CHANGING SEED TREATMENT & GROWTH REGULATORS

by: NuWay-K&H Agronomy Account Managers

Warden® CX continues to provide broad spectrum protection against early-season disease and insects to help improve root health, and plant vigor. In 2023, however, NuWay-K&H Cooperative will switch to the new and improved Warden® CX II soybean seed treatment.

CX II brings a new mode of action with the active ingredient Vayantis®, along with the existing active ingredients from Warden CX. The addition of Vayantis will bring increased control of Pythium – a soil borne fungus that thrives in cool/wet soil conditions. The new polymer formulation also has better flowability within the planter.

Ascend2™ builds on the previous formulation, Ascend Pro®. This will help accelerate early season development, improve germination and enhance root growth.

Ascend2 consists of three plant growth regulators: butyric acid, gibberellic acid, and cytokinin. Ascend2 has more gibberellic acid and butyric acid than Ascend Pro. WinField has shown a more consistent response on yield with the increase in these two acids.

SMART SEED PLACEMENT

Make sure you plant your corn and soybean seed where it will be most effective. Talk with your account manager about which seed is best for each field, considering soil type, drainage and fertility. Don’t just put a box on the planter and go. Make sure you set up a plan ahead of the spring season. If you have the technology to plant at variable rates, talk with your account manager and see if that’s something that will fit your operation. Even if you don’t plant with VRT this season, keep an eye out for patchiness in your fields.

For instance, if you have sandy spots or places where you haven’t produced corn in the past, cutting population may help. Conversely, if you VRT where pushing population could create more ears, you could be money ahead. NOTE: VRT can also be used to manage crops stressed by moisture or pests.

Get together with your account manager today and come up with a plan—or make a smart seed placement plan for 2024.

PESTS TO WATCH IN 2023

• Cyst nematode pressure has increased as the disease builds tolerance to the PI88788 cyst trait common in today’s soybeans. Seed companies continue to advance their genetic line-ups with the PI548402 (Peking) cyst trait that offers a different way of managing resistance. If you’re concerned, reach out to your account manager and make plans for testing with next year in mind.
• Corn rootworm populations have increased, locally, in the last couple of years. Keep an eye out for pressure in-season. We can do digs or sticky traps to determine your pressure levels and decide if treatment is needed this year or how to manage the field next year.
• Tar spot showed up locally in various fields last year. Given suitable weather conditions, we expect it to be present in fields again in 2023. If you are concerned about tar spot in your fields, now would be the time to pre-order fungicide to manage the disease. See Fungicide May Be Short on page 5.

GRID SAMPLING PAYS

With fertilizer prices fluctuating wildly in recent months, updating your grid samples or taking one for the first time can help you manage risk. With increased yields means increased nutrient uptake from the soil. Having an understanding of what is in your soil will help make the right decisions on the amount of fertilizer and where the fertilizer is needed within the field.

SEED SPECIALIST ADDED, LEVI KERMES

Hello, my name is Levi Kermes. Originally from a family farm near Albert Lea, MN, I received my degree from the University of Minnesota and have worked with private crop consultants, Bayer, and WinField United. I joined NuWay-K&H Cooperative in June of 2022.

As a seed implementation specialist, it’s my job to make sure you trust the brands we offer and have a good experience purchasing seed from NuWay-K&H Cooperative. I’ll be glad to evaluate the performance of your crops in season and create a plan to put the right seed on every acre of your land. I also oversee the cooperative’s seed test plots, where we try out on your behalf brand new corn hybrids and soybean varieties from leading companies.

To learn more about the NuWay-K&H agronomy team check out this page.