Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey reports that 19% of the corn and 38% of the soybeans have been harvested statewide as of Oct. 5. While this year’s corn harvest is about one week ahead of the average, it’s more than four weeks ahead of last year. Only 18% of Iowa’s soybean acres were combined at this time last year, and this year’s soybean harvest is slightly ahead of the five-year average of 37 percent.  (Source: IDALS news release)

North Central Iowa

Clear skies in Northwest Iowa have allowed everyone to make remarkable harvest progress this week.  Tom Larson has been harvested the majority of his Super Strip replicated strip trials in both corn and soybeans, so look for the results to be posted soon on www.lathamseeds.com.  Tom is receiving call after call from customers sharing their success stories this fall with Latham® products.  Latham® soybean genetics, combined with the Genuity® Roundup Ready 2 Yield^TM technology, continues to dominate.  Latham Hi‑Tech Soybeans L2440R2 has been a particular standout: two checks by Osage, of two acres per check, resulted in 79.9 bushels per acre (bu/A) and 82.2 bushel per acre yields! 

South Dakota

Combines are taking out both soybeans and corn in Bill Eichacker’s territory, and farmers like what they’re seeing from Latham® products. One new Latham® soybean brand, with Genuity® Roundup Ready 2 Yield^TM technology, yielded 70 bu/A by Beresford, S.D.  In a soybean plot by Hills, Minn., another Latham brand averaged over 60 bushels even after receiving hail late in the season and L2440R2 produced 65 bushel per acre. By Olivet, South Dakota, a corn plot averaged more than 200 bushels per acre with LH 4508 VT3 going 218 bu/A at 16.4% moisture.

East Central Iowa

Brad Beatty reports that harvest is progressing quickly in his eastern Iowa territory. Soybean yields have been a pleasant surprise with Latham® Hi‑Tech Soybeans L2658R, L2635R and L2740R performing solid again this year.  The best corn yields have come from fields in which farmers side-dressed extra Nitrogen earlier in the growing season.  In fields were there was a shortage of Nitrogen because of too much rain, corn yields suffered.   

South Central Iowa

Soybean harvest is in full steam thanks to the nice stretch of weather over the last seven days across South Central Iowa.  On Monday, Bob Quinn from WHO Radio rode in the combine with Nick Dawes’ on his farm near Adel.  Nick’s field of Latham L2984R2 soybeans ended up yielding 73 bushels per acre on across the 142-acre field.  Most producers here are seeing soybean yields from the mid-50 bushel range to the high-60 and low 70-bushel range on whole-farm yields.  This area didn’t see as high levels of SDS as the producers in the northern part of Travis’ area saw, which brought their yields down in the mid-40 to low 50-bushel range.  Latham Hi‑Tech Soybeans appear to have handled the SDS pressure much better than many of the competitors’ products in this area.  Producers here will wrap up soybean harvest this week and switch to corn.

North Central Iowa

With another great week of weather, harvest is rapidly progressing in Kevin Meyer’s north central Iowa territory.  Corn harvest took the backseat to soybeans this week as producers concentrated on making the most of great field conditions.  The little bit of corn that was harvested is drying down nicely in the field with moisture levels in the teens. Soybean growers are very happy with yields, which are being reported in the upper 70s to 80 bushels per acre (bu/A).  On Friday, Kevin helped harvest a test plot where Latham® L1985R2 won with 72 bu/A.  Plots are coming out quickly with L2440R2 and L2182R2 at the top of most.  Nearly 80 percent of the soybeans have been harvested and Kevin is anticipating another great week, with harvest at full speed, because no precipitation is in the forecast.

Northeast Iowa

Harvest is in full swing throughout Nick Benson’s northeast Iowa territory.  Most farmers are taking out soybeans in full force this week.  There have been some exceptionally high yields.  In two different fields this week, L2440R2 yielded around 70 bu/A.  Nick has ridden a few combines that have returned to corn.  It’s now very dry, with most corn between 15 and 18% moisture.  Yields are extremely variable, from 250 bu/A in fields that are well tiled and utilized late season Nitrogen to as low as 70 b/A where this wasn’t the case.  Farmers are generally seeing a 5 to 10% yield increase when they  side-dressed.  In particular, LH 5376 VT3 showed up extremely well in these “extra Nitrogen” situations.

Wisconsin

Steve Bailie reports corn yields are raising farmers’ expectations. Many growers in southwestern Wisconsin have been getting average field yields in the 195 to 215 bushel range with a few reaching 230 bu/A in highly managed fields. These are the highest yields many growers here have ever seen as yields typically average 180 bu/A here.  Growers are seeing that product placement plays a very important role in reaching their yield goals. Soybeans this year are showing the same strength as the corn yields are. With timely rains and enough sunny days, growers have been able to reach yields as high as 80 to 85 b/A in some of the highly productive soils.  Many growers have experienced average yields of 65 to 70 bu/A this year.  With soybeans yields being as high as they are and with the price per bushel as high as it has been, these past two weeks have been an eye opener for many growers who are seeing the potential profit per acre this year.

Northwest Iowa

Harvest is slowly resuming after last week’s rainfall, says Tom Larson.  Parts of northern Iowa received up to 12 inches of precipitation. Early reports show Genuity® Roundup Ready 2 (RR2) Yield Soybeans are dominating.  One customer, who farms near Osage, called to report his Latham® L2440R2 averaged 71 bushel per acre (b/A).  The first corn fields are also being harvested, and Latham® Hi‑Tech Hybrids LH5896 VT3 is rising to the top again.  As you harvest your crop, be in touch with your Latham rep to get started on next year’s success.

South Central Iowa

Travis Slusher says yesterday is the first time since last Friday that farmers were able to get in the fields due to high rainfall amounts. He rode a combine yesterday while Latham® Hi‑Tech Hybrids LH6068 VT3 was being harvested.  The plant health was exceptional with yields in the 180-bushel range, which is in the top end for that farmer.  Stalk rot still needs to be watched closely as there are areas that are starting to show the effects of this, so corn growers need to manage this and try to harvest those areas as soon as possible.

How to Detect Stalk Rot

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c064-2Pd-do[/youtube]

West Central Iowa

Soybeans are ready to combine in Bart Peterson’s territory, and area farmers started hitting it hard yesterday as the soil dried enough for them to resume harvest.  West Central Iowa is 5% done combing beans and about 10% done with corn. West Central Iowa will have one of its highest yielding bean years as plants have a lot of nodes and a lot of pods. Watch out for RR2: they’re going to prove their worth this year!

East Central Iowa

More corn has been harvested than soybeans in Brad Beatty’s area.  Because of recent rainfall, the soybeans need some sunshine and warmer temps to dry them. Soybean harvest is expected to pick up this week.  Those fields that have been harvested show the soybeans yielding about five bushels better than last year.

Wisconsin

During the last couple of days, a lot of soybeans are being harvested in Wisconsin.  Many growers are seeing a yield bump from Latham® soybeans with the Genuity® RR2Y technology, says Steve Bailie.  In a plot harvested Monday in South Central Wisconsin, Latham’s L2084R2 topped the plot with 71.4 b/A.   A little corn was also harvested this past week; yields as high as 260 b/A are being reported in well-drained soils. There is talk that fertilizer prices will follow the corn and bean prices, so Steve says it might be a good idea to talk with your fertilizer supplier to see whether you can lock in prices for next year.

Northeast Iowa

Nick Benson reports things are moving fast in the northeast corner of Iowa.  As yield results roll in, Latham® Hi‑Tech Hybrids LH5426 VT3 Pro and Latham® Hi‑Tech Soybeans L2440 RR2 are showing very well.  Picking and choosing which fields to harvest first will continue to be a very important management decision as stalk rot takes hold in fields.  With the tremendous amount of pods on soybean plants, lodging will start to be a concern.

Central Iowa

It’s been a wet week in central Iowa, says Kevin Meyer. Fortunately, there was no flooding and some harvest activity took place in between showers.  Corn yields remain good with field moistures around 18 to 20%. Early hybrid plot data shows strong performances from LH5376 VT3, LH5494 3000GT, and LH5896 VT3.

Missouri

Cropping is going slow in the south, says Rick Foster. His area received another 1 to 3 inches of rain over the past two nights.

On the cover of its Feb. 6 issue, Iowa Farmer Today reported farmers who grow specialty soybeans will be able to separate that crop from their conventional beans for insurance purposes this year.

William Edwards, Iowa State University economist was quoted in the article, saying the separation could benefit farmers, as traditionally, some specialty soybeans had a yield drag. Separating those beans out will create a higher actual production history (APH) on conventional soybeans for farmers, and therefore, a higher revenue guarantee.

Edwards thought farmers could provide documentation and apply the separation to previous years, the article stated.

The following soybeans are included in the provision:

• Large-seeded food grade — Soybeans commonly used for tofu, soymilk and miso
• Small-seeded food grade — Soybeans commonly used for sprouts or for natto soybeans
• Low-linolenic acid — Soybeans used to produce soybean oil with a linolenic acid level of 3 percent or less
• Low-saturated fat — Soybeans containing 50 percent less saturated fat than conventional soybeans
• High protein — Soybeans containing protein levels of 43 percent or greater

 Click here to read the full article.

Please comment in the field below if you have any questions or would like more information.

Biotechnology will undoubtedly play a crucial role in feeding the growing world population. It’s projected that our world will require 70 percent more food in 2050.

While we most often talk about the need for continued yield improvements to meet thise growing demand for food, an article by Greg Lamp in the December issue of Corn and Soybean Digest reminds of the yield gains and other benefits that have been recognized in recent years due to biotechnology.  Here are few ways Lamp cites that biotechnology is already helping this number become reality:

• If farmers hadn’t used biotechnology in 2007, 14.75 million additional acres of soybeans and 7.5 additional acres of corn, plus cotton and canola would have needed planted. This equals about 6 percent of arable land in the United States.
• Average yield gains in areas using biotech insect-resistant corn is 6 percent, with the highest yield gains experienced in developing countries.
• Since 1996, biotech traits have added 67.8 million tons and 62.4 million tons respectively to global soybean and corn production.
• The additional production provided by biotechnology has contributed enough energy (in kcal terms) to feed about 402 million people for a year.

With some of the world feeling uncomfortable about biotech traits, it becomes all the more important for us to share the success biotechnology has already brought to our food supply. Please share some of the above information when you are talking with people who question biotech traits.

Click here to read the recent issue of Corn and Soybean Digest.

What differences have you noticed in your yields after using biotech traits? Please share in the comment field below.