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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Tips for Choosing the Hybrid Maturity
As farmers make their final seed purchasing decisions, some may wonder if the hybrids they selected in early fall are still the right ones today. The Latham Team will gladly help put your mind at ease.

Let’s begin by reviewing a few product selection basics. Most selection decisions begin with relative maturity (RM). These ratings are relative to physiological maturity and largely driven by a combination of growing degree days (GDDs) and planting date. When building a plan for the upcoming growing season, identify the GDD range and average required for a hybrid to reach physiological maturity (black layer) in your geography.

Planting multiple hybrids of varying maturity will reduce risk in three main areas:
1. Agronomics (emergence, stalk strength, disease tolerance)
2. Harvest management (harvest moisture)
3. Genetic diversity (yield, drought tolerance)
About 60 to 70% of a farmer’s portfolio traditionally is focused on the core RM zone (i.e. 100-day RM) with 10 to 20% focused on earlier RM and the remainder on later RM. Remember, there is typically more yield variability within a given RM group. Spreading risk across a wider maturity range is especially important given the moisture limitations across the Upper Midwest.

Grain moisture at harvest also increases steadily with increasing relative maturity. On average, grain moisture at physiological maturity increases by 0.25 to 0.5% with each one-day increase in relative maturity. Selecting hybrids of appropriate maturity is important for a balance between yield potential and managing grain moisture at harvest, which ultimately grows more corn.

The Latham Team is here to help you feel confident about your seed decisions. After harvest each year, we share results from our own research. We hire third-party companies to plant and harvest Latham Elite trials, so our Product Team members can observe products and take notes at a greater number of locations. As a result, we have recently tripled the number of trials conducted on both corn and soybean products in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin, North Dakota and South Dakota!

Once we identify experimental products from the Elite Trials that meet Latham Seeds’ standards AND fulfill our customers’ needs, we release them for sale. Check out multiple years and multiple locations of Latham® performance at LathamSeeds.com.

Yield pays. Latham delivers on that promise, just as we have for more than 75 years. Feel free to contact your local Latham Seeds representative or call 877-GO-LATHAM (877) 921-3428.
Team Latham

December 14, 2023

Agronomics, Corn, Crop, Data, Fall, General, Growth Stages, Season, Soybeans, Tech Tuesday
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Tips for Analyzing Harvest Data
As harvest season ends, it’s time to think about which products to plant on your farm next year. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by seed company data. To help, I’ve put two of the most important numbers at the bottom of the page: CV and LSD. Let’s take a deep dive into each number.

What is the Co-efficient of Variation (CV)?

The co-efficient of variation (CV) is a statistical measure of the dispersion of data points in a data series around the mean. The statistical mean is the mathematical average, which is calculated by adding up all the values in a data set and then dividing by the number of data points.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The co-efficient of variation (CV) is a statistical measure of the relative dispersion of data points in a data series around the mean.
- The CV is useful for comparing the degree of variation from one data series to another, even if the means are drastically different from one another.
- The lower the ratio of the standard deviation to mean return, the better risk-return tradeoff.
CV SUMMARY

The co-efficient of variation shows the extent of variability of data in a sample in relation to the mean of the test or trial. The lower the CV, the more value the trial or data set you’re looking at has. Paying attention to the CV is very important this year due to the variability we experienced during the growing season. Use caution with data CVs between 15 and 19, and do not use data with CVs higher than 20.

What is the Least Significant Difference (LSD)?

When studying yield data from universities, seed companies or third-party sources, always look for the Least Significant Difference (LSD value) at the bottom of the data set or table. The LSD value measures variability in a test that might be caused by soil types, population density variations, micro-environment or experimental errors.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
- To be considered significant, the yields of any two hybrids or varieties must be greater than the LSD value. This is to make sure the differences are real and not caused by chance or soil variability.
- Uniform tests have smaller LSD values and are more reliable. Agronomists and researchers try to limit variabilities by seeking uniform ground to conduct their tests. The differences of 10 bushels in high-yielding corn test plots are generally not significant and are within the LSD value, so it is a mistake to make a big deal when a hybrid tops one test plot.
- LSD values in the university tests are generally reported at (0.1) or 10% level. It means that there is a 90% chance that any one of the hybrids or varieties within the LSD value for the test could be on the top. Some test plot data are now being reported with LSD at (0.25) or 75% level, perhaps to be more inclusive.
Everyone likes to be on the top for “bragging” rights, but a hybrid on top in one test may be in the middle in the next test. Rather than focusing on hybrids that top a plot, look for the hybrids that are consistently in the top tier in different plots across several locations.

LSD SUMMARY

It’s human nature for our eyes to gravitate to the top of a trial and assume the top product is what to plant on the farm next year. It’s not uncommon for almost half of a 20-entry trial to be within the LSD.

To help determine which products might perform best given your soil types, management practices and other factors, consult your local Latham® representative. We’re here to help guide you through the fall data rush.
Team Latham

November 1, 2023

Data, Fall, Season, Tech Tuesday
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

#FromtheField – Central Iowa – September, 2023

It’s harvest time in Central Iowa! Aaron is southeast of Des Moines, scouting #FromtheField to determine where to start first.

Shannon Latham

September 19, 2023

#FromTheField Crop Reports, Agronomics, Corn, Crop, Fall, From the Field, Season
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Late Summer Can Lead to Better Harvest Decisions
Steve Sick, Latham Product Manager

Taking field notes on what you observe in late August and early September can provide valuable information as you move into harvest, as well as confirm or reprioritize agronomic goals for next year.

Notes I take this time of year generally answer these questions:
- What diseases are the most prevalent?
- Which areas of the field exhibit poor growth or yield potential?
- Should I conduct a pre-harvest yield estimate?
Late-Season Scouting Suggestions

Evaluate areas of poor crop growth and potential yield. There can be multiple reasons why a crop didn’t grow well in portions of a field or yield estimates are low in some spots.

To help determine if soil fertility and health is the cause, try these steps:
- Mark on a map or GPS reference the location, so you can take directed soil samples after harvest.
- Pull paired samples. Take one composite soil sample in the poor growth area and then take another composite sample in an area of good growth nearby in the same field. (Soil sample bags are available from many sources and easily available through your local university or co-op.)
- Use yield maps. These are another great data layer to compare and contrast what you observed during scouting in late August.
Think About Pest Management While Scouting

Observe the severity and distribution of diseases, insects, and weeds in a field to help make future adjustments to pest management plans.

For example, Goss’s Wilt and bacterial leaf streak are two bacterial diseases found this year in cornfields with no previous history. Tar spot is also a new disease that carries over in residue the following year. Hybrid selection for improved tolerance or resistance to these bacterial diseases maybe something to talk about with your seed dealer this fall.

Some hail and wind-damaged fields now have a late-season weed flush in portion that might warrant a more aggressive herbicide program next year.

Scouting Now Can Help Predict Yield Potential

The most compelling reason to scout fields in late summer is to estimate yield potential. There are differing techniques on estimating corn yield in terms of how to sample and the number of ears to pull. I suggest using information from satellite or drone images to direct sampling across the variability that exists in all fields.

Another word of caution is with the seed size factor used to calculate kernels/bushel with the extremely dry grain fill period we have experienced in parts of Latham Country. For dry areas, that number may need to be much larger than normal.

Scouting late in the growing season is almost always hot, itchy, sweaty, wet and uncomfortable! However, the insights gained with field observations — when paired with knowledge of the growing season — can help tweak management decisions going forward. This will ultimately lead to more productive growing seasons in the future.

Did you enjoy this article? We want to (TECH)talk with you! Sign up for our newsletter to receive agronomy videos, articles (and delicious recipes) in your inbox! We’ll TALK soon.
Team Latham

August 30, 2023

Corn, Crop, Fall, General, Growth Stages, Soybeans, Summer, Tech Tuesday
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Fall Alfalfa Seeding – What You Need to Know

Fall Seeding Alfalfa

While we are rapidly approaching the optimal time to begin fall seeding alfalfa, there’s still time to get the crop established before a killing frost. Newly-seeded alfalfa requires five to six weeks after seeding before a killing frost or freeze.

A major key to successful forage production is a good soil testing and fertilization program. It’s best to apply needed amendments to the soil prior to seeding establishment. If the soil analysis indicates a need for liming materials, apply agricultural lime in amounts called for by the soil test. If the soil will be tilled prior to seeding, till the lime into the soil.

Applying Lime Takes Time

If the seeding must be established no-till and the test calls for large quantities of lime (four or five tons per acre or more), care must be taken to not create a very high pH zone at the surface with a low pH zone just below. In this case, it might be best to apply the lime in equal annual amounts over a period of three or four years.

Phosphorus and potassium are the two most critical fertilizer materials for establishing and maintaining alfalfa stands. An initial application may be tilled into the soil prior to planting. Fertilizer must be top-dressed in succeeding years. Band application of a starter fertilizer at seeding time may help ensure stands on soils testing low or very low in phosphorus.

Get the Foundation Right for Planting

Preparing a firm seedbed for planting is essential. This can be accomplished by firming the soil with a corrugated roller or cultipacker before seeding. After seeding, firm the soil again to cover the seed and obtain necessary seed-soil contact. Final seed placement should be no deeper than ½-inch in heavy soils and ¾-inch in light soils.

If stands established in the spring are inadequate, they may be reseeded or inter-seeded the following late summer. For alfalfa, stand counts per square foot should be +25 for a good stand, 15 to 25 for a marginal stand, and less than 15 for a poor stand in the establishment year. Poor stands should probably be reseeded or inter-seeded.

Evaluating Stand Quality

The difficult decision comes with a stand of 10-15 plants per square foot, where, if the plants remain healthy, additional seeding and fertility operations under less-than-ideal conditions may damage the stand, ultimately doing more harm than good.

Under those circumstances, producers should consider weather and soil conditions carefully. Reseeding marginal stands largely depends on the producer’s immediate need for forage and the resulting management of the stand going into fall and winter. A reseeded or inter-seeded area would not be harvested after the seeding to improve the chances for good stand survival through the winter.

Interseeding a poor stand of newly-established alfalfa plants will likely be more successful than attempting to thicken an old, established alfalfa stand. In either case, the alfalfa stand achieved will probably not be uniformly thick.

Finally, a general rule of thumb is to plant 12-15 pounds per acre of high-quality seed per acre. Products like LH 9400 and LH 9120 BR are ideal choices to plant this fall and will provide years of high-quality forage.

Did you enjoy this article? We want to (TECH)talk with you! Sign up for our newsletter to receive agronomy videos, articles (and delicious recipes) in your inbox! We’ll TALK soon.

Team Latham

August 23, 2023

Alfalfa, Crop, Fall, General
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Proof Points Podcast – Episode 9

Ken has a “Basket of Factors” to share with us from Northern Latham Country right now. Take a listen on this week’s Proof Points Podcast.

#LathamSeeds #FamilyOwnedFarmProven #LathamCountry

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQi2XobIsOE

Webspec Admin

July 18, 2023

Disease, Fungicide, Podcast, Proof Points Podcast, Summer
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

#FromtheField – Week of June 12, 2023

Take a look across Latham Country! We’re coming to you every week.

How important is planting depth? Aaron shows us first-hand from the field in Central Iowa.

See the difference! On the left is LH 5034 AA after getting no rain for 35 days in super-hot weather. On the right shows the same hybrid after 1.2” of rain. This product has impressive heat and drought resistance in South Dakota! Learn more about our unmatched lineup: https://www.lathamseeds.com/products/?crop=377

Did you enjoy these videos? We want to (TECH)talk with you! Sign up for our newsletter to receive agronomy videos (and delicious recipes) in your inbox! We’ll TALK soon.

Webspec Admin

June 15, 2023

#FromTheField Crop Reports, Agronomics, Corn, Crop, Emergence, From the Field, Growth Stages, Season, Soil, Summer
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Early Scouting For Prevention
The first principle of crop scouting is to determine what is normal and what is not normal. Knowing what a healthy plant looks like is key to identifying seedling disease. When scouting for seedling diseases, look for yellowing, wilted, stunted, dead or missing plants.
- In corn, look for discolored or rotten mesocotyls, seminal roots and nodal roots.
- In soybeans, look for seedlings that pull easily from the soil, discolored or rotting root tissue, and lesions that form on the taproot or hypocotyl.
Before you head out to the field, there are several tools that are must-haves for early-season crop scouting:
- A tape measure to take stand counts
- A seed digger, trowel, or spade to dig up seeds or plants to evaluate planting depth, seedling diseases and below-ground feeding insects, like seed corn maggots.
Remember that certain weather and soil conditions favor specific pathogens. Cool and wet soils favor Fusarium and Pythium, warm and wet soils favor Phytophthora, and warm and moist soils favor Rhizoctonia.

It should be noted that a lab diagnosis is needed to confirm what pathogen is causing the symptoms. Knowing what disease(s) are present can help you choose hybrids and varieties that have good disease scores in the future and can guide decisions on the use of fungicide treated seed.

Did you enjoy this article? We want to (TECH)talk with you! Sign up for our newsletter to receive agronomy videos (and delicious recipes) in your inbox! We’ll TALK soon.
Team Latham

June 8, 2023

Corn, Crop, Disease, Emergence, Growth Stages, Soybeans, Summer, Tech Tuesday
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

#FromtheField – Week of June 5, 2023

Take a look across Latham Country! We’re coming to you every week.

Did you enjoy these videos? We want to (TECH)talk with you! Sign up for our newsletter to receive agronomy videos (and delicious recipes) in your inbox! We’ll TALK soon.

Webspec Admin

June 8, 2023

#FromTheField Crop Reports, Corn, Crop, Emergence, From the Field, Growth Stages, Soil, Soybeans, Summer
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Latham Proof Points – Episode 5

This week, Ken talks about what’s happening in the Red River Valley — and changes he’s seen in the industry that are relevant today.

Enjoyed listening? Check out other podcasts on Latham’s YouTube Channel.

Webspec Admin

June 6, 2023

Podcast, Proof Points Podcast, Spring, Summer