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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

From the Field Crop Report for April 26
Eastern North Dakota

Brain McNamee

As part of our FieldxField crop planning for alfalfa, we test for electro conductivity in soils. As is the case in this particular field with a high reading, we will plant LH 9300 ST salt tolerant alfalfa.
- LH 9300 ST salt tolerant alfalfa
Southeast North Dakota

Gary Geske

Temperatures around Enderlin, North Dakota reached 50 degrees, but a cold front moved in Saturday night. Snow fell across parts of northern Minnesota and the Dakotas, so it’s not planting weather here now. Mostly small grains have been planted. Soil temperatures need to rise and fields need to dry before corn planting gets underway.

Northeast South Dakota

James Keltgen

Very little progress in Northeast South Dakota this past week. Some fieldwork being done, small grains still being seeding and a handful of growers started on a little corn. Very cold this week and growers are waiting for warmer weather and soil temps. Current soil temps are lower 40’s.

Southeast South Dakota

Ramie Coughlin

When it 37 degrees and overcast on the prairie, the seed sits safely in the shed.

Northern Minnesota

Ken Highness

Cloud cover is thick in Northern Minnesota as farmers wait for soil temps to rise and start #plant17

Southern Minnesota

Brandon Wendlandt

A Latham corn SuperStrip plot went in the ground near Morgan, Minnesota this week. These tests, which are proprietary to our company, play a key role in helping us select our product lineup as existing and experimental products are tested across multiple locations each year.

Southern Wisconsin

Greg Mair

In northern Wisconsin, farmers are waiting for the cover crops to be sprayed before they begin planting. This farmer experimented with multiple ways to seed cover crops in 2016. He seeded this rye with an airplane into standing soybeans about 2-3 weeks prior to harvest. Now that the soil has dried, spring fieldwork is underway and the first Latham corn plot has been planted south of Monroe, WI!

Northwest Iowa

Darin Chapman

One of our new dealers prepares to deliver seed and treat soybeans.

South Central MN & North Central IA

Cory Greiman

Pictures above display soil temperatures dropping at a rapid pace.

Southeast Minnesota & Northeast Iowa

Craig Haaland

Farmers across my territory are being cautious about planting because weather conditions could favor imbibitional chilling. Chilling effects are more severe when seeds are planted into soils 50 degrees F and then absorb colder water within the first 24 to 48 hours after planting.

Eastern Iowa

Jerry Broders

#Plant17 is taking place in Eastern Iowa! In addition to fieldwork, new this week is a 14 hybrid plot put in by Iowa City.

West North Central Iowa

Bart Peterson

When the calendar pages turn toward the end of April and seed corn is sitting in the shed, many farmers feel anxious about getting seed in the ground. Yields will be better when seed is planted into warmer soil at a later planting date than they will be if soil temperatures drop and cold rains fall shortly after planting. The biggest threat of imbibitional chillingis 24 to 48 hours after planting. When seed absorbs water colder than 50 degree F, loss of seed vigor and death may result.

Central Iowa

Bryan Rohe

Colder temps and forecasted rain has slowed corn planting across Central Iowa. You don’t want that first drink to be a cold one! Imbibitional chilling can have a big impact on corn yield potential. 24 to 36 hours after planting is critical; a chilling effect can occur when seed imbibes, or absorbs, water colder than 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Imbibitional chilling
Western Iowa & Eastern Nebraska

Larry Krapfl

This plot cooperator finished corn #plant17 when this Latham plot went in the ground.
Webspec Admin

April 26, 2017

Alfalfa, Cover Crops, Crop, Season, Spring
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

From the Field Crop Report for April 19

The time is here! #Plant17 has arrived, and farmers throughout the region are gearing up for the 2017 growing season. Pictures can often best portray what is happening in the world around us, so we have updated our weekly From the Field crop reports! We will be sharing #crop17 highlights throughout our marketing territory, with a photo or two to accompany it. These pictures are submitted from our Regional Sales Managers who are in the field every day with our dealers and customers. We hope you enjoy our first From the Field report for the 2017 planting season below!

Eastern North Dakota

Brain McNamee

Spring fieldwork in underway. Farmers in western North Dakota are applying anhydrous and focusing on getting small grains planted.

Southeast North Dakota

Gary Geske

There’s still snow in the ditches between Minot and Bismarck, so it’s evident that not all fields are fit for planting yet in North Dakota. Small grains are going in the ground in the southeast part of our state. One Latham® customer who lives north by Rolette said it might be mid-May before they’re able to get in the field.

Northeast South Dakota

James Keltgen

Fog looms in Northeast South Dakota. Very little fieldwork and small grain seeding has been done here as soils are wet. Fieldwork is progressing in Central SD where moisture is lacking.

Southeast South Dakota

Ramie Coughlin

A view of some spring prep work from the driver’s seat in South Dakota.

Planting conditions have been ideal for small grains in South Dakota!! Corn will have to wait, but until then small grains are in full swing.

Northern Minnesota

Ken Highness

Preventative maintenance is underway near Gilby, ND for spring planting.

Southern Minnesota

Brandon Wendlandt

Rain showers have been falling this week across southern Minnesota, but the seed I’m moving around is under cover and dry.

Southern Wisconsin

Greg Mair

Areas of the state were affected by winterkill on their alfalfa acres. Pictured here is a good stand of alfalfa in southern Wisconsin. It’s estimated that 75,000 to 100,000 acres of alfalfa in Wisconsin is suffering from some sort of winter damage.

As farmers wait for fields to dry out, there are still many farms that need to haul manure before planting can begin. A farmer is loaded up with turkey manure headed to the field, attempting to beat the rain.

A semi backs up to the seed shed of a dealer in Wisconsin. As the last bit of corn arrives, dealers are making sure to deliver seed to the growers before they hit the fields.

Seed sits in the shop awaiting dry weather to get planted. Most of the state has been blanketed with rain over the past two weeks, and more rain on the way Wednesday afternoon. Much of the state is waiting for the ground to dry out before working up any ground. Depending on how much rain is received Wednesday evening, I expect tillage equipment and planters to be rolling this weekend.

Northwest Iowa

Darin Chapman

This season we’re looking forward to conducting a variable planting rate and multi-hybrid research study for Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds on our family farm near Spencer. Here my brother, Tim, and my six-year-old son and I are working on the multi-hybrid planter. Photo credit to my nephew, Dan, who’s studying Agricultural Systems Technology at Iowa State University.

We’ve been busy preparing our new planter, which is color coordinated. Blue indicates one particular hybrid and orange is another. Blue supplies the odd rows of the planter and orange supplies the even rows.

South Central Minnesota & North Central Iowa

Cory Greiman

Winter kill is evident in alfalfa fields across North Central Iowa due to ponding and ice cover. Check out these articles on The Field Position to help evaluate winter kill and to manage alfalfa based on winter injury.

Southeast Minnesota & Northeast Iowa

Craig Haaland

A few units of seed has yet to be delivered as wet weather stalled planting progress here in North Iowa. Rain is in the forecast again this week for Wednesday and Thursday.

West North Central Iowa

Bart Peterson

Farmers across western Iowa worked around rain showers to get seed in the ground. In this photo, LH 5096 VT PRO was being planted near Rolfe on April 11.

Latham® dealer Jenna Ricklefs making seed corn deliveries.

Eastern Iowa

Jerry Broders

Latham® seed sorted and ready for delivery.

Central Iowa

Bryan Rohe

Latham dealer in Pella, IA discusses the benefits of using cover crops the last 3 years consecutive.

Western Iowa & Eastern Nebraska

Larry Krapfl

Pictured above is a great stand of alfalfa in western Iowa. Outstanding weather has contributed to the great stand is because of increased seeding populations. Research has shown a remarkable response to increased seeding populations.

Webspec Admin

April 19, 2017

Corn, Crop, Season, Soybeans, Spring
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Address These 3 Key Areas During Planter Prep
Only so much preparation can be done in the shop. Take the time to get out of the cab — or have someone else help — to check row spacing and planting depth. Observations and planter adjustments are key to successful emergence scores.

It doesn’t pay to have your equipment in top working condition if you don’t wait for fit planting conditions. Missing the optimum planting window may have a 2-5% impact on final yield but an uneven emergence could cause 5-9% yield loss! Plant according to soil and weather conditions rather than by the calendar.

Our Product Team spends countless hours in research plots and in our customers’ fields, taking field notes. Our mutual goal is to help you maximize yield potential by placing the right Latham® product in the right field. FieldXField™ yields!

Keep these three key areas in mind as you prepare your planter for spring:
1. Level the Planter Frame: As planters get wider, it’s important that frames are leveled from side to side and from front to back. This assures all row units have the same operating positions for disc openers and the parallel linkage works correctly. Also be sure all tires are properly inflated.
2. Proper Meter Calibration is Critical in Seed Singulation for Precision Planting: If possible, take your row units someplace where they can run on a calibration stand. While the planter boxes are removed, check all drive chains or cables for rust or kinks. The drives must work smoothly, so the meters run consistently.
3. Seed Drop and Placement: Inspect seed tubes for wear and replace as necessary. Installing a good seed firmer helps transition seed from the drop tube; it also firmly presses seed into the bottom of the trench, which aids planting depth consistency.
Be sure the opening wheels have a serviceable diameter and proper spacing, so the blades have a contact area of 1˝ to 2˝. If they are too wide, you will get more of a “W” in the seed trench, which affects planting depth. If there is too much pressure, discs will wear prematurely.

Gauge wheels and arms should be adjusted to just touch the side of the seed disc. Keep mud and debris from building up on the seed disc as it affects planting depth. Also ensure the closing wheels run true, so the trench closes over the seed.
Latham Seeds Precision Agronomy Advisors

March 8, 2017

Agronomics, Precision Ag, Season, Spring
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Ask the Agronomist: Replanting After a Freeze

Q: My corn was standing about 4 inches tall when we experienced a hard freeze last weekend. Now many of those plants look black, so I’m wondering whether to replant.

To listen to Mark’s response, click below.

A: Your newly planted crop may or may not bounce back, depending on its size when it was hit with the hard freeze. The growing point usually is above ground around V-6 to V-7. At this point of development, the corn seedling is about 6 to 8 inches tall, but that depends on the hybrid.

Regardless of crop size, the best thing to do if your crop was damaged is to wait 3 to 5 days after the freeze to evaluate damage. If corn plants are going to “stand back up,” you should be able to see it by this time. If they plants are still down, you’ll be able to gauge if a total replant is necessary or if you can just replant certain areas.

You can also dig up a few individual plants from different areas in your field and split them vertically to assess visual damage at the growing point. Typically, seedlings that have more than a 1/2 inch of healthy tissue above the growing point will develop into plants with high yield potential. Seedlings that have more tissue damage will likely not recover.

Click on the audio link to hear Latham’s senior agronomist and product manager Mark Grundmeier provide more details on the air with farm broadcaster Liz Brown of KOEL.

If you have a question about what you’re seeing in the fields, feel free to ask! Send your questions via Twitter to @LathamSeeds, in a private message on Facebook or call our office at 1-877-GO-LATHAM (1.877.465.2842).

Also be sure to check out TheFieldPosition.com for timely agronomic information. New articles are posted each week day on our blog. You can even search for “topics” by simply typing key words into the search bar on the upper right-hand corner.

Thanks for tuning in to this week’s Ask the Agronomist. We’ll be back again next week to field all of your questions during #plant16.

Webspec Admin

May 19, 2016

Agronomics, Frost, General, Season, Spring, Weather
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Winter Rains Cause Concerns about Nutrient Loss

Many farmers are asking about the possibility of nutrient loss from the unprecedented rains we received in December. While there is definitely cause for concern, don’t assume all fertilizer that was fall-applied is lost. Also keep in mind that the amount of loss will depend on the specific nutrients that were applied, as well as whether it was in the dry, liquid or gaseous form.

Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K): Most experts agree that P & K applications are very stable no matter the time of year of application. It’s not unusual to have these products applied on frozen ground and see little, if any, loss prior to planting. One “watch out” here is if the December rains caused soil loss due to runoff. If this happened, then it is most likely that you also lost some P & K.

Nitrogen (N): Two main reasons for N loss are leaching and nitrification. Leaching refers to the actual loss of nutrients from downward movement through the soil profile. Since the ground in most areas was not frozen prior to the rains, this process could have a significant effect. Because the rain came fairly fast, there was considerable ponding and runoff in some fields. These will be the greatest areas of concern. Nitrogen loss here will not be uniform and will be extremely difficult to quantify. If drainage tiles ran, that is another avenue for N loss that may need to be considered.

The most common form of fall-applied nitrogen is anhydrous ammonia (NH3). When applied, it quickly converts to ammonium (NH4), which is a positively charged particle. Nitrogen is fairly stable in this form as it is held onto the negatively-charged soil complex. Ammonium eventually converts to the nitrate form by the process of nitrification. Since this is a biological process, the rate of conversion is determined by the soil temperature.

Nitrification does not stop, however, it slows down considerably when soil temps are below 50° Fahrenheit. This is the reason most agronomists recommend fall N applications after soils have fallen below this temperature. The nitrate form of N is the most susceptible to leaching. There’s a very good chance of N loss from the nitrification process if you applied nitrogen before soil temps fell below 50°F. Applications made later on (in colder soils) have a much less chance of significant loss.

It’s too early to determine nitrogen loss from December rains. We’ll wait until early spring to see how the weather develops and see the fields look after they thaw. For additional information on the potential for nitrogen loss, click here for an article from Dr. John Sawyer, Extension Soil Fertility Specialist, Iowa State University.

Webspec Admin

February 10, 2016

Agronomics, Fertility, General, Season, Soil, Spring, Winter
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

2015, a Year of F.I.R.S.T.S. and Repeat Winners!

Like any business owner, I couldn’t help but reflect upon the past year and think about what there is to look forward to in the year ahead. 2015 was another great year in the F.I.R.S.T. Trials for Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds. During the past 2 years, we have secured 36 wins in soybeans and 29 wins in corn. Our corn program scored more Top 10 places than our soybean lineup with 291 vs. 289.

Latham’s performance earned “best of show” across trials in Minnesota and the Dakotas. For the second straight year, we achieved the highest overall yield of any brand in the F.I.R.S.T. Trials with Latham 1858 R2. Latham® soybeans had the most overall soybean wins of any brand! Our company had the MOST products – 8 different products – yield more than 70 bushels per acre in this year’s trials. Latham also had the most Top 10 Finishes of any brand in the F.I.R.S.T. Trials in South Dakota, North Dakota and Minnesota. Overall 11 different Latham soybean brands won a total of 18 F.I.R.S.T. Trials in 2015.

New products like Latham’s 0982 R2 to 1673 R2 came through as winners. Existing product 2645 R2 won trials as did 2084 R2, which continues its tradition as Latham’s top-selling soybean. 2014 F.I.R.S.T. Trials winner Latham 2228 R2 had one of the most outstanding performances in 2015, setting the all-time Latham Seeds’ record for highest field average by a production soybean field at 81.1 bushels across 135 acres!

On the corn side of our business, Latham® Hi‑Tech Hybrids 4454 VT2 PRO had another dominant year, winning the F.I.R.S.T. Red River Valley South Region plus three F.I.R.S.T. Trial locations. Latham 4242 VT2 PRO also did extremely well and won in the Red River Valley.

Latham 5509 SS probably had the most dominant year of any product in 2015. For the second consecutive year, it won F.I.R.S.T. Trials plus it won 9 out of 10 Group D SuperStrip plots, which our company uses to evaluate products on farms across our sales footprint. This hybrid can run a little wet, but it’s always a top yielder at 105 days.

Sister hybrids 5215 VT2 PRO and 5715 VT2 PRO also had outstanding years; 5715 was a winner in Southern South Dakota while 5215 had 20 Top 10 finishes in 2015. LH 5215 was a 7-time winner in 2014 and has proven itself as Latham’s top seller in 2015. On the later side of things, LH 6159 SS proved itself as an outstanding hybrid, winning the F.I.R.S.T. Trial at Washington, Iowa. This 111-day hybrid had outstanding internal data from Latham’s research and looks to be a star.

Regardless of the products you need, rest assured that Latham Seeds has a history of success in the maturities we serve. Our business depends upon your success! That’s why, at Latham Seeds, we appreciate the opportunity to work with Midwest farmers on a FieldXField^SM basis. Call your local Latham® representative or 1-877-GO-LATHAM (1.877.465.2842) to learn more about FIELD X FIELD YIELDS!

John Latham, President

January 7, 2016

Fall, General, Season
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Latham® Seeds Top 2015 F.I.R.S.T. Trials

Fall is my favorite time of the year for so many reason: football games, baseball playoffs and harvest. I feel as excited as a kid on Christmas day when I fire up my computer every morning and read emails with the latest yield and F.I.R.S.T. Trials results.

What could be a better way to start the day than hearing from our dealers and customers that Latham® brand seeds are topping their plots or breaking whole-field yield records? We feel very fortunate to get to work with so many great farmers across six Midwest states.

With many F.I.R.S.T. Trial results yet to come in, Latham brand soybeans already have won 18 F.I.R.S.T. Trials with 116 Top 10 finishes! This morning we received word that one of our soybeans topped the South Dakota Southeast Region Summary. Four Latham soybean products also placed in the Top 12 in that test!

Last year Latham® hybrids won 20 different F.I.R.S.T. Trials. Eight different Latham corn products won 2014 F.I.R.S.T. Trial locations from 90 to 110 days, which shows the breadth and depth of our lineup.

While 2015 corn harvest results are just beginning to come in, we’re off to a great start! For the second straight year, Latham 5715 VT2 PRO RIB is performing extremely well in F.I.R.S.T. Trials and in customers’ fields. This hybrid had an impressive win in Beresford, SD. It not only was 8 bushels better than the 2nd place hybrid, but LH 5715 VT2 PRO RIB performed 37.5 bushels higher than the plot average!

We’re frequently asked, “What is Latham’s secret to success?” First of all, it takes access to the best genetics in the industry. Our position as a family-owned, independent seed company gives us access to genetics from multiple sources. The second key to Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds’ success in yield trials is our research program, which helps sort out products that really work in our marketing area. The next advantage Latham Seeds has is quality. There’s a reason “quality” is still stamped on each bag of Latham brand soybeans… it’s because we take great pride in producing only the finest quality soybean seed.

Keep an eye on all the yield results on our company’s Facebook page and at www.lathamseeds.com. You’ll find the link you want online by clicking on the drop-down arrow under “corn” or “soybeans.”

John Latham, President

October 22, 2015

Fall, General, Season
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Field Notes Made Now Can Help Prioritize Fields for Harvest

Week after week, in our Wednesday crop reports, we’ve reported the amount of rainfall that has been received from eastern Iowa to Nebraska and up to North Dakota. Continuous rainfall prolonged the planting season and made it a challenge for farmers to apply herbicides in a timely manner. Now we’re seeing the effects that wet weather has had on root development and stalk strength.

Sunday’s wind and rain events across Latham Country caused corn to lodge in many fields. Hail damage, disease and other factors could put crop standability at risk. If this happened in your area, make notes now and take that damage into consideration as fall harvest approaches.

Warm, moist soils are great breeding grounds for weeds and pathogens. That’s why so many farmers are considering whether to apply fungicide. Mud that cakes on leaves and stalks from ponding or flooding encourages fungal and bacterial diseases to attack damaged plant tissue. If damage is severe enough, the plants won’t live through the growing season. That’s why farmers will be consulting their seed product guides and talking with local dealers to see on which hybrids fungicides are “highly recommended” or “recommended.”

Knowing what has caused stalk lodging helps determine the best course of action. Four common cause of lodging include: (1) Weather, (2) Insects, (3) Diseases and (4) Other Stresses like extreme soil moisture or drought, nutrient deficiencies, and corn-on-corn rotations to name a few.

More than anything, we’re seeing shallow roots developing as a result of this spring’s wet weather. Saturated soils inhibit roots from developing deep into the soils. We’re also seeing poor root formation in fields that were planted too wet as soil compaction prevents roots from growing down into the soil.

Root function deteriorates in saturated soils, making the corn more prone to green snap and root lodging. The risk of green snap is exacerbated because right now corn plants are growing so quickly given our hot, humid environment. Weak roots also predispose these corn plants to late-season root and stalk rots. Fields will need to be monitored; during September and October, harvest-strategies may need to be modified. Careful scouting now and prioritizing fields for harvest according to condition can help prevent field losses due to low stalk quality.

Even before we received this last rain event, scouting was going to be more critical than ever this growing season because this crop has been stressed since seed went in the ground. Seed corn planted into wet soils is prone to problems throughout the growing season such as: stunted plant growth; slow infiltration of water and/or ponding; high surface runoff under normal or light rainfall; poor root system development, or rootless corn; and even nutrient deficiency.

Webspec Admin

July 9, 2015

Agronomics, General, Season, Summer
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Is It Worth Replanting at this Point?

Unseasonably wet, cold spring weather has lingered longer than any Midwest farmer had hoped. These conditions create stress on seed germination and on seedlings. Plus, there were reports last week of frost damage to both corn and soybean seedlings in the areas I cover. Many farmers here in the north are assessing the damage and hoping to get replants done by June 10.

Whether farmers will replant corn or replant soybeans in earlier maturities will be determined after taking these three steps:

1. Evaluate the current stand.

When evaluating the existing stand for population, only count plants that have a good chance of survival. Then, observe the uniformity across the field to decide whether replanting the entire field or portions of the field is justified. There are different stand count options to test for both corn and soybeans to perform an accurate count.

2. Compare yield potentials.

When judging the potential yield of the standing crop, again you should only count plants that have a good chance of survival. These tables for corn and soybeans help determine the percent of full-yield potential based on planting time.

3. Consider various management practices.

Before replant occurs, remove any existing stand. Also keep in mind that most soil insecticides cannot be applied twice during the same growing season in the same location in the field.

The decision as to whether or not a farmer should replant really comes down to individual circumstances and “local conditions.” For example, I heard about a farmer from the Fargo area who had purchased a competitors’ soybeans without seed treatment. The wet, cold spring weather caused those seeds to literally rot in the ground. Note: Seed treatments like Latham’s trademark SoyShield and SoyShield Plus give superior control of most seed and soil-borne diseases, including damping off, as well as controls early season Phytophthora.

The germination in the particular farmer’s field mentioned above was so poor that it warrants a replant, but he’s in a precarious situation. Field conditions as of June 1 weren’t fit for planting, however, another 3 inches of rain is in the forecast this week with more precipitation likely in the 10-day forecast. If that farmer doesn’t get his crop replanted before the rain falls this week, it will most likely be another week or 10 days before he can get back in that field. Then we’re looking at a potential planting date of June 10.

If you’re considering a replant, it’s best to be in contact with your insurance agent. I’ve heard Federal Crop and others may not pay unless the field is inspected first. Plus, farmers also need to know the final planting date that will be covered by their policies.

The later the planting date, the better the chance we’ll have a killing frost before the crop matures. June 20-25 is a target date for switching soybean maturities in Iowa. However, our growing season is so much shorter in the north that June 4 is considered a late planting.

On our family farm near Enderlin in Southeast North Dakota, we usually plant soybean maturities ranging from 08 to Group 1. We’ve already switched to earlier varieties and are hoping the weather will allow us to get these planted before rain brings planting to a halt again. To inquire about soybean maturities in your zone, contact me or your local Latham® representative by calling 1.877.GO.LATHAM (1.877.465.2842).

Webspec Admin

June 4, 2015

General, Season, Spring
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Uneven Corn Stands: The Why and How
Lots of seed corn got planted early when temperatures were cool and moisture was abundant. As a result, I’m hearing reports of uneven corn emergence. Some farmers are asking how to remedy the situation. Others are questioning whether they should replant portions of their fields.

Let’s begin by explaining what causes uneven corn stands and then address whether or not anything should be done. Uneven corn stands most often are the result of these four circumstances:
1. Improper equipment calibration/maintenance;
2. Soil conditions at and after planting;
3. Pests; and
4. Poor management practices.
At this point in the growing season, I’m going to focus on uneven stands that are a result of conditions at planting time including equipment calibration and soil conditions. Most farmers do a very good job and problems arising from equipment calibration or maintenance are few and far between.

Problems are more often to arise when conditions for doing fieldwork and planting are good for an extended period of time. Farmers tend to keep working until they get rained out, so they may not take time for regular equipment maintenance and calibrations if the sun shines for extended periods of time.

Remember to check your equipment, especially your planter, before you head to the next field! Failure to maintain your planter can result in skips and doubles. University studies have found that skips are more limiting to overall yield in most situations but both can have a negative effect.

In addition to having your equipment properly calibrated, it’s important to plant in fit soil conditions. Uneven emergence may result from soils that are either too wet or too dry. Soil moisture can differ because of varying soil types, topography and tillage practices. The difference can be seen across whole fields, in certain areas of a field, or even from one row to the next.

Rainfall patterns leading up to planting are critical to emergence. Seeds placed in dry soil will not germinate without rainfall. Rains that are spotty may cause uneven stands.

Planting in soils that are too wet can cause lower germination, uneven emergence and growth, restricted root growth (as pictured), and stunted seedlings.

On the other hand, working fields that are too wet also causes problems. Soil that is too wet will cause cloddy seedbeds, resulting in poor seed-to-soil contact and uneven emergence.

Another concern, especially in continuous corn and no-till fields, is how residue from the previous crop will affect the current crop. Uneven distribution of residue can result in differing soil temperatures across the field, which causes plants to germinate irregularly.

In addition, soil temperature may lead to uneven emergence. This spring a cold front caused soil temperatures to decrease after many acres of corn were planted. Look at planting when soil temps are consistently above 50° F and are expected to rise! The ideal soil temperature for planting corn is 60° F.

To minimize the risk of uneven stands due to soil conditions, carefully monitor each field. Check the moisture at different levels. I like to see corn planted at 2 inches deep when conditions are optimal, but I have seen corn planted as deep as 3” without very many emergence problems. Keep in mind, the deeper you plant, the greater chance there is the seed “running out of gas” before it emerges, especially when there’s a heavy rainfall and the soil surface crusts over.

There are many factors that can contribute to delayed emergence. So what should you do about uneven emergence? Assess if the problem really warrants remediation. Check with a trusted agronomist if you’d like another opinion.

Rather than trying to fill in the gaps, it’s usually best to till up a field or a portion of a field prior before replanting. Click below for additional replanting resources:
- Corn Replanting Decisions
- Soybean Replanting Decisions
Mark Grundmeier, Product Manager

May 21, 2015

Agronomics, Corn, Crop, Emergence, Season, Spring, Tech Tuesday