Tag Archives: Latham

Row, Row, Row Your Corn

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by Corey Catt, Forage Products Manager

Isn’t it exciting when you can finally “row your corn”? It’s such a milestone. It provides us with a sense of accomplishment. It brings some relief as hopefully no replant will be needed. And it makes us eager to see how the crop progresses throughout the growing season.
The average corn plant needs approximately 100 heat units to emerge from the ground. Depending on weather conditions, a seed/seedling will reach 100 heat units in 7 to 10 days. Some hybrids emerge faster than others, while others are slower to emerge but may grow more rapidly. These hybrid differences really depend on genetics.

Raising a corn hybrids somewhat reminds me of horses racing like the Kentucky Derby. Remember last Saturday how Bodemeister led the field around the first turn? I’ll Have Another was in seventh place early but went on to win the race. The same can be said for corn plants. Some emerge from the ground like a rocket, while others make up for lost time as the heat rises.

How quickly do you see hybrids emerging? One of my favorite parts of the job is hearing “from the field” about what you learned during emergence time as you walk and row your fields. I always enjoy hearing things from a farmer’s perspective and hope you’ll share this type of information with me as it adds to our pool of information about Latham® hybrids.

This season Latham Hi-Tech Seeds will be sharing more stories “From the Field.” We’re following crop development from planting through harvest in several locations across Latham Country. You’ll find our Growing Season Gallery on our Facebook page at www.facebook/LathamSeeds. We also invite you to join us by sharing your own photos “From the Field.” Simply e-mail your photos of Latham® brand corn, soybeans or alfalfa to lathamseeds.fromthefieldtour@gmail.com.

GROCHOW RACING EAGERLY AWAITS THE “GREEN FLAG”

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Ryan Grochow

Not only is the wet, cold weather affecting spring planting, it’s also affecting the start of the racing season in southern Minnesota.

“Fairmont and Arlington were both canceled this weekend,” Ryan Grochow posted April 20 on the Facebook page for Ryan Grochow Racing. “So far next weekend looks good… Let’s hope for a good weekend for some racing.”

It’s May 3 and Grochow is still eagerly awaiting the start of the 2012 racing season. The season was supposed to have kicked off Friday, April 13, but cold weather has prevented the wet track from drying. If Mother Nature cooperates, the green flag will wave Saturday night at the Arlington Raceway.

This year will mark Grochow’s fourth season in the Hobby A division, but it’s the first season he’ll be driving a car that he built himself. He used a 1980 Oldsmobile Cutless because he likes the boxy lines of that model.

“You’ve really got to know how to set up your chassis,” explains Grochow. “You also really need to be able to read the track. The dirt track is always changing from heat race to feature race. I was lucky that a local guy who’s been racing for a really long time helped me out.”

In previous years, Grochow raced cars that his dad has built with the help of some of his racing buddies. Ryan’s dad had raced at Arlington for a decade before turning the wheel over to his protégé.

“2009 was the first year I raced, and I’ve been hooked ever since,” says Grochow. “It’s an adrenaline rush like no other! Every weekend you’re fighting for the win.”

“Points racing” adds a whole new dimension to the race. Growchow races with the IMCA sanctioning body; IMCA pays drivers at the end of the year based on total points. Drivers earn points for their performance on the track, state, regional and national levels. Total points are tallied at each level of competition and this helps determine regional and national champions. Point totals also affect the amount of free parts drivers can earn from sponsors like Speedway Motors, Stevenville Starts & Electric, Performance Bodies, JR Motorsports, and Sunoco Race Fuel.

In his second year of racing, Grochow placed 5th in points at the Arlington Raceway. He had 12, Top 5 finishes in 2011 and ended the season placing 3rd in total points. If his trend continues, he should place at the top in 2012! But, Grochow isn’t thinking about all that. Right now he’s just looking forward to the start of the season and getting the first race – in a new car – under his belt.