Preliminary Harvest Results Indicate Soybean Seed is High Quality
Many of our seed growers told me, while I was making pre-harvest field inspections, that they would be happy with 45-bushel yields due to the late planting and the cold, wet field conditions throughout the growing season. Those environmental factors, coupled with difficult weed control and some late-season diseases like Sudden Death Syndrome and White Mold, led to some pessimistic yield expectations. While there were a few fields that got hit hard by the above-mentioned problems, I’m happy to report that most of our production field yields are in the mid-50s with some in the low-to-mid 60s!
While we’re thrilled that yields are better than expected, an even better message is the appearance and quality. Seed coming in has looked so much better than last year at this time. Although we struggled with some rains that delayed harvest, our soybeans didn’t sit in ponds of water like they did last year. We’re not seeing mold on the stems and pods nor on the soybeans themselves.
I’m cautiously optimistic about soybean germination, as well. A few of the very early samples we sent to the laboratory have come back with germination rates of 98 or 99 percent. If this holds true for the rest of the fields and for conditioned lots going through our plant, seed quality should be excellent.
PLOT RESULTS
Below are a few raw yield results from some Latham® SuperStrip™ plots harvested early. Keep in mind that none of these yields have been adjusted to the recurring checks:
Keep checking here for updated yield results from all of our plots around Latham Country!
Today we are featuring the next generation of Bosma farmers, Latham® dealers and agriculturists. Working hard 2B the next generation and looking to build their legacy.
Latham Team members work to precisely harvest soybean replicated trials on the home farm in Alexander, IA . Each test is replicated three times per test area, and the average of the three tests is used to report yield. These results assist in product selection every year.
Are you ready for the next new soybean technology? XtendFlex® from Bayer is expected to attain full global approval by mid-spring of 2020.
These soybeans will be the next triple-stack option for farmers, who continue to battle weed resistance. XtendFlex soybeans will be tolerant to glyphosate (Roundup), dicamba (XtendiMax, Engenia, etc.) and gluphosinate (Liberty®) herbicides.
The last hurdle for Bayer to clear is the European Union (EU). All other major soybean importing countries, including China and the Philippines, have granted their approval for this technology. Bayer has recently received a positive opinion from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), which is a key milestone in preparation for full commercialization in all markets.
Bayer has XtendFlex Ground Breaker Field Trials in place this growing season. In fact, Latham Seeds has an EPA-stewarded trial at our research farm near Alexander, Iowa.
Join us to learn about all the exciting new traits and genetics that Latham offers in corn, soybeans and alfalfa! If you can’t make it to Alexander on September 6, contact your Latham® representative to set up a personal tour. You’re welcome to bring other farmers with you either to our field day or to a personalized tour. Load up the truck and head our way! We look forward to seeing you soon.
From left to right: John Latham, Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, Wayne Gale, Stokes Seeds and Brad May, BASF
The American Seed Trade Association’s (ASTA) newly-elected officer team was announced recently during ASTA’s Policy & Leadership Development. Members of the FY2019-20 ASTA officer team—officially taking office on July 1 are: Chair Wayne Gale, Stokes Seed; First Vice Chair John Latham, Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds; and Second Vice Chair Brad May, BASF.
“To be nominated to ASTA leadership by these leaders is a true honor. I’ll take away from this experience life-long friends and memories,” says John Latham, who has served on the ASTA board of directors and its executive committee for the past seven years. (Click here to watch a short biographical video that was played last week when John was inducted as First Vice Chair.) “It has been a great opportunity to get to know seed industry leaders from all sectors of the seed industry. I’ve been able to learn a great deal about the industry that I’ve been able to bring to our business.”
During the conference, June 15-19 in Denver, ASTA also announced winners of its prestigious annual awards: the Distinguished Service, Honorary Member plus a brand-new award called the the Better Seed, Better Life Ambassador Award.
2019 ASTA Distinguished Service Award: ASTA’s Distinguished Service Award recognizes an individual who made outstanding contributions to our industry throughout the year. The 2019 award was presented to Alan Galbreth, who has spent his entire 43-year career in the seed industry working for the Indiana Crop Improvement Association (ICIA), where he was appointed CEO In 2011. He serves on various committees within AOSA/SCST, AOSCA and ASTA, including as Chair of the former ASTA Seed Analyst Liaison Committee and more recently as Chair of the ASTA Seed Industry Relations Committee. He also represents ASTA on the international level as a liaison to the OECD Seed Schemes.
2019 ASTA Honorary Member Award: ASTA’s Honorary Member Award recognizes individuals who exemplify leadership, vision and service. This year’s award was bestowed upon two seed-industry professionals.
Blake Curtis, Curtis & Curtis, Inc.: In addition to serving as Senior Vice President of Management and Sales at his family seed business where he has worked since 1979, Curtis has held a number of volunteer leadership positions over the years. From 1986 to 1995, Curtis served as Caucus Chairman, then Minority Whip, and finally Minority Leader in the New Mexico State Legislature. He has been President of the New Mexico Seedsmen’s Association, a member of, and Chair of, the New Mexico State University Board of Regents, and held a variety of leadership positions with ASTA, including Chair from 2012-2013
John Duesing Corteva Agriscience: Duesing, whom ASTA Chair Jerry Flint described as a “road warrior and relentless advocate for ASTA and intellectual property protection for seed,” has been an active member of ASTA’s International Executive Committee for the past five years, and has been instrumental in shaping ASTA’s U.S. Plant Variety Protection (PVP) strategy and its involvement in UPOV policy and the International Seed Federation.
Better Seed, Better Life Ambassador Award: Lileen Coulloudon, Texas Foundation Seed Service, is the recipient of the first-ever ASTA award honoring an individual for exemplary advocacy on behalf of the seed industry. New to the seed industry, and a recent addition to ASTA’s Seed Ambassador Leadership Team (SALT), Coulloudon has demonstrated true leadership in advocacy by sharing the “Better Seed, Better Life” message online and within her community.
Founded in 1883, the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) represents over 700 companies involved in seed production, plant breeding and related industries in North America. ASTA is the leading voice of action in all matters concerning the development, marketing and movement of seed, associated products and services throughout the world. The association’s broad membership offers varieties from alfalfa to zucchini and all production types including conventional, organic and biotech. ASTA promotes the development of better seed to produce better crops for a better quality of life.
The American Seed Trade Association plays an important role in helping regulators and legislators understand issues that impact trade and our everyday business, adds John. That’s why he has made a point of “storming the hill” annually. During a visit to Capitol Hill this spring, John and other ASTA leaders discussed trade, plant breeding innovation and agricultural research with federal officials. Because sophisticated breeding programs allow the seed industry to help meet the need for a wide variety of nutritious and high quality products, while supporting sustainable agriculture practices that preserve our environment’s natural resource and biodiversity, industry representatives spend a great deal of time advocating for science.
In 2018, the EPA extended the registration for over-the-top use of select dicamba products to control weeds in soybean and cotton fields that are genetically engineered to resist dicamba. This registration included label updates which add certain measures to further minimize the potential of off-target damage. This registration will automatically expire on December 20, 2020, unless the EPA extends it further. Listed below are some of the FEDERAL updates now in effect:
Only certified applicators may apply dicamba over-the-top; applicators working under the direct supervision of certified persons are no longer qualified.
Post-emerge applications to soybeans are prohibited 45 days after planting or later.
Applications are allowed only from 1 hour after sunrise to 2 hours before sunset.
In counties where endangered species exist the downwind buffer will remain at 110 feet and there is a new 57-foot buffer around the other sides of the field.
Training periods for 2019 and beyond will be clarified, ensuring more consistency across all three registered products: XtendiMax®, Engenia® and FeXapan®.
Tank clean-out instructions will be
further enhanced.
Enhanced labels to improve the awareness of the impact of low pH’s on volatility.
Label clean up and consistency to improve compliance and enforceability.
In addition to these updates, some state Departments of Agriculture have additional restrictions. Here are a few standouts from states in Latham Country:
Minnesota: Must not apply dicamba herbicides after June 20th. There will be no temperature restriction for 2019.
North Dakota: Must not apply dicamba after June 30th. Keeping records of dicamba applications is required and will be strictly enforced.
South Dakota: Must not apply dicamba after June 30th, 45 days after planting or the R1 (beginning bloom) stage of soybeans, whichever comes first. Applicators must also pass a short exam after training is completed.
Illinois: Must not apply dicamba after June 30th. Do not apply when the wind is blowing toward adjacent residential areas. Before spraying, the applicator must consult the FieldWatch sensitive crop registry. Further restrictions apply when spraying near the downfield edge of any Illinois Nature Preserves Commission Site.
These are just some of the new requirements for the application of dicamba over-the-top of soybeans in 2019. There may be additional restrictions from the states not mentioned above or from local authorities. If you will be applying any of the dicamba products in 2019, make certain you attend the required ANNUAL training and conform to what the label requires. Please make these restrictions a high priority so we can continue to use this valuable tool in the fight against weed resistance!
