fungicides

The Importance of Selecting A Quality Seed Treatment Package

Posted on by Liqui-Grow

 

The potential of one's crop starts long before the seed is even planted in the ground. How seed is harvested, dried, stored and treated before planting all make an impact in that seed’s ability to perform best in the soil it is planted in. 

Although seed treatment packages have been around for some time, the agriculture industry is constantly researching and testing new treatments to protect your crop – starting at the seed. 

As the weather allows, farmers continue to creep into the fields earlier and earlier each year with their planters. Farmers risk planting early into cold wet soils to maximize the amount of sunlight the plants are exposed to and drive those high yield potentials. Cold wet soils are often associated with early season pests and diseases.

We've seen that longer growing seasons in soybeans results in higher yielding crops at harvest, thus the importance of planting our soybean crops as timely as possible. 

Farmers who use a high-quality broad-spectrum seed treatment package can help protect their soybeans from harsh weather conditions we often expose early planted soybeans to. By adding a seed treatment package to your soybeans, you will receive better germination rates and protect your seed from early pests and diseases. 

But what is really in that seed treatment? Oftentimes there is a mix of fungicides and insecticides. Let’s dive into how the right seed treatment package can maximize bushels for your farm operation!

Fungicides on Treated Seed

Seed treatments we use today are hand-selected by Dr. Jake Vossenkemper and a team of experts to try and protect soybeans from an array of diseases we combat in the spring.  Without a crystal ball, we are unsure of which disease could show up, and using a broad-spectrum seed treatment can mitigate the risk from different diseases present.  

Currently, our most popular seed treatment has four fungicides that boost protection against Fusarium, Rhizoctonia, Pythium, Phytophthora and other yield robbing seedling diseases. It also has a 5th component from a fungicide, to help give extra protection against Fusarium, early on.  

We recommend adding Ilevo® Seed Treatment to this strong seed treatment package to protect against Sudden Death Syndrome and Soybean Cyst Nematodes (SCN). Today SCN is the #1 yield robber in soybeans, and on average loses 1.5bu/ac, across the 12 most northern states. Learn more about Soybean Cyst Nematodes here! 

Insecticides on Treated Seed

Seed Corn Maggots and Bean Leaf Beetles are two popular insects we often see in early spring planted fields throughout Northeast Iowa and Northwest Illinois’ fields. Seed Corn Maggots burrow through the seed corn and affect the germination.  Bean Leaf Beetles chew on leaves and can potentially infect crops with Bean Pod Mottle Virus. This virus can cause yield damage and seed discoloration. Using soybean seed treatments can ward off these insects along with others and protect yield from an early start.  

What to look for in your corn seed treatment package:

If you are finding secondary insect pests such as wire worm, grape colaspis and true white grub in your fields, it may be beneficial to consider up-treating your seedcorn with Poncho® 1250. One of the many benefits of up-treating your seed with Poncho® 1250 is you don’t have to worry about applying an in-furrow insecticide or granular insecticide to combat these insect pests. Don’t wait though!  Most companies require you to order higher rates of seed treatment early and most companies have cut off dates.  Check with your Liqui-Grow Sales Applicator to learn more!

 

Here to Help You Choose

Determining the best seed treatment package for your operation can be a stressful task. Lean on your local Liqui-Grow Sales Rep to help you determine the best seed treatment package for your operation. We test a variety of seed treatments on the market and ensure our customers are receiving quality products that will get the job done right. 

Questions? Give us a shout! 

Text us at 564-220-2508 or email questions@liqui-grow.com.

Guide to Disease Management and Fungicides for Corn and Soybeans

Posted on by Liqui-Grow

 

“What diseases should I be looking for this season? How can I prevent or treat them?”

These are questions we commonly hear from customers this time of year. As we progress through the hot summer months, the threat of disease looms in fields. 

Kurt Maertens, technical agronomist at BASF, joined Dr. Jake Vossenkemper to discuss what to expect for fungal diseases this season and best management practices for fungicide application in our latest L.E.A.D. Academy Webinar.

If you have high-performing fields, you may wonder whether a fungicide application is necessary. In a 2020 study on soybeans, we found that high-yielding fields actually see an even bigger impact from fungicide and insecticide applications.

In the study, we tested a set of “normal management” plots and a set of “high yield management” plots. The study was conducted over three sites and replicated a minimum of six times per site. 

In the end, we saw a yield increase of 5.5 bushels per acre in the normal management and 8.1 bushels per acre in the high yield management category, all from an R3 fungicide and insecticide application.

Identifying Fungal Diseases in Corn

Common diseases we are seeing in corn in Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois include Gray Leaf Spot, Northern Corn Leaf Blight and, on the top of many farmers’ minds, Tar Spot. Generally, moisture and temperature determine which of these diseases we see in fields, and to what extent.


Gray Leaf Spot

Gray Leaf Spot is distinguished by long, rectangular lesions that may resemble a cigar. Some hybrids handle Gray Leaf Spot a little bit differently and may have smaller lesions. If left untreated, Gray Leaf Spot will continue to grow and take over the leaf area throughout the season, affecting yields.

Tar Spot

Tar Spot has become fairly familiar to farmers in the Eastern portion of the Corn Belt, but others in the West may experience the disease for the first time this season. As its name implies, Tar Spot lesions look like small raised flecks of tar on the leaf surface—almost like a paintbrush was flung towards the plants—and cannot be rubbed off with a fingernail.  

This disease can be very hard to see at first because those first few tar spot lesions are often very small and infrequent. But, as the disease progresses, the spores multiply and the quantity of lesions on your leaves are very noticeable. By the end of the season, you may have leaves completely covered in them. And, based on what we’ve seen in fields, this progression can be very rapid.

Overwintering is another important consideration for Gray Leaf Spot and Tar Spot. The spores from disease last year overwinter in the crop residue, just waiting for the right weather conditions to multiply and infect fields this season.

Rust

Rust is another disease to keep in mind. Tar Spot is easily confused with rust, especially early on. However, Tar Spot lesions are much deeper brown—almost black—compared to  the orange or red appearance of rust.
There are two primary species of rust we see in our customers’ fields: Southern Rust and Common Rust.

Common Rust is more frequently seen in our service area than southern rust, but Southern Rust has a more serious impact. Common Rust typically shows up as a raised lesion with a dark red color, and there may be three or four lesions in any given area.

Southern Rust lesions are more light red to orange in color and have a lot of powder. If you knock a leaf and orange powder comes off, it’s most likely Southern Rust. We see some instances of Southern Rust almost every year, but the big concern is when it arrives. If you suspect you have Southern Rust in your fields, contact us right away for help controlling this very aggressive species.

Identifying Fungal Diseases in Soybeans

Septoria Brown Spot

The most common soybean disease we see around Eastern Iowa and Northwest Illinois is Septoria Brown Spot. This disease usually starts at the lower canopy and works its way up, slowly impacting yield potential and resulting in significant losses at harvest.  It’s important to protect all of the leaves on soybean plants, because they all help build sugar, produce pods and increase yields. Learn more in one of our weekly short videos on the soybean fungicides.

Frogeye Leaf Spot

In other areas, Frog Eye Leaf Spot is of greater concern. We are seeing some resistance to certain fungicides in that disease. If Frog Eye Leaf Spot infects a field, it produces a larger lesion that can have detrimental effects on soybeans.

Frog Eye Leaf Spot in soybeans is similar to Southern Rust in corn. It’s not a common occurrence every year, but when it does appear, it can drastically lower yields. 

Much like the corn diseases, Frog Eye Leaf Spot and Septoria Brown Spot overwinter in last year’s crop residue, waiting for the right weather conditions to appear.

Treating Fungal Diseases

Corn

The best way to avoid disease pressure is through prevention with fungicide applications. Our recommendation is applying at VT/R1 on corn. 

In recent years, two applications of fungicide has become a viable management consideration for many. The general recommendation from Liqui-Grow is a second application three weeks after the first VT/R1 application, which provides enough residual to protect the crop through the black layer stage. We recommend two applications in years with heavy disease pressure and in regions heavily infected with Tar Spot.

Fields with higher disease susceptibility are irrigated fields, high fertility fields, fields that receive manure applications, and long term corn-on-corn fields. Since moisture is one of the key drivers for developing these diseases, irrigated fields should plan on two applications for maximum effectiveness.

Soybeans

For soybeans, R3 is the optimal time for a fungicide/insecticide application. At this stage, the plant has produced a majority of its nodes, including the main yield-producing nodes that develop in the middle of the R3 stage. Plus, there is adequate leaf cover to protect the plant and absorb the fungicide and insecticide that’s sprayed.

Fungicide Selection

Along with timing, fungicide selection and resistance can be a concern for growers.

In certain pockets across the Midwest, we do see Frog Eye Leaf Spot and Septoria Brown Spot start to become resistant to a certain mode of action of fungicide—strobilurons. But, most of our fungicides are formulated with multiple modes of action. 

Fungicides formulated today use a combination of demethylation inhibitors (DMIs) and succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors (SDHIs) along with the strobilurons. Combining all these modes of action is the best way to prevent resistance and to get good control over disease.

Disease can be damaging to yields, under the perfect growing environments, but with properly timed fungicide and insecticide applications, you can help protect your fields. 

Give us a call today at 563-359-3624 to schedule your fungicide application. You can also text us at 564-220-2508 or email questions@liqui-grow.com.

Quarterly Newsletter: July 2019

Posted on by Liqui-Grow

Banner image for July 2019 newsletter

JULY

Dr. Brad Bernhard joins Liqui-Grow

Soybean Industry Updates

Risk Factors for Foliar Diseases in 2019

 

Owner's Update

There are many changes & consolidations happening within the Ag world. Liqui-Grow is a family owned company with more than 60 years of service in many rural communities. The owners and all of our employees have a shared commitment to each of the local communities where we serve. Liqui-Grow represents many families, that live where they work, and they are devoted to helping you raise a profitable crop each and every year.

This year has REALLY proven to be a challenge for both our customers and our employees. Through it all we have tried to help you meet the spring challenges and will continue to do our very best for you and your operations. Thank you for your support. We look forward to providing to you the same quality products and services that we have provided over the last 60 years.

-Scott, Hov & Bruce Tinsman

photo of owners

 

New Addition to the Liqui-Grow Team

photo of Dr. Brad Bernhard
Dr. Brad Bernhard
Agronomy Research Manager

Brad Bernhard was born and raised on a hog and grain farm in Elwood, IL. Recently, he earned his Ph.D. in Crop Sciences from the University of Illinois under the advisement of Dr. Fred Below. As part of the Crop Physiology Laboratory, Brad’s research focused on characterizing hybrids that would yield greater when planted at higher planting populations and/or narrower row spacings. In addition, Brad evaluated different nitrogen management strategies including band vs. broadcast nitrogen prior to planting along with different nitrogen sidedress application technologies (coulter vs. Y-drop).

The key takeaways from his research include:

Nitrogen Management

Study

Nitrogen supplying power of the soil is a good indication of plant yield-response to split applied N.

Plants that received banded N at preplant produced the greatest grain yields.

When sidedressing N, placing the N in close proximity to the crop row resulted in greater yields.

Hybrid x Population

X Row Spacing Study

Corn yields in Illinois maximized at 44,000 plants/acre in a 20 inch row spacing.

Corn grown in a 20 inch row spacing out-yielded 30 inch row spacing by 12 bu/acre.

As population increases, the size of each individual root system gets smaller.

Later maturity hybrids tended to yield more with higher populations and/or narrower rows.

 

Standard Population 

32,00 plants / acre

photo of roots

 

High Population 

44,00 plants / acre

photo of roots

 

At higher populations, the size of the root system is smaller necessitating the need for better crop management especially soil fertility.

 

Soybean Industry Updates

photo of Katie Hess
Katie Hess
Seed & Seed Treatment Manager

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"We are currently testing soybeans to bring forward in 2020."

2019 has been a year for the books! We have seen a lot of mergers, buy-outs and technology advancements, so here are some key take-aways and highlights from what has happened and how it affects the soybean industry.

First I’d like to start with our new exclusive Armor dealership. Because of Armor’s agreements, we will be able to provide soybeans in various trait platforms to give our customers the options they have been asking for. We are currently testing soybeans to bring forward in 2020, and you can see those in plots across our trade area.

Bayer became the proud owner of Monsanto back on August 21, 2018. To make this happen, Bayer sold their Credenz soybean product line to BASF. We have been able to keep our Credenz dealership because of our strong partnership with BASF. Bayer has a new soybean technology to get excited about as well, XtendFlex. ®Xtendflex® soybeans are tolerant to glyphosate, glufosinate and dicamba offering more options to control weeds. Xtendflex soybeans are currently not approved for commercial use, but are in the testing phases to bring the best yield and genetics to farmers.

Dow and DuPont became one company, and then split into three different companies. As of June 1, 2019 the stand-alone agriculture company which evolved from, is called Corteva Agriscience ™. Under the Corteva umbrella is seed, chemical and digital products. Mycogen Seeds is part of the Corteva portfolio.  This merger is beneficial to farmers, because Mycogen Seeds will have a greater traits and genetics platform to pull from creating better products for the farm. We are excited to see the product and yield advancements in the Mycogen line-up because of this change, and what we will be able to offer our customers in the fall.

Enlist E3 ™ soybeans were finally approved! In Feb 2019 the Philippines approved Enlist E3 ™ soybeans for import, this was the final step before Enlist E3 ™ soybeans would be fully released for commercial use.  Enlist E3 ™ soybeans are available through us in the Merschman, Mycogen and Armor brands.  They are tolerant to glyphosate, glufosinate and 2,4-D choline, allowing flexibility to control weeds.

LibertyLink GT27 (LLGT27) soybeans are tolerant to glyphosate, glufosinate and HPPD group 27 herbicide. As of today, you cannot utilize the HPPD portion of this trait package. These beans are available through us in the Merschman and Credenz brands.

Soybean Trait Options by Brandchart of Soybean Trait Options by Brand

 

Risk Factors for Foliar Diseases in Corn - 2019

photo of Dr. Jake Vossenkemper
Dr. Jake Vossenkemper
Agronomy Research Lead    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"The wet weather will allow foliar diseases to more easily infect corn leaves."

Nothing about 2019 has been easy thus far. For many of us, saturated soils and excessive rain have delayed planting and have made all other field operations difficult. While I’d rather not give you another worry, I’d be remiss as your agronomist if I did not inform you that several risk factors for significant foliar diseases in corn are developing.

Lack of tillage in the fall of 2018 and colder winter and spring temperatures have resulted in higher than normal corn residue and foliar disease inoculum carryover into the 2019 growing season.

NOAA and the National Weather Service predict higher than normal precipitation to continue (bit.ly/noaa3monthoutlook). The wet weather will allow foliar diseases to more easily infect corn leaves.

Disease pressure builds and reaches its maximum toward mid and late Aug. In 2019 much of our corn will still be accumulating significant amounts of grain yield well into late Aug, and therefore more susceptible to yield losses from foliar diseases.

Fungicides: multiple mode of action are far superior

I also wanted to remind you that if you chose to use a fungicide it can be tempting to select single mode of action fungicide (normally strobilurin or group 11) given their reduced cost, but University studies clearly show that dual or multiple mode of action fungicides (strobilurin+triazole or group 3+11) are far superior at protecting yield.

Chart on fungicide group 11 vs group 11+

 

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