News from Your Federated Agronomists | October 22, 2019

There's an "Easy" Button to Prevent Pest Damage

When considering seed for 2020, remember this: Untraited corn will be affected by pests such as corn borer. According to Kevin Carlson, Federated’s agronomy sales manager, corn borer showed up in Federated’s service areas this year, including in test plots, and “about 20% (+/-) of the unprotected corn” was damaged by corn borer, especially second generation borers. Stalks, ears, and shanks were damaged, adversely affecting yield – and in some cases the ability to harvest the damaged corn (see photos above). Today it’s not hard to fight corn borer, said Carlson. Just “press the easy button” and plant traited corn. Though this pest hasn’t been a recent issue (thanks to protected, traited corn), corn borers are still around to attack unprotected corn. Read more about seed ordering in the article below and talk to your Federated Agronomist about the best traited seed for your farm. Beyond seed considerations are the soils. Compacted soil will likely be an issue as harvest equipment enters the moisture-laden fields (see photos below). Carlson said this University of Minnesota Extension article provides some excellent perspectives on what can be done to address this potentiality.

High-Demand Seed Supplies are Tight: Order ASAP Harvest may be delayed, but seed orders shouldn’t be. In fact, now is a good time to order seed, even as combines hit the fields. Being early matters, especially this year when the popular new varieties, such as Enlist®, are in short supply. And, according to Cody Lezer, Federated’s seed specialist, prices will continue to rise. “The best cost savings are right now,” he said. “Come end of this [calendar] year there will be no Enlist beans left to order,” said Lezer. Federated has done its best to talk to growers and anticipate seed needs, but “it’s hard to do,” he said. Communication with growers is critical at this point. “The sooner the better,” said Lezer, adding that if growers wait to order seed, either there will be no product available or growers will have to pay more for it. Federated always does its best to find the seed growers want, but when supplies are limited from the start, those efforts may not matter. Lock up seed orders between now and the end of November (and Lezer hinted that’s generous on the timeframe for Enlist and other high-demand seed). Talk to your Federated Agronomist for recommendations to fit your farm.

Don’t Wait ‘Til the Signs of Deficiency Appear

When the yellow striping and purple edges appear on the corn leaves, the magnesium deficiency is obvious (as in this spring 2019 photo). By the time a nutrient deficiency is evident in the plant, yields are already at risk. Why take the risk with next year’s crop when there is a simple solution this fall? Soil sampling. As Mike Slater, Federated agronomist at the Isanti location said, “You’ve heard it a thousand times: ‘Start with a soil sample’ because... Read more.

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