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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

From Planning to Planter
John Latham, President of Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

With the increase of new technologies in the field, from GPS to RIB, along with factors beyond individual control – from vast changes in weather patterns to fluctuating markets – it has never been more important for seed businesses to stay up to date on changing trends within the industry.

There are many key elements to seed retailers’ “crystal ball” forecasting to help ensure the seed that moves from plan to planter will meet demand. Those qualities I find key to seed companies’ success include:
1. Listening. At Latham, our most valuable relationships are with our customers. We look to partner with individuals, who can tell us what they’re seeing in their field, and what they’re looking for from a seed company. Whether we’re having a conversation in the field, surveying our customers via iPad, or answering field questions on our blog, we’re listening to the wants and needs of our customers in the field. Then we adapt what we can to provide a solution that can answer needs before they’ve risen.
2. Planning. It’s critical for companies to utilize available resources in order to lay out a detailed plan for the coming years, whether that plan covers one year or three, it must address important and upcoming needs outlined with customers.
3. Embracing Technology. A company must embrace technologies their customers use or that add value for their customers. One of our favorite uses of technology at Latham is how we’ve been able to add video to our weekly crop reports provided on The Field Position. Now we don’t just write about how to manage SDS; we go out in the field, show people what it looks like, where it’s most prevalent, and provide tips for avoiding outbreaks.
4. Adding humility and adapting. Companies have to accept that they can’t – and won’t – know it all, and that some elements are truly unpredictable. Adding humility to the mix allows more flexibility to adapt. For 65 years, we’ve focused on serving customers with the best possible soybean seed. But as the demand for corn grew in our service area, we added hybrid products to our lineup, and have been able to grow every year since. While change is a constant in any industry, we believe one thing will always remain true: those companies that listen to growers and work to answer their needs by offering the best possible product and service will create satisfied customers.
John Latham, President

March 5, 2012

General, Season, Spring
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Do Dry Soils at Planting Lead to Yield Loss?

It’s likely that Midwest farmers could complete spring 2012 planting at a record pace after a dry fall and winter.

To help determine the impact of dry soils at planting, Iowa State University’s Roger Elmore has employed a hybrid-maize modeling tool. Elmore, a professor of agronomy with research and extension responsibilities in corn production, says he varied soil moisture conditions at planting to simulate different possibilities. Overall, his simulations show that yields will be reduced at many of ISU’s research locations if soil moisture conditions do not improve by planting time.

Every area is different, however. Subsoil moisture levels certainly vary across Latham’s six-state marketing area. Gary Geske of Enderlin, North Dakota, serves as Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds’ corn product specialist for the north. In a recent issue of Midwest Producer he said, “We’ve got dry topsoil, but it seems dry because we are used to it being so wet. With a couple of timely spring rains, I’m anticipating a good growing season.”

Dry soils are welcome while the planters are rolling, but spring rains will be needed once the seed is in the ground for timely emergence, growth and ultimately yield.

February 8, 2012

Drought, General, Season, Spring, Weather
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Fall rainfall varies from 8.79” to 1.0”

US Drought Monitor

With only six days until Christmas, many men I know are just starting their shopping while others are helping put the finishing touches on the holiday feast. It’s not likely that many people will pay much thought to last week’s rainfall now, but weather will likely be a topic of major conversation at some point when farm families gather together. (At least it is at our house!) That’s why today on The Field Position we’re providing you with a little extra “food for thought.”

Most of the Midwest is suffering drought conditions, as Latham Product Manager Mark Grundmeier posted last Thursday. We need moisture. Interestingly enough, not all areas of the state are in such dire straits.

Precipitation totals have been extremely variable this fall, says State Climatologist Harry Hillaker with the Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship (IDALS). Soil moisture levels vary from near field capacity in extreme southeast Iowa (where Keokuk has seen 8.79 inches of rain since Nov. 1) to far below the typical early winter levels in the northwest (where total precipitation since Sept. 1 has been only about an inch in some areas centered around Cherokee County).

“The rain event of December 13-14 brought a statewide average of 0.76 inches of precipitation,” says Hillaker. “As expected, the greatest rains fell in the southeast and the least in the northwest.” Only 0.2 to 0.4 inches of rain fell the northwest quarter of Iowa while the Keosauqua and Mount Pleasant areas received 2 to 2.5 inches last week. Fortunately, there is not much frozen soil across Iowa allowing most of this rain to soak into the ground.

So just how dry is your area? You can click view the latest Drought Map by region or by state. You can also find estimated soil moisture levels by clicking here.

Can we make up for a lack of fall rain with snow? Hillaker says snowfall generally does not provide much benefit to soil moisture levels in Iowa for two main reason. First, snowfall on average accounts for less than 10% of our annual precipitation. Second, much of the moisture falls on frozen ground and doesn’t easily make its way into the soil as it melts. Nevertheless, snow cover helps eliminate wind erosion as wet top soil is not easily blown away.

Team Latham

December 19, 2011

General, Season, Winter
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Moisture is needed, regardless of form

I’ve been known to whistle as I work, and I’ve been known to whistle as I walk the halls at Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds. But this week, I’m singing a new tune:

Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain!

Some may question my sanity, especially since it’s December in Iowa. But as Paul Harvey would say, “Now for the rest of the story.”

The story is that Iowa – and much of the Upper Midwest – is suffering from a drought. Our great state just completed its driest July-November period since 1976, according to a recent article in The Des Moines Register. About three-quarters of the state officially classified as being in a drought.

With no autumn rainfall, we need moisture over the winter or in early spring. Snowfall may or may not be of benefit, depends on when it comes and how it melts. Snowfall on frozen ground that eventually melts is not of great benefit because it usually just runs off the frozen ground into the streams and rivers without filtering down into the soil profile.

Precipitation, like we’ve experienced here this week, is of great importance. The ground isn’t completely frozen yet, so this rain and rain/snow can sink into the parched soil.

Sufficient moisture is critical in the spring for seeds to germinate and for seedlings to grow. While fall precipitation can play a role, we can still make up for moisture deficiencies with snowmelt and spring rains.

And on that note, I’ll change my tune to something a little more appropriate to the season and to our climate:

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Listen to: Let It Snow

December 15, 2011

General, Season, Winter
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

TIPS TO AVOID COMBINE FIRES
Dry conditions and strong winds have contributed to several combine and field fires across the Midwest this harvest season.

Remember to clean and maintain your machines regularly because static electricity, which is generated as the combined moves through the field, can ignite the residue. Use a pressure washer or a compressed air blowgun to thoroughly clean your machine. Remove excess crop residue from rotating units. Frequently blow leaves and chaff off the engine with compressed air or a portable leaf blower, and remove wrapped plant materials on or near bearings, belts or other moving parts.

Mark Hanna, Iowa State University Extension agricultural and biosystems engineer, offers additional tips to prevent combine fires:
- At the beginning of each day, check engine fluid levels (such as coolant and oil).
- Check the pressurized oil supply line to the turbocharger shaft for areas that may rub from wear and start an oil leak.
- Examine exhaust or hot bearing surfaces. Repair leaking fuel or oil hoses, fittings, or metal lines immediately.
If a fire does occur, CALL 911 FIRST. Then attempt to extinguish the fire by pulling the pin on the fire extinguisher and squeezing the handles together. Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire and sweep from side to side. Remember P.A.S.S., which stands for Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep. For more tips on how to avoid and handle a combine fire, click here for a related Farm Journal article.
October 6, 2011

Fall, General, Season
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

HARVEST PROGRESSES LIKE WILDFIRE

Gusting winds, dry plant material and hot combines sparked several field fires last week throughout Latham Country. A combine fire on Thursday caused fire to stretch two miles wide and 1 mile long near Kanawha in North Central Iowa. As a result, law enforcement officials asked farmers to temporarily cease harvesting due to the elevated risk of fires.

Although harvest came to a temporary halt in some areas, great progress was made statewide over the last seven days. Twelve percent of Iowa’s corn crop has been harvested, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service report on Oct. 3, which is ahead of the 10 percent five-year average. Ninety-eight percent of Iowa’s soybean crop has turned color, but just 21 percent of the soybean crop has been harvested to date.

Select a territory in the map below to view a region’s most recent crop report, provided by Latham’s regional sales managers

Team Latham

October 5, 2011

Fall, General, Season
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Tips for Harvesting Lodged Corn
Hail, straight-line winds and other stressors throughout the 2011 growing season has caused corn to lodge in several fields across the Midwest. As a result, it won’t be “harvest as usual” for many corn farmers. They’ll need to reduce speeds and take extra steps to prevent as much loss as possible. With corn prices around $7 per bushel, it doesn’t take long for harvest losses to mount. Each pound ear on the ground per 436 square feet equals a loss of one bushel per acre, according to a recent Wallaces Farmer article.

In this same article, Iowa State University (ISU) Extension Ag Engineer Mark Hanna reminds farmers to keep these tips in mind when harvesting lodged corn:
- If harvest speeds are significantly reduced, the amount of material going through the combine is reduced. Fan speed may need to be reduced to avoid blowing kernels out of the combine. Rotor speed may need to be reduced to maintain grain quality. Check kernel losses behind the combine and grain quality to fine tune cleaning and threshing adjustments.
- Operate the corn head as low as practical without picking up rocks or significant amounts of soil.
- Single-direction harvesting against the grain of leaning stalks may help. Evaluate losses though before spending large amounts of time dead-heading through the field.
More tips for machine operation to reduce harvesting losses is available from Wallaces Farmer online. Click here for the full article, “Harvesting Tips For Lodged Corn.”
Team Latham

September 13, 2011

Corn, Crop, Fall, General, Season
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Prioritize Fields for Early Harvest

Crisp, cool mornings remind us that fall is just around the corner. The crop continues to move quickly towards maturity, and harvest will be in full swing across Latham Country in a couple of weeks.

According to a Sept. 6 crop report by the Iowa Department of Agriculture, 96% of the state’s corn crop has reached dough stage. Eighty-six percent of the corn is at or beyond the dent stage, and 14% of the corn crop is mature.

Time is of the essence! Plan a successful harvest by scouting fields and evaluating standability. Identify potential problem areas. Note crop progress, as well as insect and disease pressure. Pay particular attention to fields that were damaged by wind and hail, promoting stalk rot.

Stalk rot is caused by stress, including extreme heat and a lack of moisture. Many acres were stressed this season, so standability could be an issue in several fields. Note the severity and prioritize fields for harvest. Implementing a strategy of “harvesting the worst first” could really pay off this fall when you keep kernals off the ground and in your hopper. You’ll want to get as many bushels as possible with corn at $7 or more!

For more information on how to detect stalk rot, watch my two-minute video and click here to read a related blog post.

September 12, 2011

Fall, General, Season
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Making a Harvest Checklist

Corn silage harvest is already underway and grain harvest will soon follow. Are you ready for an early harvest? Keep these three things in mind when putting together your harvest checklist:

1. Develop a plan. A good plan will outline in order of importance which fields to harvest first. The main consideration when contemplating your harvest order is focusing on fields exhibiting potential for Stalk Rot and subsequent Stalk Lodging. Secondary concerns include hybrid maturity, crop residue management and logistical concerns.

2. Get in your field. Once a harvest plan is developed, get out in your field and assess crop progress and identify potential problem areas. Being aware of crop progress and insect and disease pressure at all times is the best way to ensure maximum yield. If challenges do arise, you might have to harvest early. I am available to help in determining which fields may need to be harvested first. Please don’t hesitate to call!

3. Prepare equipment. Make sure you check machinery and conduct necessary maintenance prior to harvest. I have witnessed growers who, due to conditions like Stalk Rot, should have been harvesting a week earlier than they actually did. They simply weren’t prepared for an earlier harvest, and as a result, they lost thousands of dollars worth of crops that could have been saved.

September 8, 2011

Fall, General, Season
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Too hot for corn?
Peter Bixel, Seed-2-Soil powered by Sci Max Team Leader

The effects of this past’s week heat wave on this fall’s corn yields is a main topic of conversation in the countryside. Farmers are wondering if consecutive days of excessive heat will cut yield. It’s true that stress during pollination and silking may result in shorter ears, increased tip back and fewer kernels per ear – all of which contribute to less yield potential. Sometimes.

Fortunately, the availability of pollen is usually not a problem with modern hybrids for a couple of reasons:
1. At its peak, a plant produces 500,000 pollen grains per day! There is usually more than enough pollen to go around.
2. Most pollen shed occurs during the morning when temperatures are cooler and moisture stress less evident.
Breeding efforts have significantly improved the stress-tolerance of today’s hybrids. The time between pollination and silking – also known as the anthesis-silk interval (ASI) – is very short with modern hybrids. This shorter ASI results in few barren plants. In older hybrids, however, silking always followed initial pollen shed by at least several days.

The good news is current soil moisture conditions are excellent throughout much of our territory. Likewise, the crop moisture index shows that all of Iowa sits at the midpoint, “Slightly dry/ Favorably moist.” A good share of our soils have high water holding capacity. As the heat spell continues, the differences in mid-afternoon corn leaf rolling between soils with better moisture holding capacities than others will be evident.

High temperature impacts on corn

This heat wave may have a double impact on the crop. The first is the increase in rolling of corn leaves in response to moisture deficiency. By rule-of-thumb, the yield is diminished by 1 percent for every 12 hours of leaf rolling – except during the week of silking when the yield is cut 1 percent per 4 hours of leaf rolling. Unfortunately, most of our crop will be silking next week. The second impact is less obvious initially.

When soil moisture is sufficient, as it is for the most part this July, the crop doesn’t have a measurable yield response to one day of temperatures between 93 F to 98 F. The fourth consecutive day with a maximum temperature of 93 degrees or above, however, results in a 1 percent yield loss in addition to that computed from the leaf rolling. The fifth day there is an additional 2 percent loss; the sixth day an additional 4 percent loss. Data are not sufficient to make generalizations for a heat wave of more than six days, however, firing of leaves becomes likely and very large yield losses are incurred. Generally a six-day heat wave at silking time is sufficient to assure a yield not to exceed trend (Iowa trend yield is near 174 bushels per acre).

Hopefully, this hot-weather trend will end soon! Everything – plants, people and pets – could use a break.
July 21, 2011

Corn, Crop, General, Season, Summer

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

From Planning to Planter

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Do Dry Soils at Planting Lead to Yield Loss?

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Fall rainfall varies from 8.79” to 1.0”

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Moisture is needed, regardless of form

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

TIPS TO AVOID COMBINE FIRES

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

HARVEST PROGRESSES LIKE WILDFIRE

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Tips for Harvesting Lodged Corn

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Prioritize Fields for Early Harvest

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Making a Harvest Checklist

Corn silage harvest is already underway and grain harvest will soon follow. Are you ready for an early harvest? Keep these three things in mind when putting together your harvest checklist:

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Too hot for corn?