We’re releasing the newest technology today: Genuity SmartStax

Posted on July 27, 2009 by Shannon Latham, Vice President

This is an exciting day. Our company is announcing today the release of four new Latham Hi-Tech Seeds corn GEN Logo_Full hybrids with Genuity SmartStax technology.

You can read the entire announcement here.

We’ve been working with Monsanto a long time, incorporating their leading-edge technologies into our seed production. The Genuity/ SmartStax launch looks to be a new threshold in seed technology benefits and innovation. Above- and below-ground pest control, plus RR2 and LibertyLink tolerance, all in one seed. It’s amazing what crop science has achieved, especially in just the past 15 years or so.

Please give us a call in Alexander if we can answer any further questions about our new products or any other Latham offerings. We’re always here to help.

Latham® and “bringing world-class technology home” are trademarks of Latham Hi-Tech Hybrids, Inc. SmartStax^TM multi-event technology developed by Dow AgroSciences and Monsanto. SmartStax, the SmartStax Logo, Genuity, YieldGard VT PRO,YieldGard VT Rootworm/RR2, VT Triple PRO and Roundup Ready are trademarks of Monsanto Technology LLC.

®HERCULEX is a registered trademark of Dow AgroSciences LLC.
®Liberty Link is a registered trademark of Bayer CropScience.

Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin – Week Ending July 18

Posted on July 23, 2009 by Shannon Latham, Vice President

Here’s the latest planting update excerpted from the July 21 USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service bulletin (for week ending July 18):

Corn: By week’s end, 31 percent of the Nation’s corn crop was at or beyond the silking stage, on par with last year, but 23 points, or slightly over a week, behind the 5-year average. Despite significant jumps in development during the week, large phenological delays remained in Illinois and Indiana where the corn crop struggled to overcome setbacks caused by a slow start to planting earlier in the season. Overall, 71 percent of this year’s crop was rated in good to excellent condition, unchanged from a week ago, but up 6 percent from last year.

Soybeans: Blooming advanced 20 points during the week, leaving progress, at 44 percent complete, slightly ahead of last year, but 18 points behind the 5-year average. The crop was most developed in the Delta States of Louisiana and Mississippi; however progress was at or behind normal in all estimating States. In Wisconsin, continued cool, dry weather hampered crop development and caused a significant decline in crop conditions, as well. Overall, 67 percent of the soybean crop was rated in good to excellent condition, compared with 66 percent last week and 61 percent last year.

Relative Maturity

Posted on July 20, 2009 by Latham Team

On Bob Collin’s plot near Colo, Iowa, the 109-day corn started tasseling before the 108-day corn. This situation provides a good example of why farmers should plant more than one hybrid on a field. If something flowers earlier, you can generally move it north. Of those two hybrids in Bob’s field, the one that flowered earlier could theoretically be planted farther north in Iowa.

The one that is already tasseling will set its seed earlier and pack on pounds of grain, depending on weather throughout the growing season. At planting time, you don’t know if the year is going to be hot and dry or wet and cold. That’s why you plant different hybrids because it spreads your risk. For example, it might be 100 degrees with no humidity causing the silks to dry as they’re coming out. That would obviously negatively impact pollination. In this example, it would help spread your risk by having another hybrid pollinate later when the weather might be cooler.
Latham Hi-Tech seeds corn LH5977 Latham Hi-Tech seeds corn hybrid LH5977