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Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Unleash the “Madness” for Your Fields: Top Latham® Picks for 2024
Just like the excitement of March Madness grips basketball fans, spring brings a different kind of competition for farmers: the quest for maximum yield. But assembling a winning lineup for your field isn’t a matter of a lucky draft pick. It requires a strategic approach, and that’s where Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds steps in.

Think of Latham’s R&D team as your expert recruiters, meticulously scouting and selecting the top-performing corn and soybean varieties for the Upper Midwest.

Here’s a glimpse into Latham’s “bracketology” of seed picks for 2024:

Starting Five for Latham Corn:
1. 3937 VT Double PRO: The Point Guard. This early-maturing superstar gets your season off to a fast break. It is adaptive to all soil types and emerges quickly and strongly, setting the stage for a productive campaign.
2. 4937 VT Double PRO: The Fan Favorite. Team Latham’s biggest seller the last couple of years, this hybrid has fast dry down and top-end yields. It’s a farm favorite in the north, delivering a winning shot even when the competition wilts.
3. 4866 Tricepta®: The Power Forward. The high-yielding hybrid plays a critical role. With excellent standability and a multi-year track record, it’s ready to dominate even the most challenging fields.
4. 5336 PowerCore®: The Quiet Leader. Exceptional disease ratings, impressive girth and high test-weight for this hybrid keeps the competition off guard to maximize harvest potential.
5. 5815 VT Double PRO: The Clutch Performer. Known for its outstanding root strength, this beast stands tall even under harsh weather conditions — making it a reliable champion that delivers when the pressure’s on.
Starting Five — Soybeans:
- 0254 XtendFlex®: The MVP (Most Valuable Pod): One of the tallest in the market, this variety keeps the first pod higher off the ground, giving it champion rights against yield-robbing pathogens. Coupled with impressive IDC tolerance, it’s a must-have player in Team Latham’s portfolio.
- 0888 XtendFlex: The Defensive Stopper. This showoff has excellent standability with good lateral branching, ensuring a harvest victory with consistent performance all season long.
- 1881 Enlist E3®: The “And-One” Producer. It may be new to the lineup this year, but this Peking source SCN came to play. A new Ironclad® designation for the highest disease resistance makes it a high scorer across all soil types.
- 2031 Enlist E3: The Fast Stealer: Another Peking source SCN, this variety flies out of the ground and moves easily north or south of zone. Its standability and solid IDC and SDS tolerances make it a high-yielding game changer.
- 2551 Enlist E3: The “Moneyball” Choice. Latham coaches call this variety a “yield hog” that blew the doors off test trials last year. It’s a newly-crowned Ironclad® variety that’s itching to perform – and won’t disappoint.
Beyond the Picks: Latham’s Coaching Advantage

These are just a few of Latham’s all-star selections. Just like a strong coaching staff, the Latham Product Team is here to help you choose the perfect products for your specific field conditions and goals. They’ll guide you through Latham’s deep bench of options, ensuring you have the right variety for every position on your farm.

Don’t settle for a mediocre “free agent” seed. Recruit Latham’s championship-caliber lineup and experience the satisfaction of a winning harvest. Let’s assemble your perfect plays for ultimate yield success! Learn more.
steve-sick

April 3, 2024

Corn, Crop, General, Soybeans, Tech Tuesday
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Look back to see what’s new:

As we put 2023 on the shelf, there are several things we can reflect on to make 2024 more profitable. Two key factors helped shaped surprisingly good yields across Latham Country in 2023. First, nights were cooler than the year before, and the corn plant had a reprieve from the intense heat and drought. Second, genetics and plant characteristics have “migrated” north as the growing season has changed year over year.

Let’s take a closer look at how genetics and plant characteristics have changed and what Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds is doing to address these changes. Southern genetics have always been able to tolerate drought and heat better than their counterparts in the north. As the growing season extends throughout the years, southern genetics are being bred into northern germplasm which results in “tougher” products being brought north. Latham’s Research and Development program tests products south and north of their area of adaptation to fully vet these new genetics. The added spend is well worth the investment for Latham customers as we gain first-hand experience with these products across multiple environments.

Along with the shift in genetics and maturities, Latham is seeing a shift in technologies. We are seeing a shift in corn rootworm technology with the launch of VT4PRO^™ with RNAi Technology. This technology brings three above-ground modes of action and two below-ground modes of action, including RNAi Technology. RNAi technology offers a specific mode of action which attacks the gut of the rootworm differently than all other modes of action. This technology is also featured in SmartStax^® PRO with RNAi Technology. If rootworm protection is not in your plans, Latham hybrids featuring PowerCore^® Enlist^® are taking the market by storm. The Enlist^® corn trait allows for the ultimate weed management flexibility with tolerance to glyphosate, glufosinate, 2,4-D choline, and FOP herbicides in corn. Enlist® herbicides stay on target and have lower volatility than both dicamba and traditional 2,4-D formulations. Use Enlist herbicides to control late season emerged broadleaf weeds such as waterhemp and Palmer amaranth. PowerCore® trait technology brings long-lasting insect control against key above-ground susceptible insects.

Latham Seeds offers a full portfolio of the latest traits and technologies, but we know it all comes down to yield. Here is a small sample of what you can expect from Latham’s corn portfolio.

LH 3775 VT2 PRO RIB, 87 RM:

+ 4 bu over DKC41-55 across 18 locations

+9.3 bu over P9193AM across 13 locations

LH 4438 SS PRO RIB, 94 RM:

+ 1.5 bu over DKC45-65 across 12 locations

LH 4866 TREC RIB, 98 RM:

+17.9 bu over DKC47-85RIB across 10 locations

+17.9 bu over P9624AM across 23 locations

LH 5336 PCE RIB, 103 RM:

+11.2 bu over P0421AM across 26 locations

+5.9 bu over DKC55-54 DG VT2P across 26 locations

LH 5815 VT2 PRO RIB, 108 RM:

+10.8 bu over P0622Q across 10 locations

LH 6306 PCE RIB, 113 RM:

+1.1 bu over DKC64-34 across 8 locations

+9.9 bu over P1197AM across 15 locations

LH 6445 VT2 PRO RIB, 114 RM:

+6.9 bu over DKC64-34 across 7 locations

+13 bu over P1197AM across 7 locations

Contact your local Latham representative to find out more information about these and other top-performing Latham corn hybrids or call 1.877.GO.LATHAM.

steve-sick

January 11, 2024

Agronomics, Corn, Crop, General, Tech Tuesday
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Tips for Choosing the Hybrid Maturity
As farmers make their final seed purchasing decisions, some may wonder if the hybrids they selected in early fall are still the right ones today. The Latham Team will gladly help put your mind at ease.

Let’s begin by reviewing a few product selection basics. Most selection decisions begin with relative maturity (RM). These ratings are relative to physiological maturity and largely driven by a combination of growing degree days (GDDs) and planting date. When building a plan for the upcoming growing season, identify the GDD range and average required for a hybrid to reach physiological maturity (black layer) in your geography.

Planting multiple hybrids of varying maturity will reduce risk in three main areas:
1. Agronomics (emergence, stalk strength, disease tolerance)
2. Harvest management (harvest moisture)
3. Genetic diversity (yield, drought tolerance)
About 60 to 70% of a farmer’s portfolio traditionally is focused on the core RM zone (i.e. 100-day RM) with 10 to 20% focused on earlier RM and the remainder on later RM. Remember, there is typically more yield variability within a given RM group. Spreading risk across a wider maturity range is especially important given the moisture limitations across the Upper Midwest.

Grain moisture at harvest also increases steadily with increasing relative maturity. On average, grain moisture at physiological maturity increases by 0.25 to 0.5% with each one-day increase in relative maturity. Selecting hybrids of appropriate maturity is important for a balance between yield potential and managing grain moisture at harvest, which ultimately grows more corn.

The Latham Team is here to help you feel confident about your seed decisions. After harvest each year, we share results from our own research. We hire third-party companies to plant and harvest Latham Elite trials, so our Product Team members can observe products and take notes at a greater number of locations. As a result, we have recently tripled the number of trials conducted on both corn and soybean products in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin, North Dakota and South Dakota!

Once we identify experimental products from the Elite Trials that meet Latham Seeds’ standards AND fulfill our customers’ needs, we release them for sale. Check out multiple years and multiple locations of Latham® performance at LathamSeeds.com.

Yield pays. Latham delivers on that promise, just as we have for more than 75 years. Feel free to contact your local Latham Seeds representative or call 877-GO-LATHAM (877) 921-3428.
steve-sick

December 14, 2023

Agronomics, Corn, Crop, Data, Fall, General, Growth Stages, Season, Soybeans, Tech Tuesday
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Tips for Analyzing Harvest Data
As harvest season ends, it’s time to think about which products to plant on your farm next year. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by seed company data. To help, I’ve put two of the most important numbers at the bottom of the page: CV and LSD. Let’s take a deep dive into each number.

What is the Co-efficient of Variation (CV)?

The co-efficient of variation (CV) is a statistical measure of the dispersion of data points in a data series around the mean. The statistical mean is the mathematical average, which is calculated by adding up all the values in a data set and then dividing by the number of data points.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The co-efficient of variation (CV) is a statistical measure of the relative dispersion of data points in a data series around the mean.
- The CV is useful for comparing the degree of variation from one data series to another, even if the means are drastically different from one another.
- The lower the ratio of the standard deviation to mean return, the better risk-return tradeoff.
CV SUMMARY

The co-efficient of variation shows the extent of variability of data in a sample in relation to the mean of the test or trial. The lower the CV, the more value the trial or data set you’re looking at has. Paying attention to the CV is very important this year due to the variability we experienced during the growing season. Use caution with data CVs between 15 and 19, and do not use data with CVs higher than 20.

What is the Least Significant Difference (LSD)?

When studying yield data from universities, seed companies or third-party sources, always look for the Least Significant Difference (LSD value) at the bottom of the data set or table. The LSD value measures variability in a test that might be caused by soil types, population density variations, micro-environment or experimental errors.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
- To be considered significant, the yields of any two hybrids or varieties must be greater than the LSD value. This is to make sure the differences are real and not caused by chance or soil variability.
- Uniform tests have smaller LSD values and are more reliable. Agronomists and researchers try to limit variabilities by seeking uniform ground to conduct their tests. The differences of 10 bushels in high-yielding corn test plots are generally not significant and are within the LSD value, so it is a mistake to make a big deal when a hybrid tops one test plot.
- LSD values in the university tests are generally reported at (0.1) or 10% level. It means that there is a 90% chance that any one of the hybrids or varieties within the LSD value for the test could be on the top. Some test plot data are now being reported with LSD at (0.25) or 75% level, perhaps to be more inclusive.
Everyone likes to be on the top for “bragging” rights, but a hybrid on top in one test may be in the middle in the next test. Rather than focusing on hybrids that top a plot, look for the hybrids that are consistently in the top tier in different plots across several locations.

LSD SUMMARY

It’s human nature for our eyes to gravitate to the top of a trial and assume the top product is what to plant on the farm next year. It’s not uncommon for almost half of a 20-entry trial to be within the LSD.

To help determine which products might perform best given your soil types, management practices and other factors, consult your local Latham® representative. We’re here to help guide you through the fall data rush.
steve-sick

November 1, 2023

Data, Fall, Season, Tech Tuesday
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Multiplex Gene Editing: How It’s Transforming the Future of Farming
At a time when the world’s population is increasing, cropland is decreasing and climates are changing, it’s more important than ever to equip farmers with new technology and tools to take the guesswork out of planting decisions. One such tool is multiplex gene editing, which quickly adjusts a plant’s DNA to improve its resiliency and to use fewer natural resources like land and water.

Multiplex gene editing turns up the volume on regular gene editing by implementing multiple types of edits to plant genomes. For example, vegetables such as broccoli, brussels sprouts and kale all started from different parts of the same wild mustard plant — but didn’t fully develop into their own varieties until breeders chose to amplify certain traits. Today’s corn is no different, having been bred from a plant that looks nothing like corn looks to us now.

Farmers recognize benefits from multiplex gene editing more quickly because no government agencies are involved. Additional benefits include:
- More uniform seed size, which increases planting efficiency.
- Increased water utilization.
- Changing the leaf shape, which allows for better light interception and photosynthesis to improve yields.
With a high-performing lineup designed specifically for your field, Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds is well-positioned to increase yields — year after year.

Contact Latham’s product team or your RSM/DSM for more details on multiplex gene editing and other pioneering advancements that we’re working on for your future!
steve-sick

October 12, 2023

Agronomics, Corn, Crop, General, Industry News, Seed Technology, Soybeans, Tech Tuesday
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Prepare Now for Increased Production in 2024
There’s more to fall than getting the combine ready. To ensure healthy, productive soils next year, think about doing these three things now:
1. Review your field data
2. Correct compaction
3. Add a cover crop
Whether your fields produce bumper crops or have lower-than-average yields, take the time after harvest to assess soil fertility levels, replenish depleted nutrients, determine reasons for high- and low-yielding areas and evaluate overall soil health. Doing this can help give your crops a head start for next season.

Soil samples and yield maps can predict the future

Begin next season’s preparations by pulling post-harvest soil samples and assessing this season’s yield maps. Soil samples will identify any phosphorus or potassium deficiencies, while yield maps will show the amount of nutrients removed from the soil by this year’s crops. This information will help you determine crop nutrient amounts for next season, based on actual numbers rather than estimates.

If post-harvest conditions allow, farmers can make partial (or base) nitrogen applications in the fall. Then test soil nitrate levels in the spring to determine the additional amount needed to meet next season’s crop performance goals. This ensures that nitrogen will be available in the soil at planting, as well as throughout the remainder of the growing season. If weather delays spring applications, this nitrogen management strategy provides you with more time to assess fertility needs based on early-season crop and soil conditions.

Consider fall nitrogen applications with a stabilizer

If you can make a fall nitrogen application, consider the effects of soil texture, soil moisture levels and soil temperature to avoid leaching and denitrification issues. Fall nitrogen applications should not be made until your soil cools to 50 degrees Fahrenheit or lower, when soil bacteria begin to go dormant. Fall-applied nitrogen must be used with a stabilizer to prevent it from converting into a mobile nitrate form that can move off-target and run off into nearby waterways. If manure is part of your nitrogen strategy, consider also using a stabilizer.

Ease spring workloads with simple steps

If your fall soil samples identify phosphorus (P) or potassium (K) deficiencies, you can apply these nutrients any time after harvest. To ease spring workloads, broadcast applications may be made in the fall and incorporated into the soil. If a spring application works better, P and K can also be applied prior to planting.

Another important issue to assess in the fall is soil compaction. Before doing any fall tillage, check compaction depth to help you determine the proper tillage tool to use. Accurate tillage depth and the tillage speed will loosen soil and prepare it for next season.
steve-sick

September 21, 2023

Agronomics, Corn, Crop, General, Soil, Soybeans, Tech Tuesday
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Late Summer Can Lead to Better Harvest Decisions
Steve Sick, Latham Product Manager

Taking field notes on what you observe in late August and early September can provide valuable information as you move into harvest, as well as confirm or reprioritize agronomic goals for next year.

Notes I take this time of year generally answer these questions:
- What diseases are the most prevalent?
- Which areas of the field exhibit poor growth or yield potential?
- Should I conduct a pre-harvest yield estimate?
Late-Season Scouting Suggestions

Evaluate areas of poor crop growth and potential yield. There can be multiple reasons why a crop didn’t grow well in portions of a field or yield estimates are low in some spots.

To help determine if soil fertility and health is the cause, try these steps:
- Mark on a map or GPS reference the location, so you can take directed soil samples after harvest.
- Pull paired samples. Take one composite soil sample in the poor growth area and then take another composite sample in an area of good growth nearby in the same field. (Soil sample bags are available from many sources and easily available through your local university or co-op.)
- Use yield maps. These are another great data layer to compare and contrast what you observed during scouting in late August.
Think About Pest Management While Scouting

Observe the severity and distribution of diseases, insects, and weeds in a field to help make future adjustments to pest management plans.

For example, Goss’s Wilt and bacterial leaf streak are two bacterial diseases found this year in cornfields with no previous history. Tar spot is also a new disease that carries over in residue the following year. Hybrid selection for improved tolerance or resistance to these bacterial diseases maybe something to talk about with your seed dealer this fall.

Some hail and wind-damaged fields now have a late-season weed flush in portion that might warrant a more aggressive herbicide program next year.

Scouting Now Can Help Predict Yield Potential

The most compelling reason to scout fields in late summer is to estimate yield potential. There are differing techniques on estimating corn yield in terms of how to sample and the number of ears to pull. I suggest using information from satellite or drone images to direct sampling across the variability that exists in all fields.

Another word of caution is with the seed size factor used to calculate kernels/bushel with the extremely dry grain fill period we have experienced in parts of Latham Country. For dry areas, that number may need to be much larger than normal.

Scouting late in the growing season is almost always hot, itchy, sweaty, wet and uncomfortable! However, the insights gained with field observations — when paired with knowledge of the growing season — can help tweak management decisions going forward. This will ultimately lead to more productive growing seasons in the future.

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steve-sick

August 30, 2023

Corn, Crop, Fall, General, Growth Stages, Soybeans, Summer, Tech Tuesday
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

To Spray or Not to Spray…Here Are the Answers
By now you should be scouting your fields weekly for signs of disease. Other factors to consider when deciding whether to spray a fungicide include:
- Anticipated environmental conditions. Environment plays a significant role in disease development. Hot, humid weather favors gray leaf spot. Wet, warm (64 to 81°F) conditions favor infection and spore production by the fungus that causes northern leaf blight. Dry weather halts the development of most fungal diseases.
- Planting date. Infection at earlier growth stages will have a greater impact on yield. We usually see gray leaf spot starting on the lower leaves around the end of July and beginning of August. This year corn has been planted at essentially three planting dates. It is possible that the later planted corn (mid-May) will be at a greater risk for yield loss from foliar disease.
- Corn-following-corn fields. Many foliar disease pathogens survive winters in crop residue. Infested residue on the soil surface significantly increases the risk and development of tar spot, gray leaf spot, northern leaf blight and eyespot.
- Fungicide activity. Most fungicides are effective against disease for 14 to 21 days. Corn takes approximately 60 days from silking to physiological maturity, depending on the hybrid. Therefore, spraying a fungicide too early could negate any beneficial effect against disease development that occurs during grain fill.
- Plant health. In the absence of disease, fungicides might only increase yields by five to six bushels per acre. This barely covers the cost of the fungicide plus application.
- Stalk rots. Foliar fungicides will have no direct effect on stalk rots. The fungi that cause stalk rots systemically infect the corn plant, and available fungicides are not systemic enough to be effective against stalk rot pathogens. However, foliar disease severity is highly correlated with stalk rot prevalence. Leaf spot diseases reduce the area of photosynthetic tissue and increase susceptibility to stalk rot. Therefore, fungicide applications may indirectly reduce stalk rots by managing foliar disease and reducing plant stress.
- Tar Spot. Currently, there are multiple fungicides from multiple companies that work to help control tar spot in corn. However, fungicide efficacy is often largely controlled by fungicide timing. In most instances, a fungicide application between the VT growth stage (tassel emergence) and R2 growth stage (blister) is most effective for controlling tar spot. Furthermore, a mixed-mode-of-action fungicide product is often more effective than a single-mode-of-action product. In severe tar spot situations, two fungicide applications may be required. However, this is often dictated by history of severe disease and conducive environmental conditions in a field.
All these points reiterate the importance of tracking disease and continually scouting your field.

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steve-sick

July 20, 2023

Agronomics, Corn, Crop, Disease, Fungicide, Growth Stages, Tech Tuesday
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Do Fungicide Applications Increase Yields? Scout Your Field Before You Decide.

There is considerable interest across the Corn Belt in applying fungicides to field corn. When corn prices were down below $2 a bushel in the past, it was easy to say “no” to fungicide. This growing season, the high price of corn and rising disease risk due to increased corn-after-corn acreage has many farmers considering fungicide applications to increase yields.

Before applying a fungicide to corn this season, it would be smart to know the resistance to foliar disease of the hybrid being grown. The most common foliar diseases are tar spot, common rust, gray leaf spot and northern corn leaf blight. Back in the mid-1990s, research demonstrated a single application of fungicide could be profitable; however, profitability was strongly influenced by gray leaf spot susceptibility. In other words, the chance of increased yield and making a profit was only likely for highly-susceptible hybrids. On intermediate and moderately-resistant hybrids, any yield benefit would not cover the costs of the fungicide application.

Many foliar diseases start on the bottom leaves of a corn plant and gradually move up the plant, depending on environmental conditions. Scouting the field can give us a very good indication of disease pressure in that field.

The best time to start scouting is now through tasseling. Look for disease development on the lower leaves of the corn plant up to, and including, the ear leaf. Remember: The ear leaf and leaves above that contribute 75 to 90 percent of the carbohydrates to grain fill. These are the leaves needed for protection. If disease is not present on the leaves below the ear leaf, a fungicide application may not be warranted. Continue scouting on a weekly basis.

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steve-sick

July 13, 2023

Agronomics, Corn, Crop, Tech Tuesday
Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds

Early Scouting For Tar Spot
Identifying tar spot can be a challenge, especially in its early stages. The timing of its arrival, along with recent hot, wet and humid weather that promotes the diseases spread, can increase potential damage from tar spot.

Where to start:
- Scout fields where the disease has occurred before and fields where neighboring fields had tar spot.
  - Inoculum overwinters in corn residue and can survive extreme temperatures. Spores are dispersed via wind and rain splash.
- Scout susceptible areas in cornfields where tar spot is more likely to be present.
  - This includes areas where leaves may stay wet longer due to early morning fog, such as river bottoms, low-lying areas and near windbreaks. Check field edges as well.
- Go low
  - Start by checking leaves in the lower part of the canopy and work up. Look for small, raised, irregular-shaped black spots (1/16-3/4 inch) on the top-side of lower leaves.
- Confirm tar spot
  - Tar spots are firm, mostly smooth, and do not rub off or break open.
  - Not all black spots are tar spot. Turn over the leaf and see if the spot is visible from the underside of the leaf. If it is, it’s more than likely tar-spot.
Tar spot has a 14-day incubation period between infection and symptoms so it’s difficult to spot and know when to spray.

If you or a neighbor had tar spot in the past, scout and spray early with a systemic insecticide and keep scouting in case another application is required.

The best management practice is to select tar spot tolerant hybrids from Latham Hi‑Tech Hybrids. Contact your local RSM to see what hybrids are best in your area.

Did you enjoy this article? We want to (TECH)talk with you! Sign up for our newsletter to receive agronomy videos (and delicious recipes) in your inbox! We’ll TALK soon.
steve-sick

June 22, 2023

Agronomics, Corn, Crop, Disease, Tech Tuesday