Tag Archives: Latham Country Fair

Southwest Minnesota Crop Report: August 22, 2012

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According to the USDA, NASS, Minnesota Field Office, the state’s corn crop is rated 77% fair to good – unchanged from last week. Soybeans are rated 81% in fair to good condition, compared to 80% last week.

In walking several corn plots, I would say the cooler weather has helped some with tip fill. The average corn stage at ¼ milk line. Some reports of Goss’s Wilt in the area have surfaced.

Moisture and cooler temps have set us up for a very good bean crop. Early- to mid-May planted soybeans are in the R 5 to R 6 stage. Aphid pressure has remained lower than normal but spider mite levels have been higher. As beans approach the R6 stage, signs of Brown Stem Rot and Sudden Death Syndrome will become increasing apparent. Watch beans fields now for any issues that may need to be managed the next time this field is planted to soybeans.

Congratulations to Dan Hesse of Lamberton, MN, for being our grand prize winner from Farmfest! Also remember to visit www.lathamseeds.com for more information about our company’s BIG 65th anniversary celebration on Saturday, Aug. 25. Register today for the 4th Annual Latham Freedom of Independence Ride and preview the outstanding schedule of speakers at the Latham Country Fair. We’d like to see you Saturday in Alexander, Iowa!

EventsGenetic Garden Shows How Different Types of Corn React to Drought

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by Rachel Norby, Seed-2-Soil® Summer Intern

As you drive through the countryside, it’s evident that different corn hybrids are handling the drought stress differently. Some hybrids have stronger roots and stalks, so they’re holding up better in these dry conditions. Other hybrids have weaker stalks and are lodging.

Latham Hi-Tech Seeds’ Genetic Garden shows how corn from many different eras is reacting to the drought conditions. You can see how much better today’s hybrids can withstand the high heat and low moisture than their early ancestors.

Genetic Garden Shows Drought Stress

Although minimal irrigation was used to keep our “living museum of corn” alive for the Latham Country Fair on August 25, many varieties still reacted to the drought. You’ll see lodging in many early varieties. (NOTE: “Early” is being used here to reference the chronological history corn of varieties, not as in the relative maturity of hybrids.)

Open-pollinated corn varieties grown during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s didn’t pollinate then, and you’ll see the same thing happened in our Genetic Garden. A corn variety found in the Genetic Garden from around the time of the 1988 drought is also showing signs of stress. One of the differences in the droughts of 1988 and 2012, however, is there was less rainfall during the months of April to June in 1988 than we received in 2012. This lack of rain during that quarter of the year meant more stress on crops during early season growth compared to this year when the majority of the stress happened around the time of pollination.

We’d like to invite you to see the differences for yourself! Take a walk through our “living museum of corn” on Saturday, Aug. 25, during the Latham Country Fair. We’ll be hosting tours between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

EventsFREE, Family Fun at the Fair

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Although the Iowa State Fair gets underway today, we’re making plans for our very own country celebration. Join us Saturday, Aug. 25, for a full day of entertainment for the entire family!

The Latham Country Fair gets underway at 9 a.m. with field tours and a craft show. Professional agricultural speakers take the stage, beginning with Dr. Fred Below at 9:30 a.m. Click here for the full speaker lineup.

It’s all fun and games for kids, beginning at 10 a.m. Kids of all ages can participate in a variety of activities including: pedal tractor pull, burlap bag races, train rides on the GBO Railroad, inflatibles, petting zoo plus intricate face painting.

A schedule of kids’ activities:

In addition to all of this, there will be presentations by Farm Safety 4 Just Kids and Ag in the Classroom. P.S. We’ve also planned special presentations for moms and grandmothers. Watch for more details to be posted next week about those!