Southeast North Dakota

Gary Geske

This good looking field of Latham L 0645 LL soybeans is just east of Enderlin, ND. Crops continue to push toward maturity. So far, I have not noticed aphid pressure that’s high enough to warrant an insecticide application .

---

Northeast South Dakota

James Keltgen

Despite the challenging spring planting conditions and summer weather, some crops are developing nicely here in Northeast South Dakota. We’re only seeing low numbers of pests in corn and soybeans, but it’s unfortunate that more wet, cool weather is in the forecast. Growing Degree Units (GDUs) are needed to get corn to black layer. Corn needs roughly 54 days from brown silk to black layer. Some corn is still in the blister stage, putting us 45 days out with average temperatures. Soybeans continue to add pods except in wetter areas of the field where excess moisture has stunted growth.

Latham’s LH 3937 VT2 PRO RIB, on the left, is 20 kernels around by 32 kernels long. LH 4937 VT2 PRO RIB, on the right, is 16×36.

LH 4240 CNV at Ipswich is healthy and packing on yield!

L 1482 R2X near Ipswich is fully canopied.

 

---

Southeast South Dakota

Ramie Coughlin

 

This week Southeast South Dakota is hosting its largest summer farm show, Dakota Fest. Latham Product Managers and Regional Sales Managers are busy talking with farmers about the challenges this year has brought and solutions to overcome them all. We are also discussing the latest and greatest products within Latham country. Many of our conversations have been about Enlist soybeans, silage corn and cover crops.

---

Northern Minnesota

Ken Highness

With the harvest of sugar beets and spring wheat underway, there’s a lot of activity throughout the Red River Valley. The American Crystal Sugar Company starting pre-pile harvest. Pictured here is Latham® Dealer Todd Toppen, who is signing his plot for upcoming field days.

---

Southern Minnesota

Justin Prokosch

We’ve been busy, walking plots and evaluating products throughout southern Minnesota.

---

Northern Wisconsin

Joe Salter

Weather has been really good across the region, so we’re hoping it stays warm for a few more weeks. Soybeans have made great strides recently. Silage corn is getting close, so we soon will see fields getting chopped.

As you can see, LH 4937 VT2 PRO RIB looks great in several plots and locations across this territory. Corn is growing tall in this early maturity Latham® plot that is located in the heart of northern Wisconsin.

---

Northwest Iowa

Jeremy Joynt

Much of Northwest Iowa received a welcomed rain this week. As you’re walking through your 2019 crop and deciding what to plant for 2020, note how your crop is handling stress. Are you seeing your soybeans with signs of SDS or IDC? If so, Latham® IRONCLAD products would be a great fit in fields.

Northeast Iowa

Craig Haaland

Here is our popular LH 5245 VT2 PRO corn hybrid in Fayette County. Crops are looking pretty good in Northeast Iowa. Soybeans are filled out at the top of the plant, so we just need a few more timely rains to finish out these crops. Fungicide spraying is coming to an end, and farmers are hoping for a late frost.

Central Iowa

Aaron Steenhoek

Larry Krapfl

Latham’s 5742 RR in Madison, Nebraska, is 18 kernel around and 40 kernels long. Harvest population is 27,250 ears per acre on dryland.

This unusual trio has open range on this farmstead in Pocahontas County, Iowa. They do not wander off as Mama (hen) takes care of Porkchop, the piglet, like he’s one of her own. The calf is named Porterhouse, and they’re really quite entertaining to watch.

North Central Iowa

Cory Greiman 

We’re seeing a lot of Northern Corn Rootworm beetles in fields where last year’s crop was soybeans, as well as in soybean fields that weren’t sprayed for aphids. Most farmers who sprayed a fungicide this season added in an insecticide, so they’re not experiencing heavy infestations now.

Northeast North Dakota

Gary Geske

For the third consecutive year, this Latham® dealer is using our conventional/leafy corn hybrids for silage. Latham’s silage mainstay LH 5062 GT/LFY continues to be a rock star in this area. If you have the ability to grow conventional corn on your farm, take a look at our portfolio of products.

---

Southeast North Dakota

Gary Geske

---

Northeast South Dakota

James Keltgen

Last week a damaging storm moved through central South Dakota causing massive destruction to crops and buildings. The damage started near Gettysburg and made its way down to Burke. This week a storm moved through eastern South Dakota, dumping up to 4.5 inches on already saturated ground. Rootworm beetles have a heavy presence in corn fields this year. We’re seeing a lot of bean leaf beetles, as well as green clover worms and thistle caterpillars in soybeans. Early planted corn is now in the milk stage and soybeans have flat pods with many still flowering and adding smaller pods.

LH 4657 VT2 PRO near Groton, SD

EX 4325 VT2 PRO

 

Some corn fields recently were 100% wiped out by hail.

---

Southeast South Dakota

Ramie Coughlin

Another 1 to 3 inches of rain fell across South Dakota on Friday, so wheat harvest is slow going. This week I’m sharing one of South Dakota’s prettiest crops. Did you know South Dakota ranks #1 in sunflower production? As you drive west through Southeast South Dakota, you can see miles of the yellow flowers. They are often used as a rotational crop for corn in western SD where moisture can be in short supply and soybeans don’t typically perform well. However, with crop innovation we are seeing more soybeans planted further and further west.

---

Northern Minnesota

Ken Highness

Crops in my region continue to move quickly toward maturity and harvest will soon be in full swing.  Fields were stressed this season with too much moisture, so roots will be more of an issue than stalks this season. Saturated soils limit the growth of root hair and brace roots making the total mass much smaller. This will put stress on the plant later in the year. Corn plants may not have the ability to take up enough nutrients, or they may lodge if there is a late-season wind or rain event. Farmers should note these fields and prioritize them for harvest. These little farmers spent the afternoon scouting fields with their grandfather. They’re pictured in a nice looking field of Latham’s LH 4242 VT2 PRO near Barnesville, MN.

---

Southern Minnesota

Justin Prokosch

The effects of our wet spring are still evident in some areas of Southern Minnesota.

This soybean field in Renville County looks nice. Fungicides have been applied on numerous fields throughout this area.

---

Southern Wisconsin 

Greg Mair

As long as the field was fit to plant corn in southern Wisconsin, the crop looks great! This field of LH 5245 VT2 PRO in Cambridge was planted on May 16 and is coming along nicely.  We will need an excellent September to finish off this crop, but things are looking positive in the countryside today.

---

Northern Wisconsin 

Joe Salter

Areas in Northern Wisconsin have received 3+ inches of rain during the past week. We’re hoping some long, warm days are ahead to finish out the month of August. Soybean varieties L 1748 R2, L 1769 R2X and L 1793 LLGT27 are looking very strong in this Latham SuperStrip plot.

---

Northwest Iowa

Jeremy Joynt

Crops continue to be in various stages of development, but we’re seeing some corn move into dough stage. Most fields are keeping clean of disease, but we are seeing some scattered grey leaf spot and rust.  August makes soybeans! With daytime highs in the mid-70s to low-80s, heavy dew and moisture on the leaves, keep watching for aphids. The threshold is 250 per plant, but do not wait that long as aphid populations can explode rapidly.

---

Northeast Iowa

Craig Haaland

Larry Krapfl

With 16-kernels around and 42 kernels long, Latham’s LH 6317 VT2 PRO DG RIB is kicking it! A few kernels have begun to dent.

This beautiful field of Latham Liberty Link soybeans (L 3187 L) shows weed control. I’m looking forward to harvest!

What a good looking clean field of L 2193 E3!

Northwest North Dakota

Brian McNamee

Much needed rain fell across Western and North Central North Dakota last weekend, bringing a halt to harvest. Farmers are taking out crops wheat, barley, oats, peas and rye. Reports are mixed. Peas are having a good year. It looks like the later planted spring wheat, pictured here, will be superb.

After a day or two of rest, farmers will regroup. The timing of this rain is perfect to help fill soybean pods and to provide corn under pollination some relief. Looking forward to watching our Latham Hi‑Tech Corn and Soybean varieties continue to develop!

---

Southeast North Dakota

Gary Geske

---

Northeast South Dakota

James Keltgen

Latham’s 5062 Leafy has 10 leaves above the ear even with the early cold growing season!

Wet is still the theme for 2019. Another round of heavy rains, ranging from 1 to 7 inches, hit this past week. Many farmers have been unable to spray crops in a timely manner, so crop dusters have been busier than usual. The early corn is has pollinated and some later planted corn has yet to pollinate.

Soybeans are shorter than normal this year and are slow to canopy due to saturated soils. One customer had to spray for green clover worms. Liberty and the new E3 Enlist soybeans are proving to be a great option for weed control.

---

Southeast South Dakota

Ramie Coughlin

Corn is coming right along in South Dakota. Most fields are pollinating now and temperatures couldn’t be more perfect. The hot temps in July earned us some much needed Growing Degrees, and so far August is providing us with great flowering weather. Soybeans are also enjoying mild temps while setting pods. Many soybean fields are at the R3, or beginning pod, stage. Many fields in Southeast South Dakota are still drying after anywhere from 0.2 to 6 inches fell here last week. Yep, I said 6 inches!

---

Northern Minnesota

Ken Highness

This field of LH 3695 VT2 PRO looks great on the farm of Kerri and Mathew Mattson. Their daughter, Taylor, posed for me with her Champion Dairy Steer at the Pope County open show. This dynamic duo will show at the Minnesota State Fair, August 22 through September 2. Good Luck, Taylor!

101 Animals on the Auction Block

 

Southern Minnesota

Justin Prokosch

This E3 plot near Butterfield, Minnesota continues to shine. Many farmers are applying fungicide on their corn and are just starting to apply fungicide on their soybeans. Not many aphids have been spotted yet in the area. Come to Farmfest in Redwood Co. Minnesota  this week and stop by the Latham booth for some goodies!

---

Northern Wisconsin

Joe Salter

Crops as a whole look good in my territory. Unfortunately, storms in the north caused several barns and grain bins to go down. These photos show my Latham soybean plot and my boys are doing some farm work with their grandpa.

Southern Wisconsin

Greg Mair

---

Northwest Iowa

Jeremy Joynt

While signing fields and scouting for late-season pests and diseases, continue to scout for Japanese Beetles, grasshoppers, and aphids. It only takes 20% defoliation to meet the economic-threshold for loss when soybeans are in the reproductive stages. You might add pesticide to the tank mix if you are putting on fungicide.

---

North Central Iowa

Cory Greiman

Farmers in North Central Iowa are protecting yield with fungicide and insecticide applications this week.

 

Northeast Iowa

Craig Haaland

Larry Krapfl

Soybeans and oats were planted six days ago on this farm that was put into preventative planting.

 

I scouted this field of Latham Hi‑Tech Hybrids near Humboldt, IA this week. The shorter-stature corn is LH 4249 SS. Towering 2 foot taller alongside it is LH 5199 SS/LFY. This taller variety is intended for silage and we’re already seeing the impressive height and wide leaves of the leafy trait come through. Looking forward to the tonnage results at silage harvest.

Central Iowa

Northwest North Dakota

Brian McNamee

With all the new soybean technologies, I often gets asked these questions:

• How do Enlist soybeans yield compared to Extend?
• All things considered, which beans have the highest yielding genetics for my geography?
• Can I see some supporting data?

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds is conducting research across the Upper Midwest to help our customers answer these questions. Rest assured, before any product makes it into our lineup, it’s already gone through extensive testing. We take great care to select the products that have been shown to perform best in “Latham Country.”

Southeast North Dakota

Gary Geske

---

Northeast South Dakota

James Keltgen

Another 1 to 2 inches of rain fell this week, but only a 0.5 inch would have been welcome. Unfortunately, we also got strong winds that caused green snap. Damage was as much  as to 90% of the corn in areas where the corn was about to tassel. Most is in full pollination this week, although the latest planted corn has yet to reach that stage. Many are putting on vegetation while flowering, while the latest planted soybeans have yet to canopy.

Southeast South Dakota

Ramie Coughlin

When scouting for aphids and spider mites watch for leaf feeding. This is the time of year we can typically see the second generation of bean leaf beetles feeding on plants. Most insecticide seed treatments provide full control of the first generation, which emerges in early June, and help suppress the second generation. When considering a mid-summer insecticide application, please do NOT spray unless a pest threshold has been met. Threshold for bean leaf beetles  can be found on the chart provided.

---

Northern Minnesota

Ken Highness

President of Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, John Latham, toured my territory this week. He’s standing in LH 5245 VT2 PRO DG RIB, which is Latham’s five-time F.I.R.S.T. Trial champion!

Southern Minnesota

Justin Prokosch

A majority of the corn that was planted in May is pollinating pretty nicely now with the moderate temperatures we’re experiencing this week in southern Minnesota.

Northern Corn Leaf Blight is showing up in Central Minnesota. This is a great time to think about applying a foliar fungicide.

---

Northern Wisconsin 

Joe Salter

Crops have come a long ways during the past two weeks, but a late frost is still needed to help finish out this crop.

Fungicide application could prove to be very profitable with the conditions. It’s important to know if the hybrid you planted is responsive to fungicide application. Look in the Latham Product Guide or check our website to make sure your hybrid(s) has a HR (highly recommended) or R (recommended) rating before applying fungicide.

 

Southern Wisconsin

Greg Mair

---

North Central Iowa

Cory Greiman

Latham L2193 E3 was planted in a field with high pH and shows no signs of yellowing. The pH levels in this field get as high as 8.3 while the field average is 7.8.

Northeast Iowa

Craig Haaland

Larry Krapfl

Japanese Beetles are defoliating crops near Woodbine, Iowa. Be sure to scout your fields and keep a watch on treatment thresholds.

Dealers in my area have been busy signing plots. The hybrids in this Latham SuperStrip™ plot range in maturity from 100 to 107 days.

Central Iowa

Northwest North Dakota

Brian McNamee

A couple bad storms blew through in the southwest part of my territory. Tornadoes touched down with the battered farm pictures to prove it. It’s really a shame as the corn silage corn in that area looked fantastic because it had received above-normal precipitation. Lots of tassels have started shooting out of corn in the past four to five days. It’s amazing how the development of corn and soybeans caught up with the hotter weather. The good news is it looks like there’s another week of ideal temperatures on the horizon.

Winter wheat harvest just started last weekend, and I expect to see many combines in the fields this week.

Southeast North Dakota

Gary Geske

---

Northeast South Dakota

James Keltgen

Corn is just starting to show tassels this week. We have had less moisture this past week, so yellowed corn is starting to root down some. Soybeans are putting on flowers and vegetation. We need continued warm weather for corn to reach maturity.

Southeast South Dakota

Ramie Coughlin

Mother Nature has once again proven that she is in charge. Corn fields across Southeast South Dakota were looking good, and the first planted fields were beginning to tassel. Then in rolled a severe thunderstorm on Saturday morning that caused damage across a large region of Eastern SD.  While some areas had little to no damage, other areas were hit hard. In addition to many down power lines, trees were uprooted. Imagine what happened to the corn in a rapid growth stage! Pictures here is a field that goose-necked in the storm.

---

Northern Minnesota

Ken Highness

Last week we received some much needed sunshine and heat units. The crops are looking good. Pictured is 160 acres of LH 4097 VT2 PRO near Cayuga, ND.

 

Southern Minnesota

Justin Prokosch

L 1858 R2 looks really nice and is close to filling the rows in Southeast Minnesota. 

---

Northern Wisconsin 

Joe Salter

Southern Wisconsin

Greg Mair

---

North Central Iowa

Cory Greiman

Northeast Iowa

Craig Haaland

Larry Krapfl

The tassel was worth the hassle! Farmers had to remove acres of trash left from the March floods, but it was worth it to see their fields tassel.

West North Central Iowa

Bart Peterson