Join us as Phil Long answers the question: Are nitrification inhibitors worth applying in the fall?
Don’t forget to submit your questions to us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Snapchat!
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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds
From the Field Crop Report: Oct 25
Northeast Iowa & Southeast Minnesota
Craig Haaland
Rain over the weekend brought harvest to a standstill once again. This rainy fall weather has delayed harvest by about two weeks. Soybean fields are about 80% done here, and corn harvest has just gotten started.
Farmers were just starting to roll again yesterday afternoon on soybeans. There’s an urgency to finish soybeans this week as the forecast is calling for snow on Saturday.
Latham’s popular 2084’s have been going 60 bushels plus, which is really good for Mitchell County Iowa. The hybrid pictured here is LH 5099 SS, which is a really good 100-day corn. The ears filled out to the top and is coming out of this field at 19% moisture.
Yields in Northern Iowa and Southern Minnesota has been really good so far. I’m hearing yield reports from 215 to 245 bushels per acre.
North Central Iowa & South Central Minnesota
Cory Greiman
This morning I’m getting ready to harvest my last Latham SuperStrip corn plot at Zach Greiman’s farm near Garner, Iowa. Maturities range from 94 to 107. Yesterday we harvested Latham dealer Scott Rasmussen’s SuperStrip corn plot and it was fantastic! Maturities there ranged from 99 to 110 with 28 entries in the plot. The entire plot averaged 250.82 bu/acre. Check out these and other plot results on LathamSeeds.com.
Wishing everyone a safe harvest as we come into the home stretch! Remember to take breaks, stay hydrated and keep alert.
West North Central Iowa
Bart Peterson
Latham® Dealer John Lacina, and his son Alan of Badger Iowa, opened up a corn field last night at dusk. Yields on the monitor were 200+ bushels in this field of LH 6105 VT2 PRO at 16.0 to 17.5% moisture.
Central Iowa
Bryan Rohe
Farmers across Central Iowa are about 90% done with soybean harvest. Yields are running between 55 and 85 bushels per acre. Soil variations really showed this year. Corn harvest is underway with about 90% left to harvest. Yields are ranging from 160 o 247 bu/A.
Stay safe this harvest season!
Northwest Iowa
Darin Chapman
This field of L 2184 R2X Latham soybeans averaged 72 bushels per acre on this Northwest Iowa farm. You can see the cereal rye is coming in nicely due to the late fall rains.
Western Iowa & Eastern Nebraska
Larry Krapfl
This Latham® soybean plot near Castana, Iowa, showed good yields for a challenging growing season. Latham brand 3158 L went 58 bushels per acre and L 2978 L ran 57 bu/A.
Southern Wisconsin
Greg Mair
As the sun begins to set on soybean harvest, corn harvest is ramping up. We harvested our first Latham Hi‑Tech Hybrids SuperStrip plot on Oct. 20 in Ripon, Wisc. It’s not surprising that LH 5099 SS RIB won the plot with yields between 249 and 251 bushels/acre.
Yield reports of above-expected yields are coming in from growers across my territory. Some have commented they have fields outperforming their record yields from 2016! Delayed harvest with wet, cool weather may mean that growers are harvesting corn above the ideal harvest moisture. It may be worth spending a little extra on drying costs to secure yields before stalks lose their integrity.
Eastern North Dakota
Brian McNamee
Very few soybean fields remain as farmers across my region are moving into corn. Overall, I would say 2017 is an average soybean crop year statewide. Many good corn yields are being reported. Overall, growers have been pleasantly surprised with their yields as rain was sparse is so many areas throughout the growing season.
In this picture, I’m riding with a grower in Central ND as he combines LH 3877. His stand was beautiful, and his yield is more than 20 bushels above the APH. You would never guess that this field got such a severe hail event in early June that many of the neighboring soybean fields were replanted.
Many growers are still undecided about their plans for 2018. Please call your local Latham® Seeds representation soon, so they can offer you any every and any option in the toolbox.
Southeast North Dakota
Gary Geske
Information is power. Farmers are testing varieties on their farm. Latham® dealers and RSM’s are harvesting SuperStrip trials. In addition, the Latham production team is working with independent research teams to harvest and analyze literally hundreds and thousands of new hybrids. They compare experimental numbers to our current product lineup, so we can bring you the best Latham products available.
Learn more about the proven performance of Latham brand products this fall at a post-harvest meeting near you! Our event schedule will be posted soon on LathamSeeds.com, as well as under “events” on Facebook.
Northeast South Dakota
James Keltgen
Harvest is moving right along now that Mother Nature is cooperating! Soybean harvest is wrapping up and growers are moving into corn. A lot of yield reports from the Watertown area are coming in over 200 bushels per acre, which is fantastic especially when you consider the growing conditions. Moistures are running 17 to 20% in 90- to 94-day maturities. Snow has been forecasted later in the week, so everyone is pushing hard to get as much harvested as possible before the weather turns!
Southeast South Dakota
Ramie Coughlin
Ross and Levi from B&B Sales worked with me to take out our first Latham corn plot last Friday in Dell Rapids, South Dakota. Moisture was anywhere from 19 to 23%. Yields ran from 191 to 223 bushels per acre (bu/A).
Growers in my area are transitioning from soybeans to corn, and I’m excited to hear more yield results! I expect corn yields will really vary across Southeast South Dakota where the drought got drastically worse as you moved west.
I’m seeing stalk rots in fields as we do pre-harvest checks. Many environmental factors have attributed to this: hot summer nights, which prevented corn from resting; strong wind and hail events that damaged stalks and made entry points; plus lots of late-season moisture and humidity, which creates perfect fungal growing conditions. With that being said, take time to do some pre-harvest field checks. Make sure you harvest the worst first! Three days of strong winds will do a number on corn that is already beaten up, so do what you can to keep the corn off the ground.
Northern Minnesota
Ken Highness
Monday and Tuesday of this week we harvested Latham’s corn and soybean research plot near Emerado, North Dakota. These plots help our company select and develop products that will out-yield the competition and provide a field-by-field regional advantage!
This is a great time of the year to get a view from the seat of the combine. You can tell a lot about compaction, weed pressure and other situations that will impact your crop. Take notes to help you address some of these challenges by picking right seed for each of your field. Remember to put safety first and have a great harvest season!
Southern Minnesota
Brandon Wendlandt
As we were harvesting this Latham plot of LibertyLink soybeans in Morgan, Minnesota, I couldn’t help but notice how clean this field was! The plot cooperator reported that his whole field averaged 65 bushels per acre, which is a great yield for this area. If you’re having trouble with weed control, I’d love to visit with you. Look to Latham Seeds for a full lineup of weed control options!
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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds
From the Field Crop Report: October 18
Northeast Iowa & Southeast Minnesota
Craig Haaland
This field of LH 5215 VT2 PRO is going 245 bushels per acre dry over 92 acres in Mitchell County. Due to all the rain last week, there hasn’t been much harvest actions. A few farmers started taking out corn Tuesday, so plans of getting back into their soybean fields in another day or two.
Eastern Iowa
Jerry Broders
Bet you didn’t know we had soybeans on Easter Island! Easter Island is famous for extant monumental statues, called moai, similar to the one that’s across from Latham® dealer Kevin Squires’ farm.
North Central Iowa & South Central Minnesota
Cory Greiman
Yesterday we harvested a Latham SuperStrip plot of R2/R2X soybean plot at Latham® dealer Scott Rasmussen’s farm. Fourteen different Latham brands were planted. Yields ranged from 65 to 74 bushels per acre. Latham’s 2228 with SoyShield and ILevo topped the pot at 74 bushels per acre. Go to lathamseeds.com as yield results are being uploaded daily.
West North Central Iowa
Bart Peterson
This very nice looking field of Latham 2184 R2X near Palmer, Iowa is weed free. Look to Latham for weed control options including Roundup Ready Xtend soybeans.
Central Iowa
Bryan Rohe
Farmers in Central Iowa were able to get back in the fields on Monday, Oct. 16. Many farmers have about one week of soybean harvest before they can turn their full attention to corn. While traveling north of Boone, I noticed this competitor’s field of corn that has fell down at the node. It’s a good reminder to check fields and prioritize them for harvest. I’ve been checking fields for late-season intactness and recommending farmers check their corn acres for stocks that completely give everything it has to kernels.
Northwest Iowa
Darin Chapman
Climate FieldView is a great data management tool. Farmers can make management decisions as they harvest the crop in real-time view!
This photo shows how soybean yields correlate with soil sampling maps. It indicates where this farmer needs lime in this geography of his field.
Western Iowa & Eastern Nebraska
Larry Krapfl
My how attitudes change when we have great weather! After being stalled for weeks due to wet conditions, farmers in western Iowa are back in the fields. You can’t beat a day with sunshine and great yields with Latham® 2645 running in the high 60s and low 70s.
Southern Wisconsin
Greg Mair
Soybean harvest has been held up due to precipitation during the past week. Combines should start to roll again in soybeans on Wednesday. Latham’s 2228 R2 soybeans have been a rockstar in Wisconsin. The flexibility to perform on good and/or stressed soils makes this product an excellent option for your acres in 2018. For more yield results from our entire product lineup, visit the Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds website.
Eastern North Dakota
Brian McNamee
One of the most common questions being asked this harvest is, “How are the new Xtend® soybeans yielding? Are they as good as they look?”
The short answer is “Yes!” These plot results from a trial near Rugby, North Dakota, show a small sample of what we’re seeing in the fields. Note that 7 of the Top 10 – including 4 of the Top 5 – yield came from Latham® Xtend products!
Sales of Latham Xtend soybeans are picking up rapidly. If you’re interested in “kicking the tires” on Xtend beans in 2018, please call your local Latham representative. With results like these, supplies will not outlast the demand.
Southeast North Dakota
Gary Geske
Be sure to check your bins before filling them! On new construction, look for loose pieces left inside the bin and make sure the slide gates work correctly. On existing bins, check for cleanliness. You might need to spray for insects. Run the take-out auger to clean the tube and check the slides for proper operation. These checks will make it much easier at grain removal time and be much safer also.
Northeast South Dakota
James Keltgen
Thanks to Latham SuperStrip cooperators. Earlier this week we were weighing one at Henry, South Dakota. Latham® 1684 R2X is yielding well in our SuperStrips, so consider adding it to your 2018 lineup!
SuperStrips are an integral part of Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds’ research program as the same group of products is planted within a given maturity range, including: products currently being offered; products we plan to add to next year’s lineup; and “experimentals” that are being tested to see if they meet our standards.
This same group of corn and soybean products is tested on several farms throughout Latham Country in the same year. We collect data on how they perform by soil type and under various environmental conditions. Hybrids and varieties are evaluated throughout the growing season for their overall characteristics and then taken to yield at harvest as a final comparison.
I’m guessing soybean harvest is about 50 percent done in my territory, so stay tuned for more results! You can get plot data on lathamseeds.com.
Soybean harvest is nearing the end, and many farmers in Northeast South Dakota are just starting to combine corn. This field of LH 4147 VT2 PRO is pushing 200 bushels per acre in a field of no-till, corn on corn, in a drought at Frankfort, SD!
Despite getting hit by hail earlier this summer, a field of LH 4454 VT2 PRO is pushing 180 south of Watertown. Moistures are in the low 20s. Good drying and harvest weather is forecast for the next week, so I’m looking forward to receiving more reports like these!
Southeast South Dakota
Ramie Coughlin
Last week was a great harvest week in Southeast South Dakota! In Gann Valley, Latham® 2368 R2X topped the plot. Weekend rain slowed the combines, but many farmers were rolling again on Monday. Soybean field averages are coming out at 66 bushels/A. I have also heard yield reports in the 40s and 50s even where white mold had a 10-20% impact on fields. Thank you to all of my dealers and customers who worked so hard to help with these plots. Have a safe harvest everyone!
Northern Minnesota
Ken Highness
During a visit to my region last Thursday, Amy Rohe got to participate in her first Red River Valley sugar beet harvest on Johnson farms in Glyndon, Minnesota.
Minnesota and North Dakota has been America’s sugar bowl since the 1970s. The by-product of processing pure sugar is beet pulp. The dried beet pulp is the fiber residue from extracting sugar from sliced beets. Whether it’s shipped plain dried or molasses dried, beet pulp is a valued feed source for dairy and beef producers.
Southern Minnesota
Brandon Wendlandt
Great weather made for a great day to take out the Latham plot in Vernon Center, Minnesota. Varieties were yielding well, but the two that really stood out were Latham® 2184 R2X and L 2228 RR2. Both soybeans can chase yield along with handling some iron deficiency chlorosis. These are just two of the great soybeans in Latham’s extensive lineup.
If you’re having weed control issues, Xtend soybeans may be a good fit for your fields. Talk to your local Latham representative or give me a call at 877-GO-LATHAM.
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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds
From the Field Crop Reports: October 11
Northeast Iowa & Southeast Minnesota
Craig Haaland
Harvest has been at a stand still since last Thursday in northern Iowa and southern Minnesota due to rain falls totaling 4 to 5 inches.
This field of LH 5099 SS looks fantastic! Many farmers are pleasantly surprised with some of the bean yields so far.
With the fields too wet to work, it’s a good time to order seed for 2018. Take advantage of Latham’s early order and early pay through Oct. 15. Talk to your local dealer or the RSM for more details!
Northwest Iowa
Darin Chapman
Climate FieldView gives us a good look at our past and future. The weather doesn’t look promising for harvest! By this time last year, most farmer’s were finishing soybean harvest.
Southern Wisconsin
Greg Mair
This plot harvested in Cambridge, WI., averaged 65.9 bu/A even though it was planted June 1. Stay safe and happy harvesting!
Northern Minnesota
Ken Highness
What a way to start off the week! This picture was taken this Monday morning in Norman County, Minnesota. A few more drying days are needed before harvest will resume.
Central Iowa
Bryan Rohe
Jackson Seed Sales in Oskaloosa, Iowa, took out a Latham corn and soybean SuperStrip plot on October 9. Latham’s 6175 won the plot at 245 bu/A and Latham’s 3184 Roundup Ready Xtend soybeans won at 71 bushel.
Oskaloosa was extremely dry most of the growing season, however, the Latham corn and soybean performed well under stress.
Eastern Iowa
Jerry Broders
Soybean harvest is continuing quite nicely!
Southeast North Dakota
Gary Geske
Another huge pile of feed! Latham® dealer Kyle Geske took these pictures of a customer chopping a Latham experimental conventional silage hybrid. More than 25 tons per acre makes for a big pile and trucks lined up to dump!
Eastern North Dakota
Brian McNamee
Soybean harvest rolling right along in North Dakota. I would guess a bit over 60% of total soybean acres are off across the state. Harvest conditions have been excellent once we got rolling. Many customers are even finished and looking at moving to corn. A few in fact are finding fields to cut and dryer than expected.Riding with a customer near Berlin, ND, as he makes his last pass of soybeans for the year.
Latham 3397 VT2 PRO in the Rugby, ND, area looks like we might have another year with above-average kernel weights/density. If true to form, yields may be exciting to see!
Southern Minnesota
Brandon Wendlandt
Harvest is still stalled here in southern Minnesota, but many farmers hope to get back in fields tomorrow.
If you’re unable to get into the fields, now is a great time to sit down with your seed dealer and plan for next year. Use Latham’s trademark FieldxField crop planning tool to maximize your profits. Contact your representative today for the best products and pricing!
Northeast South Dakota
James Keltgen
Night time lows dipped to 25 degrees early Tuesday morning, bringing a killing frost to Northeast South Dakota.
Latham’s first soybean SuperStrip in NE SD was taken out Tuesday.
The weather has finally turned around here! Fields are drying out, and some farmers are back in motion with harvest. Soybean yields are running in the 50s and 60s around Watertown.
A hard freeze Monday night into Tuesday morning will make some soybeans easier to combine.Initial reports on corn indicate high test weights, pushing 60 pounds, where moisture was adequate!
West North Central Iowa
Bart Peterson
5095 VT2 PRO, which was planted April 11 by Rolfe in West Central Iowa, is running 16.5% moisture with 60.5 test weight. Yields across the field have been good with a high of 272 bu/A and a low of 210 bu/A.
West Central Iowa
Larry Krapfl
We’ve had 10 days of wet weather, including freezing rain, so no combines are moving. Harvest is at a stand still.
Southeast South Dakota
Ramie Coughlin
Harvest kicked into full gear during the weekend in some areas. Along the I-29 corridor, however, farmers report soybeans are still at 15 to 16% moisture with even wetter ground. Farmers in those areas are hoping to get in by this weekend.
Monday night we had a good killing frost across the majority of southeast South Dakota. We should be able to reap the benefits of the that in the coming days.
Yield reports are slow to come in for my territory as much of it is too wet yet. Be sure to follow Latham Seeds on Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram where yield results are being constantly shared. You can also view plot results in your area at www.lathamseeds.com. Results are being entered daily!
North Central Iowa & South Central Minnesota
Cory Greiman
Here is live feed from a yield monitor in a field near Garner, IA. This field of LH 5215 harvested on October 10.
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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds
From the Field Crop Report: Oct 4
Northeast Iowa & Southeast Minnesota
Craig Haaland
Soybean yields are all over the board, depending on when and where the rain fell during the growing season. This field of Latham® L 2186 Liberty went 60 bushels per acre and averaged 12.5% moisture in Grundy County.
Moisture was getting really low, running at 10% or lower. Rain across northern Iowa and southern Minnesota this week should even these soybean fields out. Hopefully, we’ll catch a break in the weather so everyone can get rolling again.
Eastern Iowa
Jerry Broders
Soybean harvest is going at a whirlwind pace in Eastern Iowa. Soybean yields have been exceeding expectations given the growing season this year. Be sure to check out our plot results. We’ll also update F.I.R.S.T. Trials results on our website www.lathamseeds.com.
North Central Iowa & South Central Minnesota
Cory Greiman
Final tally on a field of Latham 1787 LL beans at Zach Greiman’s farm in Garner was surprising! Cattle were killed in the July 10th hail storm. Crops were devastated, but this field went 67 bushels per acre.
West North Central Iowa
Bart Peterson
We harvested a Latham® SuperStrip soybean plot on Friday, Sept, 29, at the Ricklefs’ farm near Rolfe, Iowa.
Central Iowa
Bryan Rohe
Corn yields are way better than farmers were forecasting before harvest, and I’m hearing yield reports of 175 to 210 bushels per acres. I’m seeing some ear rot, but nothing too concerning at this point.
Soybean yields are also better than expected. On sandy soils with limited rain fall, however, plants are shorter and not yielding as well.
Northwest Iowa
Darin Chapman
Only a few soybeans have been taken out in Northwest Iowa, but the yield are better than expected. Latham L 1787 Liberty did 70 bushels/acre in Hartley, and L 1328 L went 60 bu/A near Estherville.
Western Iowa & Eastern Nebraska
Larry Krapfl
Harvest 2017 is a waiting game.
I left home early on the morning of October 4 and traveled to Norfolk, Nebraska. The amount of crops is the field is amazing!
Honestly, I didn’t see a field where the crop had been taken out. I talked with one farmer who hasn’t yet turned a wheel, and he has 7,000 acres to harvest. One dealer received 1.7 inches of rain over the weekend, so his combine is parked. He doesn’t think any fields within 20 miles of his farm have been combined. Another dealer received 2.3 inches of rain over the weekend, and he has yet to start combining. He said this weekend’s forecast calls for another 2 inches of rain.
We’re hoping for a drier week ahead!
Southern Wisconsin
Greg Mair
Sunrise on this field of Latham 2228 R2 soybeans was quite the sight! As soybeans are harvested across Wisconsin, farmers are relatively surprised. Yields have been better than expected afte a cool, wet growing season. On average, yields are in the low 60’s at 10.5% moisture.
Eastern North Dakota
Brian McNamee
Harvest has been slowed across North Dakota with consistent but sporadic rainfalls. Early harvest reports are good. Farmers are reporting average to above-average yields, despite experiencing one of the most challenging years in recent history.
In this picture the grower Bryan Kenner of BK Seeds, Maddock ND is squaring up the test plot right before we took it off. It will continue to be an interesting fall. We have a lot of new products and technologies available in testing. It is definitely one of those revolutionary times in agriculture. Southeast North Dakota
Gary Geske
We got a bird’s eye view of this field of LH 5062 GT/LFY silage corn east of Anselm, North Dakota. It’s running more than 32 tons per acre, and the customer is harvesting at a rate of 270 tons per hour.
Northeast South Dakota
James Keltgen
Harvest has been delayed due to heavy rainfall. From 7 to 10 inches has fallen in the last week! Dry areas in Central South Dakota received some rain, as well. Yield reports of 30 to 50 bushels have been coming in from that area.
Silage appraisals of LH 5062 LFY near Kranzburg have been running 190 to 220 bushels!
Southeast South Dakota
Ramie Coughlin
This has been a busy week in eastern South Dakota! Soybean harvest was gearing up last week but got shut down by rain over the weekend. Eastern SD has received anywhere from 4 to 13 inches in the last two weeks. Yield reports are coming in slowly, but the August rain did our soybeans some good. I want to highlight some 1858 R2s on sod in East Central South Dakota. No wonder this Latham® soybean brand scored the highest yield of any brand for two years running in the F.I.R.S.T. Trials!
Northern Minnesota
Ken Highness
Although Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds doesn’t sell sugar beets, I’d be remiss not to talk about it because so there is so much sugar beet production in my territory. This picture was taken at the Hampton receiving station on Oct. 3.
Sugar beet harvest is in full swing up and down the Red River Valley. Growers transports their sugar beets by truck to a receiving station where it is then transferred to one of the five factories for processing. Harvest starts in early September and continues until all sugar beets have been depleted, which occurs in May the following year.
Southern Minnesota
Brandon Wendlandt
Harvest has come to a halt for everyone in southern Minnesota any where between 2 and 5 inches of rain fell during the past few days. The small amount of soybean yields that have been reported are running in the upper 50s to lower 60s, which is better than expected. Sure hope it dries up soon, so we can get back in the fields!
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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds
From the Field Crop Reports: Sept. 27
Northeast Iowa & Southeast Minnesota
Craig Haaland
This field of Latham® L 2228 R2 in Chickasaw County is about ready to be combined.
A few started rolling last weekend. In Grundy County, a field of our popular L 2084 R2’s went 73 bushels per acre. Also, our L 2186 Liberty beans in Black Hawk County went 64.5 b/A across two fields.
Switching to corn, our first field of LH 5215 VT2 PRO harvest in Black Hawk County went 230 b/A with 23% moisture.
Rain and Monday and Tuesday this week will halt harvest for a day or two.
Eastern Iowa
Jerry Broders
Soybean fields are starting to empty in Eastern Iowa. Early maturity soybeans are being harvested. Yields are good and moisture levels of the soybeans are dropping. Rain Monday night and Tuesday morning delayed combining, but we should be back in the field Wednesday afternoon.
North Central Iowa & South Central Minnesota
Cory Greiman
Arial view of the colors of fall with the soybeans turning and corn drying down and hitting full maturity.
West North Central Iowa
Bart Peterson
Farmers in West Central Iowa started combining soybeans last Friday, Sept. 22. Latham dealer Troy Johnson and his crew are harvesting a field of L2258 Liberty soybeans.
Central Iowa
Bryan Rohe
Central Iowa is the midst of soybean harvest. Yields between 56 and 72 bushels per acres are being reported across different areas.
Northwest Iowa
Darin Chapman
Look at the cluster of pods on these Latham 2186 Liberty Link soybeans! This field was affected by Dicamba tank contamination early on, but it doesn’t look like it will stop these soybeans from yielding!
Western Iowa & Eastern Nebraska
Larry Krapfl
In fields this week I have seen ear rot in many fields in my area! This picture shows Diplodia which is a corn fungus.
Southern Wisconsin
Greg Mair
A heat wave during the past 10 days really helped move crops along. Soybeans harvest is just getting underway with moisture reports of 9 to 10 percent, which is drier than desired. Given all the moisture we’ve had this season, I didn’t think I would say this, but growers would welcome a nice shower or two.
This field of LH 5509 SS was in much need of some heat units to push it closer to maturity. This ear, pulled Monday, is roughly 50% milk. Luckily, there doesn’t appear to be a chance of frost until after October 14 in southern Wisconsin.
Southeast North Dakota
Gary Geske
In spite of extremely dry weather during the summer, this field of Latham L 1086 LL soybeans still yielded more than 45 bushels/acre near Enderlin, ND.
Northeast South Dakota
James Keltgen
A few farmers started combining soybeans last week before the rain fell. Early reports had yields running in the teens and 20s in areas affected by drought. Variability is being noticed as yields have been anywhere from 18 bushels/acre to the 50+ bu/A. Widespread rain fell of 3 to 7 inches fell last weekend in eastern South Dakota. Watertown received 5 inches during the weekend and 10″ total for the past week. Harvest will be delayed until fields dry in many areas.
Southeast South Dakota
Ramie Coughlin
Latham hybrids have great yield potential and will grow corn. This field of 4242 VT2 PRO was planted at a population of 34,000. This particular plant is on the sprayer track and has put on two great ears.
We are knocking at the door of soybean harvest. After 3- and 4-inch rains across eastern South Dakota last weekend, we are simply waiting for the ground to dry. Next week I expect to see combines out in full force.
Northern Minnesota
Ken Highness
Last Tuesday night Latham® Seed Dealer, M&R Seed Farm, took another hit from Mother Nature! The National Weather Service positively Identified the damage from an F1 tornado one mile north of Beltrami, Minnesota. The Skaug family feels very fortunate that it missed their farmstead by a half mile.
Southern Minnesota
Brandon Wendlandt
We’re waiting for soybeans to finish dropping leaves and for fields to dry. This field of Latham L 1858 R2 could be ready early next week after a few good drawing days. Farmers are eager to get rolling in southern Minnesota!
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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds
Harvest is Prime Time for Spring Planning
Written By: Phil Long
You can practically feel the anticipation in the air as Upper Midwest farmer await fall harvest. While a few seed beans came into our plant last Friday, recent rainfall has brought harvest to a halt here in North Central Iowa. Believe me, I’m just as eager to roll as you are.
There isn’t much I enjoy more during this time of year than watching a beautiful sunset from the seat of a combine. I do some of my best thinking behind the wheel!
As the combine cuts the crop, you can be proactively “harvest scouting,” which will help you plan for next year’s crop needs. Make note of weed escapes. Weed pressure should be taken into consideration as your herbicide or weed management strategies may vary field by field.
You also can make a few other notes like: how the hybrid or variety you planted did on low and high spots; early senescence due to disease; lodging issues; low yield areas that seem out of place, compaction issues and/or any problems that show up in a pattern.
Use the Climate FieldView App on your phone to drop a pin every time you see something that should be taken into consideration for next year’s crop plan. You can even take a picture through the combine windshield and attach it to your note to remind you of what it looked like.
A picture helps provide extra motivation next season to change something. These notes can be extremely valuable when discussing seed options, choosing diseases packages and considering seed treatments. They also add additional value to your yield maps.
Yield data is by far the best tool for making seed selections. Selecting the best seed product for each field is the number one factor in starting the season with the highest yield potential. An on-farm hybrid/variety trial will provide you with invaluable data that you can put straight to use in your operation.
The information behind every operation on your farm is your best tool to fighting the risk involved in each decision that you make to prepare for the following crop. This fall you can harvest more than your physical corn and soybean crops. Remember, harvest is prime time for spring planning!
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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds
From the Field Crop Reports: Sept. 20
Northeast Iowa & Southeast Minnesota
Craig Haaland
Here are two of our Double PRO numbers from southeastern Minnesota. With nice kernels and very consistent ear placement, both LH 4727 VT2 PRO RIB and LH 4955 VT2 PRO RIB both are looking good in the field.
Soybeans are starting to drop leaves, so harvest will be underway in a couple years.
Eastern Iowa
Jerry Broders
Harvest is coming on quickly! If you would like help calibrating your yield monitor for either corn or soybeans, my weigh wagon is available. This week’s featured product is L 2368 R2 FX. This super new 2.3 maturity Roundup 2 Xtend soybean has looked great in our plots. This soybean is loaded with pods and is standing great. Check with your local Latham® dealer to see if this variety fits your field.
North Central Iowa & South Central Minnesota
Cory Greiman
Here’s a bird’s eye view of Latham® corn SuperStrip plot near Garner on September 17.
West North Central Iowa
Bart Peterson
This field of LH 5215 VT2 PRO was planted May 29, 2017 at a population of 35,000 in Humboldt County.
Central Iowa
Bryan Rohe
An up close view of soybeans near Boone, IA. Harvest is near for this field!
Northwest Iowa
Darin Chapman
Farmers in Northwest Iowa are getting their combines ready for 2017 harvest! I can’t wait to see this LH 4727 VT2 go through the combine! Plus, Latham 2184 R2X soybeans are showing a lot of 4-bean pods.
Western Iowa & Eastern Nebraska
Larry Krapfl
Ear pinching results from severe stress during the 7 to 10 leaf collar stages (V7-10) may result in reduced numbers of kernel rows. The more stress from the summer dry spell, the more apparent the pinching. This is not hybrid specific as it is effecting several hybrids to the degree of stress the corn was put under.
Southern Wisconsin
Greg Mair
Harvest is officially underway on soybeans as I received my first harvest report yesterday. Latham’s L 1438 R2 yielded 75 bu/Acre at 14% moisture. With yield reports like this, you can’t help but get excited for #harvest17!
Latham products are set to finish the year strong in Wisconsin. While walking a Latham(R) Corn SuperStrip in Utica, I couldn’t help but notice the consistently large ear size on this LH 5245 VT2PRO. I am excited to see where yields come in this fall.
Another new product I am excited about this year is L 1845 R2X. In both locations, it has excellent standability with lots of pods on lateral branches. It appears to be a great defensive Soybean against White Mold.
Eastern North Dakota
Brian McNamee
It’s silage chopping season here in North Dakota. I’m happy to report that in some areas the yields are exceeding last year’s banner year! Fields under moderate to severe drought stress are showing rapid dry down and, as expected, poorer than average yields.
One thing to note: If your farm experienced early drought followed by average to above average rainfalls, there might be as much as a 3-week delay on maturity.
Pictured here are Latham customers in front of a field of LH 4532/RR LFY. Honestly, this picture doesn’t do justice for how good that crop really looks!
Southeast North Dakota
Gary Geske
One of our Latham® dealers is harvesting silage near Emeradro, ND this week!
Northeast South Dakota
James Keltgen
Silage chopping is in full swing! L5062LFY running 24-30 ton/acre in South Dakota. Have been some really goo 4th cuttings of hay as well. A few soybean fields off in drier regions 18-28 bu/acre.
Southeast South Dakota
Ramie Coughlin
Two hybrids, two fields, miles apart, both 22 rows around. The field of LH 4242 VT2 PRO RIB was planted near Arlington, SD, and the field of LH 5339 SS RIB is near Montrose, SD.
Northern Minnesota
Ken Highness
Yesterday we harvested the Latham Silage research plot near Emerado, North Dakota. Our leafy hybrids have twice as many leaves above the ear, which adds to tonnage. New genetics, with native drought and insect tolerance, allowed these plants to grow very tall and for high-yielding silage.
Southern Minnesota
Brandon Wendlandt
Here’s one cluster of 4-bean pods that I found on a plant of 2184 R2X in southern Minnesota! I’m really excited to start harvest!
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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds
From the Field Crop Report: Sept 13
Northeast Iowa & Southeast Minnesota
Craig Haaland
Crops are really changing, and harvest will soon be in full swing. These photos were taken in a very nice looking field of LH 5095 VT2 PRO in Floyd County, Iowa. Ears are filled out and ear placement is consistent. North Iowa has had a long streak of no rain and temperatures are going to be warm for the next 7 to 10 days.
Eastern Iowa
Jerry Broders
It’s beginning to look a lot like fall! Soybeans are turning and harvest will be here before we know it.
North Central Iowa & South Central Minnesota
Cory Greiman
Signs of fall are evident in this field of Latham brand L 1787 LL, which is turning in the Garner area.
Central Iowa
Bryan Rohe
Latham’s L 2084 RR2 turned last week near Bondurant, Iowa. Harvest will likely be underway here next week.
West North Central Iowa
Bart Peterson
Harvest is underway near Webster City, Iowa. On Sept. 8, 2.3 acres of L 1328 L was combined, yielding 64.8 bushels/acre and running 14.4% moisture. On Sept. 11, L 1328 L went 71.8 bu/A on better ground.
Northwest Iowa
Darin Chapman
We have been out walking fields looking for potential disease. These soybeans look pretty good, but in spots, it looks like cercospora leaf spot is a possibility. As the plants mature, infected leaves will turn from orange to bronze. Tillage and crop rotation effectively reduce the survival of fungi from season to season.
Western Iowa & Eastern Nebraska
Larry Krapfl
Southern Wisconsin
Greg Mair
The weather is heating up this week in Wisconsin and choppers are hitting the fields. Moistures have been between 63-73% whole-plant moisture, which is critical to achieving the most consistent fermentation and forage quality.
Latham LH 5495 3122 EZR is a key corn silage variety for Wisconsin. It is always a good day when you get to tell a grower that his corn silage yield is estimated at over 34.5 ton/acre.
Eastern North Dakota
Brian McNamee
It’s Big Iron time again in West Fargo. Stop by and see us in Booth 22 at the west end of Exhibit Hall.
Silage chopping and early soybean harvest will be starting to roll this week. I look forward to seeing all my customers in the field for what looks to be a better than expected yields.
Southeast North Dakota
Gary Geske
Latham 5042 RR/LFY silage corn looks awesome! The chopper will make its way soon to this field east of Sheldon, ND.
Northeast South Dakota
James Keltgen
A fair amount of Goss’s Wilt showing up in corn. LH 3877 VT2 PRO is handling it well. Warmer temps are helping corn to reach black layer.
Soybeans are very close to maturity. Yellow leaves are present everywhere and growers expect to be harvesting in about 2 weeks!
Southeast South Dakota
Ramie Coughlin
Latham(R) dealer Estelline Co-op hosted its annual fall field day on Monday. Growers got a chance to look at multiple brands and technologies side by side. Also in South Dakota, silage chopping season is underway. Timing is everything to harvest quality silage. I expect it to be in full swing next week.
Northern Minnesota
Ken Highness
Come see us Sept. 13-14 in Fargo at Big Iron, the largest farm show for agribusiness in the Upper Midwest. We are located in the Exhibit Hall building Booth 22.
Southern Minnesota
Brandon Wendlandt
We had a beautiful weather Monday night for a plot tour and customer appreciation event in Sanborn, Minnesota. Now is a great time walk corn and soybean plots before because soon everyone will be in the throes of harvest.
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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds
From the Field Crop Report: Sept. 6
Northeast Iowa & Southeast Minnesota
Craig Haaland
Found these nice, consistent ears and ear height in this field of Latham LH 5175 VT2 in Clayton County. This looks like a good yielding corn. Farmers are going to start chopping these next few days the way there talking.
Latham® Hi‑Tech Soybeans 2084 and L 2228 in this county are podded nicely and filled to the top.
Eastern Iowa
Jerry Broders
Latham L2887 R2X are looking great in Eastern Iowa! If you’re looking for a high yielding soybean with a super defensive package, look no further.
The sun is setting on another field day during the 2017 crop season. With harvest approaching, only a few field days remains. Come see what Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds has to offer for 2018 at Alexander on September 15. Tours begin at 9 AM and 1 PM. You can come early and stay for lunch or come for lunch and stay for the afternoon tour. Mike Pearson of Market to Market is our luncheon speaker, so make plans to join us next Friday!
North Central Iowa & South Central Minnesota
Cory Greiman
Although with Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) infects soybean plants right after germination and emergence, symptoms generally do not appear until mid- to late summer. Future management tactics include: reducing soil compaction; planting fields with a history of SDS towards the end of a planting schedule when soils may be warmer and drier; and testing for the presence of Soybean Cyst Nematodes. Planting tolerant varieties, or avoiding very susceptible varieties, is the most effective way to reduce losses from SDS.
Central Iowa
Bryan Rohe
Soybean harvest has begun in Prairie City, Iowa. These soybeans were planted April 11 and are running around 12.5 moisture.
West North Central Iowa
Bart Peterson
Latham® L2558L was planted May 12 in this SuperStrip plot near Steamboat Rock, Iowa. This photos shows a side-by-side comparison of soybean seed treated only with SoyShield (on right side) and those treated with Soyshield/ILevo (on left side). Notice how much greener the Soyshield/ILevo side is!
Northwest Iowa
Darin Chapman
Look at the kernel depth on this LH 4955 VT2 PRO! This is one of my favorite hybrids for Northwest Iowa, and I’m looking to seeing harvest results.
Western Iowa & Eastern Nebraska
Larry Krapfl
Pretty happy with this second cutting of new seeding Spring 2017. It’s been an extremely dry summer in the Loess Hills of Western Iowa but 455TQ is handling it well.
Southern Wisconsin
Greg Mair
The late-plated soybeans in Wisconsin are finally starting to fill the pods. This plant from a field of L 1845 R2X is one I randomly sampled last week in Watertown, Wisconsin. There are 103 pods on this plant with excellent lateral branching. Wet weather has white mold showing up in places we haven’t seen it before, so this would be a good variety to look at for selecting resistance in 2018.
Eastern North Dakota
Brian McNamee
2017 continues to be a real struggle for growers across my region. We have seen an extensive drought, causing failure of pre-emergence chemicals leading to expansion of resistant weeds into new areas. Then after a seemingly saving amount of rain we observed reduced pollination with poor grain fill. So now what? Well, no we’re seeing disease pressure. Goss’ Wilt is showing up in areas where we have never ever had symptoms before.
The disease went undetected for sometime and spread across the plant very rapidly. We’ll be noting where this disease is present, so we can change hybrid placement in the future. Because this is truly a new event in our area, there will be a bit of a learning as we go. Hopefully, this is the last of our hiccups before harvest!
Northeast South Dakota
James Keltgen
Some of the earlier corn is 30-40% milk line, nearing full maturation. Heavy dew and high humidity is creating disease pressure from rust, Northern Corn Leaf Blight and Goss’s Wilt. Soybeans are really starting to turn yellow as they are nearing maturity. Some areas in the drought will get better than expected yields thanks to some saving rains! Pictured below is John Latham, Myron Keltgen and Phil Long inspecting LH 5245 VT2 PRO. The soybean picture is L0982R2 on the left half and L1438R2 on the right half. L1438R2 showing a little white mold possibly from time of irrigation application. (Brown in center)
Southeast South Dakota
Ramie Coughlin
This field of Latham® 2228R2 near Beresford, South Dakota, was planted at 160,000 in 30-inch rows. It has lots of 4+ pods per node with 3-4 beans in each pod and is filled all the way to the top.
Northern Minnesota
Ken Highness
These pictures were taken last Tuesday in a field of corn near Beltrami, Minn. Samples were taken to NDSU for diagnostics and confirmed Goss’s Wilt. This corn disease was first confirmed in Minnesota 2009, and the first I have seen in my region North of Interstate 94. This disease can be managed by using resistant hybrids, rotating from corn production, using tillage that buries corn residue after harvest, and controlling grassy weeds. Latham has hybrids that are designated as “the boss on Goss,†so be sure to check those out for 2018 planting.
Southern Minnesota
Brandon Wendlandt
L 1787 L are looking great in the late season! Now is a good time to evaluate your weed control program. Maybe Liberty will be a fit. Go ahead and call Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, and I’d be happy to talk with you about your needs.
