With a majority of the year recorded as dry to extremely dry for much of the Upper Midwest, many farmers were surprised at the onset of disease towards the close of the 2021 growing season. Precision Agronomy Advisor Phil Long addresses how to account for and select corn products to address disease challenges in your fields into 2022 and beyond.
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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds
#AskTheAgronomist: Corn Disease and Product Selection
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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds
Take the Test and Beat the Pest!
By robbing farmers of more than 100 million bushels annually, Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN) is estimated to be the #1 yield-robbing soybean pest or disease in the United States. Farmers may scream over lost yield this fall, but SCN is considered a “silent yield robber” due to a lack of above-ground symptoms in most fields.Immediately after harvest is the best time to take soil samples for SCN. Several universities have programs that offer free soil samples to evaluate SCN, so check with your local Extension office to see if you qualify.
Think SCN isn’t a problem in your fields? Think again! Dry soil conditions, especially early in the growing season, can greatly increase the effects of SCN infestations. I received numerous calls in June and July about yellow, stunted soybeans. Most farmers suspected Iron Deficiency Chlorosis. Upon further inspection, SCN was almost always present and in larger numbers than previously observed. When I asked whether these farmers had taken a recent soil sample for SCN, most had not. They admit to mostly relying on SCN-resistant varieties to control or minimize the losses from this pest.
We have known for years that PI 88788 is gradually losing its efficacy against the pest, and more than 95% of SCN-resistant soybeans in America have PI 88788 as the source of gene resistance. Since 1997, a team of researchers at Iowa State University led by Dr. Greg Tylka has conducted annual in-field trials with hundreds of SCN-resistant varieties. They measure agronomic performance and SCN population densities from planting until after harvest.
Scientists have determined that to be effective, SCN-resistant varieties must maintain less than a 10% reproduction rate of SCN during the growing season. Since 2004, Dr. Tylka and his team have noticed that the average of all PI 88788 varieties in their trials have gradually exceeded that threshold. They have also noted that the average yield of those varieties has decreased as the SCN reproduction has increased. For more information on these studies, visit www.isuscntrials.info. Other land-grant university researchers have reported similar findings.
To effectively manage SCN in the future, soybean breeders are focusing on other sources of gene resistance. Your Latham Soybean Product Team is continually evaluating and searching for opportunities to bring new, better resistant varieties to our lineup. We also are evaluating several seed treatments for battling this pest. Saltro®, our seed treatment product for SDS protection, is also noted to have activity against SCN. More information from our Latham Elite trials will be available post-harvest.
“TAKE THE TEST. BEAT THE PEST.” is a slogan/campaign by The SCN Coalition™ and funded by the Soybean Checkoff and is designed specifically to promote awareness of SCN. These microscopic roundworms, which infect the roots of soybeans and other plants, can be present in a field for years before above-ground symptoms are visible. We encourage you to take the test this season, so you can plan accordingly for the future.
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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds
Notes from the Field – PreHarvest 2021
I’m very hopeful that – even with the dry weather – our production fields can achieve an overall average year for production with sufficient seed for soybean sales in 2022.Most soybean farmers’ biggest concern across Latham Country has been lack of moisture. Many have noticed aborted flowers, dropped pods, and restricted pod fill. Thankfully, our production fields in South Central Minnesota received a nice two-inch rain during the first week of August. Most of the growers in our area around Alexander, Iowa, got a nice one- or two-inch rain on August 20-21. That rain will help those fields fill out pretty well. Some of our fields in northern Minnesota also got a nice inch or more that weekend.
Rainfall has been extremely variable throughout the summer. On August 20, the Des Moines airport reported no rain but most cities throughout the metro got about 1.5 inches! “Spotty” rains have been the norm rather than the exception this season.
Besides the drought, infestations of two-spotted spider mites are popping up almost everywhere across Latham Country. This is common in periods of dry weather. Most growers seem to be willing to apply pesticides for control, especially when the market price for soybeans is high. Farmers in a few areas have reported Bean Leaf Beetles and Soybean Aphids at very low levels, so insecticide applications have not been necessary. Grasshoppers also flourish in dry conditions, and I have heard of farmers spraying to control this pest.
On the disease side, I’ve seen and heard of Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) and White Mold this season. Dry weather usually hinders huge outbreaks of diseases, but it’s not unexpected that some areas will see things like this. Remember, SDS CANNOT be controlled with a foliar application of fungicide but there are some that can help on White Mold. I’ve also seen some Frogeye Leaf Spot (FLS) in a few fields but not enough to warrant a fungicide except in Southeast Iowa. I’m hearing about and seeing FLS in regions further north than usual, which is evidence this disease is moving farther north every year.
Call the Latham Team if you need help to diagnose situations or to recommend solutions. Be sure to keep field notes from these problem areas because that will be useful when you select seed in the future.
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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds
#AskTheAgronomist: How to Sample for Soybean Cyst Nematode
This season’s high-stress growing conditions gave light to areas across Latham Country facing high pressure from Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN). A silent yield-robber, SCN can largely impact final yield and many universities are providing compensation for samples to help get a handle on egg counts across the Midwest. In today’s episode, Precision Agronomist Phil Long explains how to take a representative sample and evaluate pressure in your fields.
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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds
Test for Aflatoxin Before Feeding Moisture-Stressed Corn
It could be a matter of life and death.
Hot, dry summers like we’ve seen throughout the 2021 growing season stress plants and create the perfect environment for fungal growth and toxins. Test for nitrate levels and mycotoxin before you feed moisture-stressed corn silage or grain to livestock. If you plan to graze corn stubble, it is a good idea to test the lower one-third of plant in the area you plan to graze.
Even one highly contaminated kernel in a five-pound sample could result in more than 20 parts per billion (ppb) aflatoxin. If you see olive green or graygreen fungus on corn kernels, contact a feed testing lab like DairyLandLabs.com or IowaGrain.org.
Aflatoxins cause various animal health problems, including death in some cases. Most commonly, feeding contaminated corn reduces the animals’ feed efficiency and reproductivity. Aflatoxin also suppresses an animal’s immune system, making it more susceptible to infectious diseases. In addition, aflatoxin can appear in the milk produced by dairy cows that were fed contaminated corn.
Prime conditions for the fungus to produce toxin are warm nights, when temperatures stay above 70 degrees Fahrenheit, during the latter stages of grain fill (August/September) in a period of drought. As kernel moisture decreases, aflatoxin production increases. Toxin production is highest at 18 to 20 percent kernel moisture and usually stops around 15 percent kernel moisture. Ensiling corn usually does not reduce aflatoxin concentrations, but concentrations are unlikely to increase in properly managed silage.
Below are guidelines from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for acceptable aflatoxin levels in corn based on intended use. I also encourage you to work with a livestock nutritionist.
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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds
#AskTheAgronomist: Late-Season Scout Now to Create Success Next Season
Recent heavy rains combined with high temperatures can create isolated cases of soybean disease. In this episode of #AskTheAgronomist, Precision Agronomist Phil Long addresses the basics of the big six and the benefits of late-season scouting to create success for next season.
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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds
Call in Your A-Team
The most successful farmers are those who spend substantial time checking for disease, insects, stand uniformity and plant health. When things don’t look good, it’s time to call in your A-Team!
The Oxford online dictionary defines A-Team as “a group of elite soldiers or top advisors or workers in an organization.” Your A-Team needs to be a group of expert advisors, who can help you diagnose problems and make recommendations to solve those issues. This group might include your Latham® Dealer or RSM, an agronomist from your chemical retailer or local co-op, a county or state Extension expert, or a private consultant that you’ve hired for this specific purpose. Do not rely only on “coffee shop talk” or advice from neighbors or friends.
With your A-Team in mind, below are five things to watch for as we approach soybean pollination:
1. Overall population and stand. I believe that the period between planting and first bloom is the most critical time for soybean growers. Across most of Latham Country, Spring 2021 was dry enough to plant early yet too cool to stimulate consistent growth and vigor. Stands were uneven. Seedlings had a sick, yellow appearance, which can lead to the onset of diseases and pests.
2. Yellow soybeans. Soybeans can turn yellow (or chlorotic) for many reasons, including Iron Deficiency Chlorosis (IDC), Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN), high soluble salts, chemical burns, insects and diseases. Your A-Team can help determine what has caused this.
3. Soybean Aphid. I venture to say the Soybean Aphid is still the #1 insect pest across Latham Country. This insect overwinters in our region as eggs laid on the buckhorn species of trees and shrubs. Winged adults will move to soybeans in early to mid-June. Throughout the summer, most soybean aphids are females that reproduce asexually and rapidly. They can infest a whole field in a matter of days.
4. Soybean Gall Midge. This new insect species is causing damage in areas of southeast South Dakota, southwest Minnesota, eastern Nebraska, western Iowa and more recently in Northwest Missouri. Researchers expect to see adults in early to mid-June, however, information and management for this pest are still in the discovery stage.
5. Hail. Farmers don’t need to look for hail, but it too often finds them! Knowing what to look for and how to react is key when deciding what to do after a hailstorm. Soybean plants that are cut off below the cotyledon node have no chance of surviving. Plants that are severely bruised and easily fold over at the impact site have a very poor chance of surviving. However, plants that are only missing one cotyledon or missing both with the growing point still intact have a very good chance of survival. My best advice is to abstain from evaluating fields that received hail as soon as it is dry enough to do so. Instead, give the plants at least a week to see if new growth will occur. That way you can see what you have for a viable population.
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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds
Fighting Aphanomyces in Alfalfa
Photo sourced from the UW Extension Forage. The world of soils is made up of a complex living biology. Uncovering production-limiting factors can be one of the many links to selecting the best products and seed treatments for that acre. More specifically, it is helpful to know the most prominent diseases that could hamper emergence and yield. There are steps you can take to reduce that risk.
Aphanomyces Root Rot is a big word to describe a microscopic pathogen with the power to cause big problems. The fungus responsible, Aphanomyces euteiches, is an oomycete that is present in many Midwest soils. It’s especially prevalent in heavy, wet, poorly drained soils. The pathogen spreads by zoospores, which move easily in wet soils. Many years ago, scientists discovered two dominant races of this particular pathogen: Race 1 and Race 2. The latter proves more virulent or infectious. There is speculation of a “Race 3” although testing is still taking place.
Aphanomyces often presents as stunted, yellow plants with poor root development and very few lateral roots. If the seedling becomes infected, symptoms escalate to include yellow cotyledons and first leaves with chlorosis. The roots and stems will first appear grey (often water soaked) and then change to brown. Yield reduction results from poor root growth and significantly less nodules.
Photo sourced from the UW Extension Forage. Rebound is also extremely slow after harvest. If you are concerned you have Aphanomyces and want to know which races you have, you can submit a soil sample to the UW Plant Disease and Diagnostic Clinic.
Plant breeders rose to the challenge and have done a great job selecting varieties of alfalfa with high resistance to Race 1. When Race 2 was discovered, they also began selecting for that. On page 69 of the 2021 Latham® product guide, you will find our disease resistance chart with Aphanomyces Race 1 and 2 index ratings.
In addition to genetic resistance, we also equip our alfalfa varieties with an additional layer of protection with AlfaShield seed treatment. The success of a multi-year alfalfa stand rests on good emergence and seedling survival. Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds includes Stamina® in its seed treatment to provide that needed broad-spectrum protection against soil-borne pathogens.
Seed treatments that don’t include Stamina can suffer mortality rates of up to 75% in the seedling year. Discount seed companies tend to use older plant genetics and cheaper seed treatments, which can offer significantly less protection. In addition to high mortality rates, the risk includes reduced stands and less yield.
Latham Seeds can we reduce that risk, increase your yield potential and promote greater stand longevity thanks to good genetic resistance and seed treatments. Talk with your Latham rep to learn more. Now is a great time to buy alfalfa for spring seeding!
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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds
Ask the Agronomist: How to Identify and Manage Goss’s Wilt
Tune in for discussion on identifying and managing Goss’s Wilt. Learn about how this bacterial disease can grow and affect nearly up to 50% of your overall corn yield. #AskTheAgronomist1:15 – How Goss’s Wilt affects a corn plant2:38 – How to identify Goss’s Wilt5:00 – Yield impact7:00 – How to manage Goss’s Wilt -
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds
#AsktheAgronomist: Protect Your Investment with Seed Treatment
Join us as we discuss the importance of protecting your investment every year. How does Latham Seeds seed treatment differentiate? Tune in and find out!