShield® to protect it from early season fungal diseases. Seed treatment also gives seedings an early advantage. Even when using a quality seed treatment, plant fields with the heavy soils that remain wet and cold last or at least the soils have warmed. This will help your soybeans better ward off root diseases all season long.

    SoyShield Seed treatment infographic

    A successful 2022 crop year begins with having a plan and sticking to it! Take the time now to double-check that you properly matched plant genetics with soil conditions. Our dealers are also happy to talk through field placement as well. If you have further questions or want to chat with our agronomists call: 1.877.GO.LATHAM (1.877.465.2842).

    Team Latham

    February 9, 2022
    Agronomics, Alfalfa, Corn, Corn Silage, Cover Crops, Crop, Disease, Emergence, Fertility, General, Precision Ag, Seed Technology, Seed Treatment, Soil, Soybeans
  • Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

    Cooking Up Memories for Farm Boys and Girls

    Kids Farming 2

    It’s not uncommon for kids to follow in their parents’ footsteps. After all, we literally look up to our parents from the moment we take our first steps. Dave Bergquist of Foxhome, Minnesota, was no different. He’s always wanted to be a farmer like his father.

    Family 1
    The Bergquist Family

    You might say opportunity knocked one day when a sales manager for Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds came to the Bergquist’s door. No one in their area had a Latham® dealership. Dave’s father, Mike, said that national companies already had several dealers in the area, so he really liked the idea of working with a family-owned company that shares similar values.

    A Latham® dealership provided the Bergquists with an opportunity to plan for Dave to join the family’s farming operation. They worked to grow their Latham seed dealership. Meanwhile, Dave completed the John Deere program at North Dakota State College of Science. Then Dave worked full-time for five years as a technician at a John Deere dealership where he developed many skills that are much needed on the farm, as well as in their seed dealership.

    “One of the reasons it was so easy for Mike and Dave to join Latham Seeds is because it’s a family-owned company,” says Dave’s wife, Chloe. “We appreciate that families are included in Latham dealer gatherings. The Bergquists are all about family, and our family gathers often at Mike and Patty’s. Our sons are blessed with 10 boy cousins and one girl cousin, who also have a love for being at the farm.”

    Mike and Dave are point people for their operation, but it really is a family operation. Dave’s four sisters, his mom and his wife pitch in when needed. Chloe also helps keep books for their farming operation and works as a dental hygienist.Kids Farming 2

    “Our sons love farming as much as their dad and Papa,” says Chloe. “There is nothing better than watching the boys check planting depths with Dad or Papa in the spring. When harvest time comes, they get so excited to ride in the combine, grain cart, beet lifter or truck.”

    Although they work hard, they also look forward to spending time together at the lake. Dave also enjoys fishing and hunting and looks forward to the day when his sons can go with him.

    “I grew up wanting to be like my dad,” says Dave. “As someone who you look up to your whole life, it only makes sense to do what you were taught. I really enjoy farming. It’s satisfying to plant seed, watch the plants grow and harvest the year-long accomplishments.”

    Dave and Chloe look forward to continuing family traditions and creating memories with their children. They also enjoy family mealtime whether it’s around the supper table or a tailgate meal in the field. Today they’re sharing one of their favorite recipes with us.

    Shannon Latham

    February 3, 2022
    Beef, Food & Family, General, Recipes
  • Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

    Growing Seed Beans is a Family Tradition for the Bruns Family

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    The Bruns Family
    The Bruns Family

    Just as Latham Seeds is a multi-generational, family-owned business, growing our high-quality soybeans has become a legacy for many North Central Iowa farm families.

    “I have enjoyed working with everyone at Latham Seeds,” says Steve Bruns. Steve has been a contract grower of Latham® seed beans since 1999, but he has many more years of experience. While he was in high school, Steve worked on weekends and during the summer for Latham grower Hugh Porterfield. Steve later custom farmed Hugh’s ground for 20 years.

    “The people I work with at Latham are the ones I’ve known since grade school,” adds Steve, who grew up northeast of Alexander, Iowa, on a farm his grandfather purchased in 1949. He and his wife, Karen, raised their three children in the same house where Steve was raised. “We go to church together. We’ve sat on bleachers watching our kids play. We are all community!”

    Like many young people, Steve left the area for a few years before he decided to choose farming as his livelihood.

    “Farming is the last thing I wanted to do when I went off to college,” says Steve, who graduated in Commercial Arts. “I worked in advertising for a few years and decided it wasn’t for me, so in 1980 I moved back to the area and started farming.”

    Sadly, Steve’s father developed cancer around that same time.

    “I had to quickly take over the farm, right in the middle of the Farm Crisis,” says Steve, whose father, Dean, was just 44 years old when he passed. “Luckily, I didn’t have the chance to accumulate a lot of debt, which forced a lot of out farmers out of business during those turbulent years.”

    During the 1980s and 1990s, the pork industry changed a lot.

    “Contracts to hog producers allowed for a steady income and took away the market swings, so I got back into the pork industry in 2000,” says Steve, who operated a 4,000-head site for 20 years. Steve and his family were recognized in 2005 as one of Christensen Farm’s top producers, so their photo hung outside the Animal Learning Center at the Iowa State Fair. “The most enjoyable part of hog production was the people I worked with from service managers to load crews to truckers and repairmen. Everyone was working together to raise a quality product.”

    Although he’s no longer producing pork, Steve uses hog manure for fertilizer on as many acres as he can.

    “Hog manure gives an extra yield bump if conditions are right when it’s applied. We’ve seen a 10- to 20-bushel yield bump when manure has been applied under the right conditions,” says Steve.

    Now that he has retired from pork production, Steve hopes to have more time for golfing, fishing and hunting. Karen worked 21 years for the postal service and retired in 2014 after serving the last eight years as postmaster. She enjoys spending time sewing, walking, gardening, traveling and spending time with family.

    “Karen helps a lot on the farm. She keeps this place looking great. She also does most of the ripping in the fall and field cultivating in the spring, and she still finds the time to make sure we all have a full lunch cooler to take with us to the field every day,” says Steve. “A few years ago, we had some volunteer corn escapes in a field of seed beans. She cleaned up the entire 200-acre field by herself while we combined other fields.  I’m sure they wouldn’t have made the grade if she hadn’t done such a great job.”

    Taking pride in a job well done runs in the family. Eric is proud to be a sixth generation Iowa farmer. Eric and Steve farm some acres 50:50, and they also run some of their own acres. In addition, Eric has been a contract grower for Latham Seeds since 2010. A graduate of the University of Iowa, Eric also works as an insurance agent. His wife, Traci, earned a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. She also earned a master’s degree in Education and is an ESL teacher. They live in Latimer with their children, Haidyn and Hudson. The Bruns’ oldest daughter, Jami and her husband, Adam, both graduated from Iowa State University. Jami is an interior design strategist. Adam has an MBA and is a vice president of product for Denim Social. They live in Huxley with their three children, Anea, Cale and Drew. The Bruns’ youngest daughter, Lindsey, and her husband, Zeb, graduated from Coe College. They live in West Des Moines where Lindsey is a nurse anesthetist, and Zeb is a salesman.

    The Bruns family enjoys gathering at the farm for great meals like pork casserole, a recipe passed down by Steve’s grandmother Elsie.

    Shannon Latham

    January 27, 2022
    Food & Family, General, Pork, Recipes
  • Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

    #AsktheAgronomist – Potassium Levels

    Ask the agronomist why cant build k levels

    Phil Long, precision agronomy advisor, continues his soil fertility series with the topic of Potassium. He highlights different challenges that come along with building Potassium levels and what you can do to reach your goals.

    Webspec Admin

    January 25, 2022
    #AskTheAgronomist, Agronomics, General, Soil
  • Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

    #AsktheAgronomist – Too Much Nitrogen?

    Ask the agronomist too much nitrogen

    Phil Long, precision agronomy advisor, continues his soil fertility series with the topic of Nitrogen. Is it possible to have too much Nitrogen?

    Webspec Admin

    January 18, 2022
    #AskTheAgronomist, Corn, Fertility, General, Soil
  • Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

    Latham Seeds Hires Megan McDonald as Sales Project Manager

    McDonald Family

    Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds welcomes Megan McDonald to the team as Sales Project Manager. She will be instrumental in developing resources to help Latham dealers build relationships and capture new opportunities, plus planning internal, dealer and customer events.

    “Latham Seeds has been a company that I have admired ever since I attended Ag Career Fair when I was an Iowa State student,” says Megan, who graduated in 2018 from Iowa State University (ISU) with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Business and Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing plus a minor in Agronomy.

    After college, Megan planned events and developed marketing materials for a six-location John Deere Dealership in western Iowa. She then worked in a fast-paced startup environment. Most recently, she worked as a Digital Marketing Specialist for CornerPost Marketing in Fort Dodge. She was responsible for researching and implementing digital strategy for agricultural clients.

    “I am so excited to have Megan’s communications talents on our team. She brings a can-do attitude and loves to work with people to make things happen! I look forward to the ways she will help bring our team together and connect our Regional Sales Managers and dealers to people and resources that will make them successful,” says Amy Rohe, sales manager for Latham Seeds.

    Megan looks forward to working closely with Latham’s Sales Team to reach their goals and to help the team better understand how to use tools that will help bring increased awareness to the company.

    “I appreciate the loyalty the Latham brand has, and I’m looking forward to helping promote the Latham brand even more,” says Megan. “I’ve heard that Latham Seeds has a wonderful family environment. As a working mom, this is important to me. This position sounds like a perfect fit for me, my family and my career.”

    McDonald Family
    Chance and Megan McDonald with their children Cash (age 2) and Maesen (6 months)

    Megan and her husband, Chance, live on an acreage near Roland in Central Iowa with their two-year-old son, Cash, and their six-month-old daughter, Maesen. The McDonalds enjoy being close to their alma mater, so they can attend Cyclone football and basketball games. They also enjoy being close to Chance’s sister and brother-in-law, who farm just outside of Roland.

    “We hope to teach our kids about loving the land and how farming really is a family affair,” says Megan. “The generations before us have set us up for the success that we have today, we hope to pass this legacy on to future generations. Agriculture is more than a job. It is a way of life. It instills a work ethic and a pride of being part of something bigger than just yourself.”

    Megan is proud to be a fourth generation Iowa farmer. She and Chance farm with her parents. Chance is a full-time precision agronomist, working with clients throughout the state of Iowa. Chance also serves as agronomist for her family and his brother-in-law.

    “Growing up on a farm was the best way to be as a kid. Exploring the outdoors and having animals right outside the front door was so much fun.  We had horses, pigs, sheep, cats and rabbits. My brother and I helped my dad and grandpa around the farm. I really enjoyed riding in the combine with Grandpa and with Dad when he drove the semi. In turn, they helped us with our various 4-H projects,” said Megan, who served on the Grundy County 4-H Council. She also was the 2014 Grundy County Fair Queen and named Runner Up Iowa State Fair Queen that same year.

    In her free time, Megan enjoys quilting and sewing and making T-shirt and memory quilts. She enjoys cooking, baking and gardening. Chance and Megan preserve a variety of produce from their garden, as well as homemade salsa and spaghetti sauce.

    Today Megan is sharing with us a family favorite recipe for alfredo. She really enjoys the versatility of this recipe as you can change it up by adding different vegetables like broccoli or substituting chicken for shrimp.

     

    Shannon Latham

    January 13, 2022
    Food & Family, General, Poultry, Recipes
  • Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

    It’s More Cost-Effective to Plant Alfalfa in 2022

    Alfalfa3
    Alfalfa3
    Latham’s Proprietary AlfaShield Seed Treatment accelerates emergence and protects against diseases.

    The growth in the cover crop markets combined with production shortages have grass seed prices climbing significantly. As a result, it’s not as economical to plant a grass seed-alfalfa mix. If you’ve historically planted a grass seed-alfalfa mix, consider a solid-seeded alfalfa for spring 2022.

    High fertilizer prices have many farmers looking at every nitrogen credit. Similar to soybeans, alfalfa fixes most of its own nitrogen. Latham Seeds’ signature seed treatment, AlfaShieldTM, contains key micronutrients like molybdenum and an LCO growth promoter called Optimize® Gold. Having these components readily available upon emergence increases the chance of early nodulation and nitrogen-fixing cycle.

    The speed at which an alfalfa plant creates nutrients correlates to yield, as well a healthier long-term stand. Alfalfa can fix an average of 150 to 200 pounds of nitrogen per year and has a robust advantage in providing nitrogen credits years after the stand ends.

    Nitrogen Credits chart

    The chart above outlines potential credits. Traditionally, the subsequent crop planted on rotated alfalfa yields about 15 to 20% more! There is more good news, the value of alfalfa extends beyond the nitrogen credit. Alfalfa has many other assets to accompany your operation:

    • Next years crop’s roots can grow deeper as alfalfa’s tap root extends beyond the soil hard pan.
    • Alfalfa stands are three to four years old and can break down disease cycles.
    • Alfalfa interrupts the insect cycles and reduces the use of common herbicide.
    • Alfalfa is a great diversification tool and adds an additional avenue of revenue.
    • Alfalfa seed can also be amortized over three to four years!

    Making alfalfa part of a crop rotation has so many advantages. Talk with your Latham® rep today about making it part of your 2022 crop plan!

    Webspec Admin

    January 13, 2022
    Agronomics, Alfalfa, Crop, General
  • Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

    Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds Welcomes Kate Van Manen as Digital Marketing Strategist

    The Van Manen Family
    Kate Headshot Resized
    Kate Van Manen, Digital Marketing Strategist

    She was supposed to be on vacation that summer day instead of working. He had an internship he was supposed to be at, yet he happened to be at his parents’ farm helping give a tour to a group. Their meeting was serendipitous.

    Today Kate and Jacob Van Manen are raising their children just a quarter mile away from where Jacob was raised – and where his parents still farm – near Kellogg in Central Iowa. They raise cattle, field corn, soybeans, sweet corn, tomatoes and pumpkins.

    Tomato production was Kate’s Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) when she was in FFA, so she has renewed her interest in vegetable production. In 2020 they built a high tunnel, so she enjoys spending quiet time picking tomatoes after her children are asleep.

    “As our kids get older, I’m excited to share with them lifelong lessons, as well as spiritual truths that closely align with many aspects of the farm,” says Kate, who grew up on a farm in Northwest Iowa near Storm Lake. Her family raised corn, soybeans, cattle and hogs. “Many tasks on the farm are done with family, which is something really special. Our daughter, Kennedy (age 4), gets excited about picking sweet corn at 5 a.m. with her great grandma. Kennedy also enthusiastically scoops cattle bunks in her Frozen® dress. It will be fun to see what farm tasks that Karter (age 1) enjoys.”

    “There is something about letting your kids get their hands dirty and drink from a hose,” adds Kate. “One fun Dutch tradition that I married into is ‘coffee time.’ Great Grandma Trudy Van Manen lives across the road from us. She hosts a coffee time daily at 9 a.m., which brings everyone together for a break during which we enjoy the most delicious, homemade Dutch treats. Some mornings there are four generations present! It’s a simple thing but so special.”Kennedy Hose

    Shared family values are one of the reasons Kate decided to join family-owned Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds.

    “I am glad to be back in the ag industry professionally as I enjoy working with the most amazing, down-to-earth people,” says Kate, who had managed social media and assisted with marketing efforts for another regional seed business after she graduated in 2014 from Iowa State University with a major in Agriculture Communications and a minor in Entrepreneurial Studies. Most recently, she worked in marketing and communications at a regional hospital. “I really appreciate the level of flexibility and trust that Latham Seeds provides to its team members. I feel very empowered to manage my time and projects and grow in my career skills. I also appreciate their values and importance on family and the understanding of farming challenges.”

    Kate says she is especially looking forward to attending Latham® Dealer Kickoff this summer. She says she looks forward to meeting Latham dealers in person and interacting with them and their spouses online in her new role as digital media strategist for Latham Seeds. Kate is responsible for developing strategy and implementing tactics for Latham’s social media channels.

    The Van Manen Family
    Jacob, Kate, Kennedy and Karter Van Manen

    In her free time, Kate enjoys traveling, gardening, fitness and going on gator rides with her family to check their crops. They often spend a few hours – after 5 p.m. during the summer months – pulling weeds from their pumpkin patch. Kate also enjoys cooking.

    “I did not grow up baking Dutch treats, and I’ve learned that’s entirely something different!” says Kate. “I usually volunteer to bring vegetables to Van Manen family gatherings, but a friend shared with me a recipe for Dutch letter bars. This recipe is so easy to make, and it tastes exactly like Dutch letters without all of the work. I brought these bars to coffee time once, and everyone thought they were delicious! I make these when we need something sweet in a pinch.”

    Shannon Latham

    January 7, 2022
    Desserts, Food & Family, General
  • Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

    Balanced Fertility to Optimize Yield

    IStock 1250506247 Resized

    High yields from 2021 combined with increasingly high fertilizer for spring 2022 have caused many farmers to scale back their fertilizer applications. While they may save on short-term input costs, they could lose more in yield than they’re saving.

    Spending lots of money on fertilizer doesn’t equal high yields, however, having a soil balance sustains a corn or soybean crop during a tough year. So how can you strike a balance? It’s important to start with pH, especially when growing legumes like soybeans, edible beans and alfalfa.

    A soil pH around 6.5 is important because it determines if nutrients are in usable form for the crop. If you struggle with high pH, fertilizers like MAP and AMS that are more acidifying will help lower pH over time. The micronutrient part of your fertility is also very important. In most cases, you don’t need to add as many micronutrients to fix a low test; you just need to be aware of which nutrients may be too high and thus limit the availability of other nutrients.

    Soil biology – fungi, bacteria, and other microbes – play a key role in cycling nutrients to available and unavailable forms. It’s more about having a balance and being in the right form than it is about applying lots of fertilizer. For example, Iron Deficiency Chlorosis (IDC) in soybeans results when iron is not in an available form for the plant to take it up; there is actually over 20,000lbs/acre of iron in the top 8 inches of our soils!IStock 1250506247 Resized

    A 200-bushel corn crop removes approximately 150, 70, and 50 pounds of N, P, and K respectively per season. A 60 bushel per acre (bu/A) soybean crop removes approximately 240, 50, and 75 pounds of N, P, and K per season. Do we need to apply exactly those amounts? No, but we must understand what the soil can provide and how it maintains a balance that is available to our crops. Soil testing is so important for gaining this understanding. When problem spots arise, then we tissue test, take additional soil samples, and use other information to diagnose.

    The key point is a lot more goes into maintaining a balance in your soils than just applying the same amount of fertilizer every year. The best place to start is with a soil test. Latham’s Data ForwardTM program helps takes some of the worry and complexity out of it while figuring out what your soils needs. Remember, your soils are not identical to your neighbors’. A soil test is key to finding the right balance for higher yields on your fields. I’d be happy to discuss with you any questions you have about your soil and how Latham’s Data ForwardTM could help you iron out your fertilizer needs. Call 1.877.GO.LATHAM (1.877.465.2842).

     

    Team Latham

    January 4, 2022
    #AskTheAgronomist, General, Soil, Tech Tuesday
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131 180th Street | Alexander, IA 50420

(641) 692-3258

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