Thousands of dollars are spent each year getting seeds into the ground, and growers want to know from research what traits and additives can address problems or boost growth.
That’s why many agricultural companies are planting test plots to show how the latest changes affect their crops.
Brad Ruden, Agtegra’s agricultural technical services manager, and his crew are planting corn, soybeans, and several other crops on 38 acres near Bath. The plots contain strips of crops with different seed properties, seed treatments, fertilizers and additives, foliar sprays and biologics.
Agtegra welcomed farmers to the fields at the Innovation Fieldfest on September 12th to confirm the results of previous trials. Results will be made available to the public and posted on Agtegra’s website by the end of the year.
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“Through the plot tour, our goal is to test different products and treatments that have a positive impact on agronomy,” Ludden said. “I enjoy the diagnostic part of my job, watching plants grow and react. Another part of my job is testing different products and developing unique additives and adjuvants. It is engaging in product development by developing a product line.”
Adjuvants can be used with herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides to further increase their effectiveness.
Agtegra’s Brad Ruden explained how to maximize soybean yields on September 12 during the Agtegra Innovation Fieldfest near Bath. Photo by Connie Sieh Group for Aberdeen Insider.
As research manager, Ruden enthusiastically shared his research findings during Fieldfest. Ludden, a Groton area native, has been researching agriculture for 39 years.
“I remember when the Groton area was one of the largest sunflower producing areas in the state. Now there are only a few fields within 40 miles,” he said. “Currently, the main crops in this area are corn and soybeans. I also remember when corn was yielding 100 bushels per acre. We had to drive wagons to the fields because combines couldn’t do it. Currently, a yield of 100 bushels per acre would be considered disappointing at best.
Agtegra’s commercial area extends from much of South Dakota to North Dakota, and into Minnesota and Nebraska, but cropping systems vary widely in each region. Conditions vary from the lush James River Valley to the drier regions of the central part of the state. As such, field plots provide a snapshot of how traits and treatments respond in different soils and climates.
Ruden urges growers to start by setting yield goals and then consider what they need to do to nourish the soil. Its nutrients are necessary for plant health. With the current low prices for corn on offer, producers are using sharp pencils to calculate how much additional products and applications will cost. Working with professional agronomists is key for growers.
In seed plots, growers want to know which traits to use. The exhibit demonstrated effectiveness against corn rootworm using Agtegra Cooperative’s DeKalb brand corn hybrids. Photo by Brad Ruden.
Rootworms are a big problem for corn this year
One of the biggest problems facing corn farmers this year is how to deal with corn rootworm. Root eating and pruning can destroy yields and cause stems in the field to fall.
“Some of our plots show examples of planting corn seeds with different traits and show how to manage fields.Other plots show how pesticides are effective. “Our results suggest that growers consider trait selection first and add insecticides if necessary,” Ruden said. . “It’s important for growers to take that into consideration when talking with sales agronomists about the genetics of the corn they’ll plant next season. Newer corn varieties have more traits built into the seed; It’s not free. Do we use transformed corn varieties or do we rely on chemistry? That’s an important question to discuss about where to spend your dollars.”
He also pointed out that corn rootworms are not going away. Depending on crop rotation, it could be back to normal within two years.
Autumn is a good season to nourish the soil
“In the fall, we apply a lot of phosphate and potassium,” Ruden says. “Fertilizer prices have not fallen as seasonally as producers had hoped, so we have several plots that show producers how to protect the nutrients they provide locally. Be sure to consult your agronomist to make sure your fields are not running low.
Soil testing is important to know what nutrients are available.
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“It doesn’t have to be done every year. The most common test we use for phosphorus is the Olsen test. Deficiency of the other 17 essential nutrients limits plant growth and reduces yield,” he said.
Soil testing is important when planning your field for use with crop management systems. Most fields are not perfectly uniform. Agtegra also features an optional management zone-based system that allows growers to customize and maximize input investment in the right parts of the field.
Farmers attending Agtegra’s Innovation Fieldfest were interested in learning how to use drones to spray troublesome areas in their fields and seed cover crops. The event took place near Bath on September 12th. Photo by Connie Sieh Group for Aberdeen Insider.
Equipment settings affect growth and yield
The importance of planter configuration and attention to downforce and planter efficiency were the focus of several breakout sessions. Farmers gathered around ARx planters to see how the settings affected growth and yield.
“Getting seeds out of the ground at the same time is critical to future yields. An even start to the crop improves growth pest management opportunities. We talked about setting up, upgrading planters. If the planters aren’t working properly, it can cause big losses in the field,” Ruden said.
Plant biological research attracting attention
People are increasingly interested in products called plant biologicals. They are plant extracts, enzymes, or live biology focused on building soil, especially soil 6 to 8 inches below ground. There are fewer regulations associated with biologics because these are based on organisms already present in the soil or extracts of natural products or organic materials.
Ruden said they are sorting through the various companies offering these products and setting up trials to show which ones are most promising. This broad category has an overwhelming number of products.
“The plot shows how a selected set of these plant growth products focuses on stimulating root growth, promoting stem and leaf growth, and providing an even stand. Some say this increase could increase yields by a few bushels or more, he said.
The threat of tar spot exists
The possibility of a catastrophic disease is on the horizon.
“Tar spot can cause significant damage to corn. It has a significant impact in the first states of Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana. Tar spot has been reported in southeastern South Dakota; It shows that there are tar spots in the state. This is something that we and our farmers need to be aware of,” Ludden said.
There are also reports of southern rust occurring in corn fields in the state.
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“There is a common rust, but this is a different, more severe type that affects corn, and that’s something to monitor,” Ruden said. “Weather systems have pushed us further north, but luckily we don’t survive the winter. The winds carry us north and we can spray them as they appear. We have traditional diseases. We need to keep this in mind and take steps to control them, but these are also emerging threats,” Ludden said.
This robotic machine can be programmed to sample specific areas of the field. It drives to the site according to a set route, collects soil samples, packs them into bags, and sends them to the soil research institute. The demonstration took place at Agtegra’s Innovation Fieldfest held near Bath on September 12th. Photo by Connie Sieh Group for Aberdeen Insider.
Innovations offered at Fieldfest
Fieldfest attendees also looked at other agricultural innovations.
You can check out a simulator that provides training for sprayer operators using real sprayer cabs and controls, as well as simulated fields. We exhibited and demonstrated a data logger for soil electrical conductivity classified by management area. This logger is used to develop field maps for Agtegra management zone-based systems. People could ride ROGO’s robotic sampler and follow instructions to the robot’s programmed spots to survey soil and collect samples. The latest offering from the Agtegra Innovation Center is a drone sprayer that can target problem weed spots or plant cover crops.
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