Fall 2018 Advantage Newsletter

ADVANTAGE

NEWSLETTER

FALL 2018

HARVEST IS HERE!

UPCOMING EVENTS: NDAA NORTHERN AG EXPO

November 27-28, 2018 ....................... Fargo, ND

Tim Bratland, Legend Seeds President

Harvest is an exciting time of year at Legend Seeds. Great things are happening at Legend as we’ve recently transitioned from a family-owned to an employee-owned company to ensure that our values and mission remain in place and to better serve you with more passion and personalized service into the future.

We’ve been hearing excellent reports across the countryside from dealers and growers on our product performance.

This fall, we have launched a plot data page on our website so you can search by the map, a specific location, or crop type to view product performance in your area. This year we have also introduced more than 100 new products including nine new LibertyLink® GT27™ varieties, new Masters Choice traited, conventional and organic products in to our silage lineup, and Munson hybrids. We have a laser focus on providing you the best possible options, trait packages and genetics to meet your needs.

This fall also marks the launch of our annual 2018 Yield Advantage Club, a program focused around celebrating your outstanding yields and successes this fall. Included in this newsletter you will find our Yield Advantage Club information and testimonial form. As a token of our appreciation for your participation, you will receive a custom cap and personalized plaque following the program conclusion.

Our goal as always is to be the #1 choice for your acre and we remain dedicated toward providing superior products backed by personalized customer service to ensure we meet that goal.

As you are harvesting this fall, don’t forget to send and share your harvest photos with us by emailing marketing@legendseeds.net or by simply tagging us on Facebook or using the hashtag #LegendaryYields.

Have a safe harvest everyone!

Tim

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SD AG OUTLOOK

December 5-6, 2018 ................... Sioux Falls, SD

SUNFLOWER UNIVERSITY

December 11, 2018 ....................... Bismarck, ND

SUNFLOWER UNIVERSITY

December 13, 2018 .............................. Pierre, SD

INTRODUCING…

LEGEND SEEDS PLOT DATA PAGE

Want to stay up-to-date on harvest reports from Legend plots in your area?

Visit www.legendseeds.net/plotdata to locate plots nearest you OR email Marketing@legendseeds.net to sign up to receive harvest updates throughout the fall!

WHAT’S INSIDE: PG 2: Corn Stalk Lodging &

Corn Harvest Tests PG 3: Yield Advantage Club PG 4-5: Farm Show Recap

AGRONOMY UPDATE:

CORN STALK LODGING & CORN HARVEST TESTS By: Dale Viktora, Legend Sales Agronomy Manager Jeff Sorenson, Legend Sales Agronomist

Split Test

Push Test

As harvest is upon us, it’s important to start determining your order of fields for harvest. This is determined by two key factors: plant health and moisture percentages. The combination of the two sets of information will help you plan a harvest order for your operation.

This growing season has given many challenges due to all the moisture that has been received in many areas this year. With above normal precipitation and ample heat accumulation it was a perfect scenario for many diseases in the corn crop this year. Unfortunately, the diseases are negatively affecting the standability of the corn crop. That is why assessing the stalk strength of each field is so important this year. Many years, the harvest schedule is by maturity (early maturity to late maturity). This is not the case this season. The harvest schedule will vary depending on each field’s stalk strength. Below are a few tests you can perform on your operation to give you the best harvest schedule for this season.

Plant Health:

Pinch Test

To properly assess your risk for stalk lodging, we encourage you to check your fields for stalk strength. There are three very simple ways to do this: Split test, Push Test, and Pinch Test.

• Split Test: The most accurate way to determine stalk rot issues is to cut a stalk open and look for discoloration or shredded pith in the stalk. Be sure to split stalks, especially below the soil line into the root zone to check for crown rot or discoloration.

• Push Test: Place your hand above the ear and push the corn stalk into the next row until the top of the plant touches the neighboring corn row (about a 45-degree angle). As you

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release the plant, some will spring back to an upright position and others will be lodged over. If 10-15 percent or more of the plants are weak, that means that field is at risk for lodging and should be harvested early.

• Pinch Test: Pinch the stalk between your fingers six to twelve inches above the ground. Weak stalks will feel hollow and easily collapse. Strong stalks will be very hard to pinch. Stalks that are easily compressed are at risk of lodging and fields with 10-15 percent or more soft stalks should be targeted for early harvest.

Moisture: As with most things, optimal harvest moisture percentage is a matter of opinion and personal preference. Most farmers begin harvesting when their corn is below 20-25% moisture. As the corn plant continues to dry down closer to 15%, the yield loss from the header or dropped ears becomes greater and greater – arguably more than the cost of drying. To test the moisture of your corn, collect a sample and use a home moisture tester. Confirm that your tester is properly calibrated by comparing to your local elevator. Legend Seeds Sales Agronomists use a DICKEY-john, mini GAC plus®.

Each year brings new weather, new challenges and different harvest circumstances. Utilize a combination of the information collected from the stalk strength tests and moisture percentage to determine your harvest order this year. Prioritize the fields with the unhealthy stalks over the fields with healthy stalks. Even if those fields with unhealthy stalks are carrying higher kernel moisture it pays to go after them first.

YIELD ADVANTAGE CLUB Name: ___________________________________________

As combines are rolling, we want to hear how our products did on your acres. Claim your bragging rights this fall by filling out this form and telling us how you experienced the Legend Advantage on your acres. We’ll send you a cap and commemorative personal plaque recognizing your outstanding yields!

Phone: __________________________________________ Email: ___________________________________________ Address: _________________________________________ City: _______________________ ST: _____ ZIP: _________

ELIGIBILITY:

Legend Dealer/Rep Name: _________________________

• Must be a Legend Seeds variety to be eligible.

• A grower may submit more than one entry per crop as long as the entries are from different fields.

ENTRY #1

Legend Variety Planted _____________________________

• A grower with more than one entry will be eligible for one hat and personalized plaque.

Yield __________________ Field Size _________________

• Must allow Legend Seeds to use your Yield Advantage Club submission as a testimonial in Legend Seeds marketing materials.

Was this compared to another brand? Y or N Was this a side by side comparison? Y or N

• Entries must be submitted by December 15, 2018.

Other Planted _____________________________________

THREE EASY WAYS TO JOIN THE CLUB: 1 MAIL

Yield __________________ Field Size _________________ Were these yields above average for your area? Y or N

Simply complete the form attached and mail to: Legend Seeds, Attn: Amy B. Pederson P.O. Box 241 • De Smet, SD 57231

A testimonial about your Legend Advantage Experience: _________________________________________________

2 EMAIL

_________________________________________________ _________________________________________________

Scan and email your completed entry form to: contest@legendseeds.net

_________________________________________________

3 ENTER ONLINE

_________________________________________________ _________________________________________________

Save a stamp and enter online at: legendseeds.net/yieldclub

_________________________________________________ _________________________________________________

GIVING BACK:

_________________________________________________

oming from a small town ourselves, we understand how important C giving back to the community is! All growers who enter will be put into a drawing for a donation to be given in their name to the charity or organization of their choice. (Ex: Local FFA Chapter or 4-H Club) A $300 donation will be awarded to two Yield Advantage Club members in each state within our seven state footprint (SD, ND, MN, NE, IA, WI, MI).

_________________________________________________ By submitting this entry, you agree to give permission to Legend Seeds for use of your testimonial in their marketing materials.

(signature)

(date)

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2018

SUMMER FARM SHOWS RECAP WISCONSIN TECH DAYS JULY 10-12, 2018 • MARSHFIELD, WI

FARMFEST

AUGUST 7-9, 2018 • MORTON,

DAKOTAFEST

AUGUST 21-23, 2018 • MITCHELL, SD

SD STATE FAIR

AUGUST 30 – SEPT 3, 2018 • H

BIG IRON FARM SHOW SEPT 11-13, 2018 • WEST FARGO, ND

Like & Follow us on Facebook @LegendSeeds or visit us at LegendSeeds.net to stay up to date with upcoming events 4

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As we move in to fall, we are reflecting back and are excited to share with you highlights from our summer spent at our Big Five Farm Shows! Thank you to those of you who stopped and visited our booths, toured our plots or participated in our social media contest or cooler giveaway! If you have not yet seen our photos from the farm shows, visit our Legend Seeds Facebook page albums to view photos from the “I’m Proud to Be” or “When I Grow Up” social media campaigns!

LEGEND YIELD ADVANTAGE CLUB T he Legend Yield Advantage Club (YAC) was created to recognize and celebrate growers who have experienced the Legend Advantage on their farm by producing high yields that exceeded their expectations with their Legend Seeds products and services. Become a member of the club when you plant Legend Seeds and tell us about your legendary experience. In return, we’ll send you a cap and personalized plaque recognizing your success!

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# OF PHOTO CAMPAIGN PARTICIPANTS

, MN

Check out some of last year’s YAC member testimonials below and visit us online at legendseeds.net/yieldclub or see back to learn how you can get your cap and and personalized plaque!

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2017 YAC HIGHLIGHTS

# OF LEGEND SEED T-SHIRTS DISTRIBUTED

“This is our first year planting LibertyLink® soybeans and we were very happy with the performance and clean fields.”

ALLAN ZOELLNER - GROTON, SD LS 1230 LLN - 60 bpa

“In my 70+ years of farming, I’ve never had a yield even close to this!”

HURON, SD

IC CLOTHES

GORDY MUELLER - ROBERTS, WI LS 14R22N - 87 bpa

1K+

“I planted less corn acres than last year, but still needed more bin space!”

JUSTIN WINCH - WINNEBAGO, MN LR 9600 VT2PRIB - 250 bpa

SOCIAL MEDIA REACTIONS, COMMENTS, SHARES

“I have had 247 bushels before on the lower part of this field in a strip for our county yield contest but never had the whole field average 247!”

DARWIN NIEHAUS - GREENE, IA LR 9608 GENSSRIB - 247 bpa

“Will definitely be planting all Legend Seeds from now on. Very impressed with pollination, the FULL ears, and standability.”

Legend will be at in your area!

KEITH ROHDE - NORFOLK, NE LR 9405 GENSSRIB - 199 bpa

1K

“You could tell in the combine when we got to the LR 9495. It was good on both the heavy and light portions of the field. It was easy to harvest as well.”

BOOTH ENGAGEMENTS

JAMES & JOHN SCHULZ - UNIONVILLE, MI LR 9495 RR - 210 bpa

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MARK YOUR CALENDARS

2018 SUNFLOWER BISMARCK, ND

OR

THURSDAY

TUESDAY

UNIVERSITY DEC. 11 DEC. 13 PIERRE, SD

Reserve your spot at the 2018 Sunflower U, hosted by Nuseed and Legend Seeds.

Learn the latest in sunflower agronomics and marketing from industry experts during the full day program. RSVP now and start preparing for sunflower success in 2019!

REGISTER TODAY ONLINE AT

legendseeds.net/nuseed-sunflower-u

PO Box 241 De Smet, SD 57231