ASK THE AGRONOMIST BLOG

Stine’s Ask the Agronomist blog is your source to the latest information from our expert team, including advice and insight on field practices, product recommendations, planting and harvest updates, new technologies, crop management, innovative research and information about how to keep your farm operation running smoothly year round. 

  • Trait or no trait, Stine® has you covered
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    Trait or no trait, Stine® has you covered

    September 28, 2023

    Posted by Stine Seed in Products

    Not every situation calls for a trait. Sometimes it makes sense to forgo a trait if heavy disease and insect pressure aren’t a concern. That’s why Stine’s corn and soybean breeding programs focus on developing high-yielding conventional genetics as the base of our products. With or without a trait, our corn and soybean lines are the newest, top-performing material out of our breeding programs.

    “At Stine, we understand that each grower’s situation is unique, and they need products that best fit their operation,” says Myron Stine, company president. “That’s why our corn and soybeans start with a base of high-yielding germplasm. From there, we add the industry’s leading traits to give growers the protection they need for whatever Mother Nature throws their way.”

    For 2024, we’re pleased to offer an expansive lineup of conventional and traited options.

    Stine Corn Traits 

    Whether you’re looking for short corn or full-season genetics with the industry’s leading trait package, nobody is building better corn faster than Stine. Stine’s unique corn genetics combined with the most desirable trait packages in the market result in corn products that exhibit exceptional standability and superior performance.

    Our 2024 corn lineup is the best we’ve ever offered. It features a mix of traited lines that excel in any field type and high-yielding conventional corn. We also have several short corn options for growers looking to take advantage of its benefits. Our 2024 seed corn traits include:

    Stine GT™ — Stine GT corn combines our own unique genetics with built-in tolerance to glyphosate-based herbicides, providing growers the freedom to choose their preferred brand of glyphosate. This is a great option for refuge acres in a structured refuge operation.

    Stine GT+ — Stine GT+ is derived from the same high-yielding genetics as Stine GT but with NK603 glyphosate resistance. Corn lines with the Stine GT trait are tolerant to glyphosate-based herbicides applied either alone or in combination with other herbicides.

    Agrisure® traits — We’re pleased to offer several different Agrisure trait packages to ensure growers have options for season-long insect and weed protection. Our Agrisure-traited lineup has options featuring in-crop tolerance to both glyphosate- and glufosinate-based herbicides. 

    Stine conventional corn — Stine conventional corn consists of our top genetic material without the addition of traits.

    Stine Soybean Traits 

    The Stine name is synonymous with soybeans. For nearly five decades, we’ve been developing the industry’s highest-yielding soybean germplasm, which is why the genetics developed by Stine’s breeding source are found on a majority of all US  soybean acres. But today’s grower demands more. To ensure we can provide the best choices for every field, Stine has a full line of the industry’s most sought-after soybean traits, including:

    Enlist E3®— Stine Enlist E3 soybeans offer advanced herbicide-tolerant technology with tolerance to 2,4-D choline, glyphosate and glufosinate in a three-gene stack. Our primary advantage? We have the industry’s broadest lineup of Enlist E3 soybeans. Other soybean breeders have made far fewer Enlist E3 crosses and observed far fewer generations of material, which means we have the best and the most robust offering of Enlist E3 soybean seed in the industry.

    LibertyLink® GT27®— These high-yielding soybeans help tackle tough weeds through three unique sites of action — glyphosate, Liberty® and HPPD/Group 27 herbicides (Alite 27 and Motif™). Stine LibertyLink GT27 soybeans continuously perform equal to or higher than many current brands in our Elite Yield Trials.

    XtendFlex®— Stine XtendFlex soybeans are built upon the proven performance of Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® technology but with added tolerance to glufosinate. Growers can use dicamba, glyphosate and glufosinate with XtendFlex soybeans, giving them another option in their toolbox to manage tough weeds.

    Elite conventional — Our conventional lines feature the high-yielding genetics that have made us an industry leader in soybean production. Stine Elite conventional soybeans are a great option for growers who are looking to save on costs and are not anticipating heavy insect or weed pressure next growing season. These lines are made from our newest germplasm, so you know you’re getting the latest and greatest conventional material.

    Connect with your local Stine independent sales representative for more information on our 2024 corn and soybean traits or our conventional lineup.  

  • PRACTICE F.A.R.M. S.A.F.E. TIPS ALL YEAR LONG
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    PRACTICE F.A.R.M. S.A.F.E. TIPS ALL YEAR LONG

    September 21, 2023

    Posted by Stine Seed in Harvest

    This year’s National Farm Safety and Health Week motto is “No One Can Take Your Place,” and they’re right; no one can replace you in the field, at the farm or in your home. Ranked as one of the most hazardous professions, farmers are at an increased risk for fatal and nonfatal farm injuries. Even family members are in jeopardy with their involvement in farm operations and living on or near the premises.

    According to a report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2021, workers in the ag, forestry, fishing and hunting industries experienced fatal injury rates at 20 deaths per 100,000 full-time workers, compared to a rate of 3.6 deaths per 100,000 for all other industries. Farm safety is crucial to the livelihood of a farm operation and its operators. Follow these farm safety tips to ensure you, your employees and family are safe at the farm, in the field and on the road all year..

    8 IMPORTANT FARM SAFETY TIPS

    Think “F.A.R.M. S.A.F.E.”

    Familiarize yourself with all equipment safety standards and the responsibilities of each worker on the farm. Ensure employees and family members are adequately trained and understand emergency procedures. A lack of experience or farm safety training can put anyone at risk of injury on the farm. Even if they don’t assist in day-to-day activities, farm safety for kids is equally important. 

    Avoid wearing loose clothing around farm equipment as it can get caught and lead to falls or being pulled into augers. Moving parts can quickly snatch a loose sleeve or baggy shirt when you least expect it. Remember to wear protective equipment such as gloves, goggles and steel-toed boots to reduce farm injuries.

    Read markings on every vehicle and their safety manuals. Heavy machinery is one of the most common causes of death in agriculture. Knowing how to properly operate machinery can prevent serious injury. Each piece of equipment should come with manufacturer recommendations for safety usage. ATV/UTV accidents are also on the rise, so understanding their intended use and weight capacity may stop one from rolling over or being hit on a roadway.

    Maintain your equipment to ensure it’s running properly before you hit the field. Not only is it important to do this step for harvest but all year. Before you take your seat behind the wheel, walk around your equipment to check for loose parts, flat tires and more. With harvest bringing long hours in the field, check that all lights are operational so you can see and be seen.

    Stock a first aid kit in your truck, tractor and barn. The National Education Center for Agricultural Safety has a first aid kit with farm injuries in mind you can purchase that includes trauma shears, large bandages, a thermal blanket, eye wash, ice packs, a CPR face shield and much more. If you have allergies, stock your first aid kit with supplies to remedy those symptoms.

    Ask for help. Farming is stressful, and your emotional well-being is just as important as your physical health. If you or someone you know is in emotional distress, call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

    Follow instructions when handling chemicals. Read the material safety data sheets before using any chemicals so you know what to do in case an emergency occurs. You can take farm safety courses to learn best practices with the application or handling of these materials. Store chemicals in a locked area away from people and animals. 

    Employ an effective lifeline system when working in and around grain bins. This includes wearing a harness and having a second person nearby, both of which can assist you in the unfortunate event you are trapped and engulfed in grain. Serious injuries related to grain bins can be reduced if farmers and their colleagues are properly trained and follow safety procedures.

    Farm safety should be top of mind all year. Be aware of your surroundings, know your limits and have an emergency plan in place. Remember, NO ONE CAN TAKE YOUR PLACE. Visit the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety for more farm safety tips and training opportunities. 

  • WHY CHOOSE STINE®  CORN AND SOYBEANS FOR 2024?
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    WHY CHOOSE STINE® CORN AND SOYBEANS FOR 2024?

    September 14, 2023

    Posted by Stine Seed in Stine News

    Why choose Stine corn and soybeans for 2024? The simple answer is genetics, options and service.

    “STINE HAS YIELD isn’t just our brand promise; it’s how we operate, and it’s at the core of every decision we make as a company,” says Myron Stine, company president. “Stine has the best genetics, the most robust product offerings and the most knowledgeable reps in the industry. When combined, we deliver the resources grower customers need to achieve top-end yield.” 

    Genetics

    Stine has one of the industry’s largest corn and soybean breeding programs, which means we’re testing more new genetics than our competitors. We operate with the knowledge that breeding is a numbers game — the more material you look at, the better your chances of finding the best. We won’t release any genetic material if it doesn’t have proven yield performance in our program. Our approach to breeding is why most of the soybean genetics planted in the United States today started with Stine and why we can deliver new corn genetics to growers’ fields faster than other seed companies.

    Options 

    Because of our access to our own genetic material and the industry’s leading trait platforms, we can deliver more new options than our competitors year after year. This is a big differentiator for us. For soybeans, this is critical as there’s more adaption of the Enlist E3® trait than ever before. Stine is well placed for growers using this platform as we have the BEST the industry offers, bar none. Our 2024 soybean lineup includes:  

    • 109 lines of Stine brand Enlist E3 soybeans, ranging from 0008 to 77 maturity.
    • Five lines of Stine brand LibertyLink® GT27® soybeans, ranging from 04 to 34 maturity.
    • 23 options of Stine brand XtendFlex® soybeans, ranging from 08 to 50 maturity.
    • 28 options of Stine Elite conventional soybeans, ranging from 02 to 53 maturity. 

    Whether you’re in the market for short corn or a traited product with outstanding above- and below-ground insect protection, Stine has the corn lineup you need. Options include: 

    • 13 Agrisure®-traited lines featuring Stine genetics, including some from our elite MX Series Corn lineup, with options ranging from 83–85-day to 117–119-day relative maturity.
    • 14 Stine GT lines, ranging from 103–105-day to 114–116-day relative maturity.
    • Two Stine GT+ lines— an 85–87-day and a 101–103-day, including one of our MX Series brand corn options.
    • 11 MX Series Corn lines, ranging from 95–97-day to 113–115-day relative maturity.
    • Three conventional lines, ranging from a 109–111-day to a 110–112-day product.

    service 

    “We’re particular about who we hire to support our grower customers,” says Stine. “We have the best and most knowledgeable employees and sales reps … period.”

    Our dedicated workforce will do what it takes to fulfill our STINE HAS YIELD promise and deliver value so grower customers can move the needle to higher yields. We work with hundreds of independent sales reps across the country who are passionate about their role in the ag industry and committed to supporting their grower customers when and where they need them. Our talented employees are well-versed in various areas of expertise, including research, data analysis, sales support, marketing and more. Our agronomy team understands success in the field goes well beyond putting the best seed in the ground. They are available to our customers and sales team to guide them on the agronomics of our products, best practices for field placement and maintaining yield throughout the season.

    If you’re looking for a seed company that understands the everyday needs of farming and how products perform in specific environments, look no further than Stine. Contact your local sales rep today. View our 2024 Stine Seed Catalog here.