vol. 39
August 2015
The Seed Consultant
A B I - M O N T H LY N E W S L E T T E R N E W S A N D V I E W S F R O M T H E F I E L D
Taking Advantage of Field Days and Plot Tours Every year seed companies showcase their best and newest corn hybrids and soybean varieties in demonstration plots to exhibit their products and invite the area farmers to observe them. They also bring their Agronomists to these events to talk not only about the products but also about diseases, insects and how to protect your crops. There are very few products we use where we get a preview of what’s coming down the pipe in our own environments before buying the seed for the following year. However, some farmers are reluctant to visit these plots because they think they will be pressured into buying seed. In my opinion, it’s a great opportunity to get to know the area Seed Reps and Agronomists and ask them questions. Following are some other reasons to go to field days. continued on page 2
Seed Consultants, Inc. 800-708-2676 www.seedconsultants.com
Simply, the Best Value in the Seed IndustryTM
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SCI ANNOUNCES MEETINGS AND FIELD DAYS Learn growing tips and see new varieties
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COMPACTION ISSUES Rain has taken its toll on soil this year
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2015 WHEAT PROFITABILITY Picking the best varieties from this year’s offering.
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2016 SCI CUSTOMER TRIP Join us in Costa Rica
Taking Advantage...
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Twenty years ago, the life of a corn hybrid was more than 7 to 8 years. Now the pace of new hybrid introductions and their trait combinations has become so fast that most hybrids are replaced before they are 3 years old. The competition among the seed companies is intense and many new hybrid combinations are being introduced every year. How can you keep up with new corn hybrids, and soybeans and wheat varieties? One of the best ways is to attend seed company field days in your area for the following reasons: • Seed companies plant hybrid and variety demonstration plots that include the current hybrids along with newer products which will be available for planting next year. You can compare them in the same plots growing side by side. • Compare plant or ear height and check out if they are too short or too tall for your operation and how they compare with what you are currently planting. Are leaves upright or floppy and more conventional type? Would they be suitable for narrow rows or higher populations? • These plots are generally for display and observations. So feel free to “kick the tires” and check the stalk strength and brace roots. Push and pinch the stalks. • Check out the diseases and insect tolerance prevalent in the area and ask questions. Ask the Agronomist, if present, about the foliar fungicides and when they may be used effectively. Northern Corn Leaf Blight and Gray Leaf Spot were rampant last year and there was so much inoculum created that I expect those pathogens to show their ugly heads again if the environment is conducive for their growth. In some areas these diseases are already showing up. What are the economic thresholds for using fungicides and insecticides? • Peel the husks back. Count the kernel rows and number of kernels per row and try to estimate yield potential based on plant population in that field. • Field Days are a great place to get together with your neighbors to chat and discuss what is working for them. Field days are a great place to sit down, relax, ask questions and exchange ideas. Check with your Seed Rep for the location and date for his/her Field Day and make sure to attend at least one every year.
SCI Announces Meetings & Field Days As fall approaches, Seed Consultants will host kickoff meetings and field days throughout the company’s sales territory. With changing seed treatment options, trait offerings, and new corn and soybean varieties there is a great deal of information growers need keep up with. These kickoff meetings and field days are designed to keep you up to date on what is going on at Seed Consultants, Inc. Are you interested in learning about new varieties, pricing, trait offerings, Optimum® AQUAmax® products, or the Seed Consultants’ trip to Costa Rica? If so, be sure to attend a kickoff meeting and/or field day in your area! For more information about meetings in your area, check out our website (www.seedconsultants.com), ask your seedsman, or call our office at 1-800-708-2676. Be sure to mark your calendar for the Washington Court House Field day at the Seed Consultants research plot on August 27th. Lunch will be served at noon followed by tips for managing herbicide resistant weeds, discussion of SCI’s foliar studies in corn and soybeans, and tours of the research plot. Seedsmen and agronomists will be available for discussion and to answer questions.
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Palmer Amaranth Weed Continues to Spread Recently agronomists and university weed experts have been discussing the potential northern movement of an aggressive weed that can reduce yields and increase costs of weed control. The arrival of Palmer Amaranth, nicknamed “Pigweed on Steroids�, has been confirmed in multiple states across the Eastern Corn Belt. Seed Consultants’ customers and agronomists have already worked together during the past few years to deal with new populations of Palmer that have been discovered. Palmer amaranth is an aggressive plant that thrives in drought, can grow more than 2 inches a day, is resistant to multiple herbicide modes of action, and produces 100,000 or more seeds per plant. Many populations of this weed are resistant to multiple herbicide modes of action. Palmer amaranth has been observed to emerge from May through September. The key to keeping Palmer Amaranth from establishing itself is implementing management practices to effectively eliminate seed production and hinder its ability to spread.
Tips for Controlling Palmer Amaranth
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Scout for and identify problem weeds early. Palmer Amaranth is a pigweed species and can easily be confused with other pigweeds, such as redroot pigweed, during early growth stages. It is critical to identify weeds correctly in order to keep them from spreading. Universities such as Ohio State, Purdue, and Michigan State have excellent fact sheets with pictures to aid in weed identification. Start with a weed-free seedbed. Effective burndowns or deep tillage will help control Palmer Amaranth and will allow growers to begin the season with a weed-free seedbed. Apply herbicides when the seedlings are less than 4 inches tall. Use residual herbicides. Use of residual herbicides will control seedlings at emergence and limit the number of plants that will need to be controlled by post-emergence applications. This is especially critical in soybean fields, where effective postemergence options are very limited Crop Rotation. Rotation from soybeans to corn will allow for the use of additional herbicide modes of action (herbicides used in corn) that are effective at controlling Palmer Amaranth.
Hand Weeding. No, this is not a joke. If plants escape normal management practices, removal before they produce seeds is essential. If a seed head has formed, place a trash bag over the seed head before removing the plant from the field to eliminate the spread of seeds across the field.
Manage drainage ditches, field borders, etc. Regularly mowing ditches, waterways, field borders, etc. will help control the spread of this weed. Although weeds growing in ditches do not directly compete with field crops, they will produce seeds and promote the spread of Palmer Amaranth.
By Matt Hutcheson, CCA, Product Manager Phone: 937-414-6784 matt@seedconsultants.com
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Compaction Issues in Corn Fields All the rain we have had in May and June has taken its toll not only on above ground growth but more evident on the crop’s root development. When walking a customer’s corn field and digging up corn plants recently, I was surprised on how much sidewall compaction existed in the corn field. Picture 1: Healthy-looking fields above ground can hide When corn plants compaction issues below. started to grow in mid-May it started to rain and continued pretty much through June. Because of all the rain, corn plants continued to grow above ground but in the compacted areas of the field, roots were limited on its development. After planting, especially in soil compacted areas, one would see “Tall Corn and Short Corn”. It was very evident of the corn’s growth where the tile lines are located. Better corn existed over the tile lines. Between the tile lines, corn was stunted and yellow. Much of the nitrogen was lost due to the excessive rainfall. Because of the limited root development in the compacted areas nutrient deficiencies were evident on the corn plant as well. Soil compaction limits the root numbers that try to make it through to the subsoil. Pictures 2 and 3 at right are out of the same field from Picture 1.
Poor root growth, caused by compaction from too much water, restricted how much oxygen was able to get to the root system. Picture 2 showing sidewall compaction is worse in fields with a high clay content compared to
By Bill Mullen, CCA, SCI Director of Agronomic Services Phone:740-505-2022 bmullen@seedconsultants.com
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Picture 2: Sidewall compaction can restrict oxygen to root system.
coarse, sandy soils. Clay soils have high water holding capacity and are slower to dry out. Due to compaction issues alone, university research has documented yield losses of 10 to 20 percent of normal yield. Significant yield reductions will occur in situations of moisture stress. With the plant’s limited root development, standability later in the season becomes a concern as well. High winds, later in the season, could cause severe lodging and make for a harvesting nightmare. Most of the sidewall compaction in this no-till field was a result of planting when the soil was wet. The sidewall was smeared, there was poor soil to seed contact, the furrow stayed open hampering good, and early root development as Picture 2 shows. Besides having sidewall compaction, there are areas, like Picture 3, where root development is greatly restricted. This is more of a layered compaction. The soil was tight and wouldn’t break up. The plant struggled to grow. The plants are stunted and yellow in color. Yield reduction will be more severe here than those areas with sidewall compaction.
Picture 3: Layered compaction can restrict root development.
Fields like these need to be monitored throughout the season. You won’t see the effects of compaction in a corn or soybean field from the road. You will need to walk these fields as soon as they dry up. More than likely, some degree of yield reduction will occur in fields like these. Monitor these fields for any lodging or disease issues that can delay harvest. With this much compaction, consider planting a cover crop or subsoil after the crop is harvested. This will help break up compacted areas. If nothing is done to remedy compaction, the problem will carry over into next year’s crop, reducing its yield as well.
2015 Wheat Varieties
Wheat profitability in 2015 will depend upon many factors from planting to harvest. Selecting the best variety is the first step for a successful crop in your fields. When selecting the right variety one needs to include the variety’s characteristics of maturity, winter hardiness, test weight, yield potential, and good agronomics with disease tolerance/resistance. Throughout OH, IN, IL, KY, and MI, Seed Consultants conducts on-farm testing of the different wheat varieties as well as planting its own Replicated Research Wheat Plots. SCI participates in university’s Wheat Performance Trials as well. We test existing varieties and new lines to help you make the right selection for your area.
SC 1315-15™ brand
• Medium-Early maturity, bearded variety, ideal for double crop • 105% of yield mean in 2014 SCI Wheat Testing at 8 test locations • Planting rates of 1.6 to 1.8 million seeds per acre 2 to 3 weeks after fly free date • Medium height, with excellent standability and heavy bucket weight • Spring topdress N of 85 to 100 pound actual N under high management • Widely adapted variety throughout the SCI sales area • Nice companion variety with SC 1325-15™ in early, high yield environments • Very good disease package including Head Scab and Leaf Blotch tolerance • Patent Pending
SC 1321™ brand
• High yield potential, bearded variety, adapted throughout OH, IN, and KY • Medium maturity line; works well in Intensive Wheat Management programs • Very good plant health, test weight, and standability • Excellent winter hardiness with a solid disease package • On Mennel Milling Co. recommended list • 2013 UKY Wheat Test SC 1321™ yielded 100.6 bushel, #1 out of 99 entries • 2013 OSU Wheat Test SC 1321™ yielded 89.3 bushel, # 17 out of 68 entries • Patent Pending
SC 1325-15™ brand
• High yield potential, bearded variety, adapted throughout OH, IN, KY and MI • Ideal choice for planting double crop soybeans after wheat • Medium maturity line; works well in intensive wheat management programs • Very good plant health, test weight, and winter hardiness • Excellent standability with very good tolerance to Glume Blotch and Head Scab • Topped 2014 OSU Wheat Trials at 113.4 bpa/110% of plot mean of 87 entries • 2014 UKY Wheat Test SC 1325-15™ yielded 102 bushel, #10 out of 102 entries, 106% of plot mean • Adapts to a high wheat management environment – 90 to 100# N spring topdress • Where Powdery Mildew is an issue, a fungicide is recommended for control • Patent Pending
SC 1335-15™ brand
• Medium Late maturity, bearded variety adapted well to all environments throughout the SCI sales area • Excellent standability, Test Weight, and Winter Hardiness • Excellent tolerance to Powdery Mildew and Glume Blotch and very good tolerance to Head Scab • High yield potential variety, works well before double crop soybeans • 103% of plot mean in 2014 KY Wheat Trials, #37 out of 112 entries at 98.7 bushel with 59.8 test weight. • 103% of plot mean in 2014 OSU Wheat Trials, #24 out of 87 entries at 106 bushel with a 59.7 test weight • Spring topdress N of 80 to 95 pounds helps this variety to excel in yield. • Fall seeding rate of 1.6 to 1.8 million seeds per acre • Great companion for SC 1342™ • Patent Pending
SC 1342™ brand
• Full season variety for I-70 and North • Medium Late maturity allowing for a longer grain fill period • Superior yields and excellent test weight • Medium tall variety, non-bearded with excellent standability • Very good disease tolerances including Glume Blotch, and Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV) • Use of foliar fungicide maybe needed in areas where Powdery Mildew and Septoria Leaf Blotch have occurred in past years • 2014 KY Wheat Trials, SC 1342™ was 102 bushel, 9th out of 112 entries, 106% of yield mean • 2014 OSU Wheat Trials, SC 1342™ was 15th out of 87 entries, at 107.1 bushel, 104% of plot mean • 2014 KY Wheat Forage Test, SC 1342™ was 14th out of 112 entries at 5.23 tons per acre, 114.7% of plot mean • Excellent variety for growers needing straw tons • Patent Pending Product performance is variable and depends on many factors such as moisture and heat stress, soil type, management practices and environmental stress as well as disease and pest pressures. Individual results may vary.
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SCI’S 2016 CUSTOMER TRIP
WESTIN GOLF RESORT & SPA PLAYA CONCHAL
Guanacaste, Costa Rica January 22 – 28, 2016 Sign up online now via the link on Seed Consultants home page! WWW.SEEDCONSULTANTS.COM
Trip Cost (Excluding Air): • Single Occupancy – $2,850 • Double Occupancy – $4,200 • Triple Occupancy – $5,925 The Westin Golf Resort & Spa Playa Conchal • Located in Costa Rica’s magnificent North-Pacific Riviera, nestled between lush forests and the sparkling azure waters of the Pacific Ocean. • Spacious sleeping rooms with forest views and close proximity to the beach. • All-inclusive food and drink at 8 restaurants. • Huge lagoon-style pool area. • Full-service spa and complimentary fitness facility. The Costa Rica Trip Package Includes: • 7 days, 6 nights accommodations at The Westin Playa Conchal. • All-inclusive meals, snacks and beverages - beginning with dinner upon arrival and breakfast upon departure. • Group activity to Palo Verde National Park for boat tour and lunch. • Shuttle to Tamarindo for shopping or sightseeing. • Transfers to and from the airport. • Personalized baggage handling upon arrival and departure. • All gratuities and taxes included. • Air not included but must be booked with Seed Consultants. Travel Documents: All participants will be required to present a passport with at least 6 months validity from the last date of travel (July 30, 2016).
Meeting Planner Contact Information: Phone: 800-233-8492 Email: meetingplanning@pioneer.com Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm EST
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For any additional rooming rates, please contact the meeting planner. Air Costs: • Air is not included with the above trip costs, but must be booked with Seed Consultants in order to attend the trip. • Airline points cannot be used for booking airfare. • If attendee wishes to check current airfare rates before registering and submitting the non-refundable deposit, they may call the travel agent at 800-238-7668. When prompted, select DuPont then Group Travel options. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30am – 5:30pm EST. After registration has been submitted and deposit received, the travel agent will call the attendee with different flight options and costs. There is no restriction on type of fare or departure city. • Seed Consultants will pay initial cost of air when it is booked. Attendee will be invoiced for the same cost. • Attendee is responsible for any costs associated with flight changes. Payments: • $500 (per person) non-refundable deposit due after online registration and before air is booked. • Full trip payment is due by Friday, November 13, 2015, and is non-refundable.
All checks should be for trip expenses only and made payable to Seed Consultants. Checks should be mailed to the follow address: SCI Meeting Planning P.O. Box 7005 Johnston, IA 50131
Space is limited! Early reservations are recommended!
FINANCING SEED CONSULTANTS, INC. THREE GREAT FINANCING CHOICES FOR 2015-16 0% through John Deere Financial Prime +3.15% through John Deere Financial 0% through RABO AgriFinance These financing programs are only available to John Deere Financial Preferred Customers and/or RABO AgriFinance approved customers. To apply for a John Deere Financial Preferred Account or RABO account or to increase your John Deere Financial or RABO line of credit, contact your SCI representative, so the necessary paperwork may be completed with John Deere Financial &/or RABO. JOHN DEERE FINANCIAL & RABO GUIDELINES • Must be a John Deere Financial Preferred Customer or approved by RABO AgriFinance. • Approval and credit limits established by John Deere Financial &/or RABO…not by SCI. • Terms and conditions apply. See respective credit applications for full terms and disclosures. • To increase or establish your credit line call John Deere Financial (800-433-8964) or RABO (888-395-8505). • Must be enrolled and approved to qualify for discounts. • Discounts applied on approval date from John Deere Financial &/or RABO. • Signed terms of disclosure on file. • Minimum purchase of $1,000. • Due date of December 2016. • Applies only to seed purchases. Finance Plan
For John Deere Fin ancial customers with cu rrent special terms balances at or near their credit limit, they m ay have an option to enable th eir seed purchase now and lock in their order. Contact yo ur SCI Seedsman for details.
A
B
C
John Deere Financial
John Deere Financial
RABO
Prime + 3.15%
Fixed 0%
Fixed 0%
August 2015
15.5%
9.5%
9.5%
September 2015
14.0%
8.0%
8.0%
October 2015
13.0%
7.0%
7.0%
November 2015
12.0%
6.0%
6.0%
December - January 5, 2016
10.0%
4.0%
4.0%
January 2016
9.0%
3.0%
3.0%
February 2016
7.0%
2.0%
2.0%
March 2016
5.0%
1.0%
1.0%
April 2016
4.0%
0.0%
0.0%
May 2016
3.0%
0.0%
0.0%
In Season
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
Purchase & Approval Date
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Seed Consultants Inc. P.O. Box 370 648 Miami Trace Rd. S.W. Washington Court House, OH 43160 USA
Editorial Board Stuart Yensel director of sales and marketing 740-505-0889 - Mobile stuartyensel@seedconsultants.com Daniel Call, CCA general manager 937-313-7421 - Mobile danielcall@seedconsultants.com Bill Mullen, CCA director of agronomic services 740-505-2022 - Mobile bmullen@seedconsultants.com Matt Hutcheson, CCA product manager 937-414-6784 - Mobile matt@seedconsultants.com Dave Nanda, Ph.D. director of genetics and technology 317-910-9876 - Mobile dave.nanda@gmail.com
Herculex® Insect Protection technology by Dow AgroSciences and Pioneer Hi-Bred. ® Herculex and the HX logo are registered trademarks of Dow AgroSciences LLC. Liberty®, LibertyLink® and the Water Droplet Design are trademarks of Bayer. Agrisure® is a trademark of a Syngenta Group Company. Agrisure® technology incorporated into these seeds is commercialized under a license from Syngenta Crop Protection AG. ® Supreme EX, Optimum, AcreMax, AQUAmax and TRISect are registered trademarks of Pioneer. Supreme EX® brand seed is distributed by Seed Consultants, Inc. Roundup WeatherMAX®, Roundup PowerMAX™, Genuity®, Roundup®, Roundup Ready 2 Yield® YieldGard® and the YieldGard corn Borer design are trademarks of Monsanto Technology LLC used under license. Poncho® and VOTiVO® are registered trademarks of Bayer. The information provided within this newsletter is not a substitute for advice concerning your specific situation. The information contained herein is general and educational in nature. Because each situation is different and each recommendation is specifically tailored for each customer, the information contained herein should never be used to determine your course of action. All products are trademarks of their manufacturers. Simply, the Best Value in the Seed Industry™ is a trademark of Seed Consultants, Inc. © 2015, Seed Consultants, Inc.
Between the Rows While I have enjoyed growing Seed Consultants, Inc. from zero to a $66+ million dollar company; I miss walking fields; I miss walking plots; and I miss what I value most, working directly with customers & growers. Some folks are cut out for corporate America; some aren’t. I love the seed industry; but I have reached a point in life that I would prefer doing what I enjoy. With that said, I have turned over the General Manager reins
of Seed Consultants, Inc. to the very capable leadership of Daniel Call; and I have transitioned to a sales role. Daniel has been a great student, he knows the seed business and I expect the continued success of Seed Consultants under his guidance. I will continue to work with my current customer list, continue to prospect for new customers, walk fields, walk plots, attend kick off meetings, attend field days, and help Seed Consultants’ growers.
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I knew this day would eventually come; and as expected it is bitter sweet; but I still get to continue doing what I love. I want to express my gratitude to everyone; you continue to make my life amazing, and I appreciate the opportunity to know and work with you.
Chris Jeffries