ASK THE AGRONOMIST BLOG

“The person who really wants to do something finds a way; the other finds an excuse.” — John Templeton

There is no one way to farm. What works and makes one grower successful might not work for another. You can easily find reasons why something will not work, but it is hard to find ways to truly improve your operation. Unfortunately, most of the ways to improve your operation will involve risk and a certain level of discomfort. But the outcome can often outweigh the challenge of making a change.

“One saying we hear often in our line of work is, ‘this is how we’ve always done it,’” says Bill Kessinger, Stine^® technical agronomist. “We want growers to know we’re here to help them when it’s time to make a change for their operation. It can be challenging, yes, but trying something new might just help you get to that next level from a crop production and yield standpoint.”

December is the time of year everyone reflects on what has happened in the past and what changes can be made before the 2023 growing season. Kessinger provides some tips: 

Don’t get stuck
“My advice to growers is, don’t get stuck in the past,” says Kessinger. “There are so many great opportunities to expand your perception — attend a CCA or university extension meeting to learn something new or visit with your local fertilizer or seed expert to hear how other growers in your area are finding success. Once you’ve reflected and identified a few areas where you think your operation could improve, map out a plan for how you can implement those changes. And consider asking for help; enlist the assistance of an agronomist — that’s what we’re here for.” 

Try something new, including seed
“The unique part of working with a genetics company like Stine is that we’re always pushing for ways to get higher yield potential out of our genetics,” says Kessinger. “We take tried and true material that our customers already trust and have worked with in the past and we evolve it. We improve its effectiveness and ability to withstand the stressors nature brings with it each year.”   

This is also true of increasing planting populations.

“More plants per acre means more yield per acre, and that’s something that Stine excels in — plants that thrive in high-density situations,” says Kessinger.

Many of our Stine corn products are developed to outperform the competition in high-population, narrow-row environments. Our new line of MX Series Corn by Stine, for example, is some of the best, highest-yielding corn on the market. From outstanding early-season growth and cutting-edge performance, these products are top-of-the-line. And they really excel when combined with a good nutrient program.   

Elevate your nutrient program
“Another change growers should consider is enhancing their nutrient program,” says Kessinger. “Many of our grower customers benefit from adding sulfur to their nutrient program or an extra pass of nitrogen. While inputs may cost more upfront, we’ve seen them make huge payoffs come harvest.”

View recent grower testimonials about the value of a “super management” approach (additional and timely inputs) to crop production in our Yield+ Corn Tour series.  

Call your Stine agronomist
“As a national brand, Stine continues to expand its agronomy department to help implement cropping practices to maximize genetic potential, from North Dakota to south Texas, Kansas to North Carolina and everywhere corn and soybeans are grown in between,” says Kessinger. “As an agronomist who gets to cover a large part of that area, I can assure you there is no one way to farm, but every farm does have something they can improve on. We’re here to help.”

Ready to learn how you can improve your operation? Contact your local Stine rep today.

The clock is ticking, and the 2023 planting season will be here before we know it. But there’s still time to order your seed between now and then. We encourage anyone interested in Stine^® seed to consult with their local Stine sales rep to assist with product selection and the purchase process. These individuals can help with any questions you may have, including what maturity makes the most sense for your operation, whether a trait is necessary, and whether certain conditions warrant a seed treatment or a more strategic crop management program.

“At Stine, our knowledgeable sales reps and regional sales agronomists are well-versed in each of our products,” says Tom Larson, director of agronomy. “From emergence score to trait selection and how each variety or hybrid performs in various field conditions and environments, they’ve been trained to know where to start and what to look for when helping growers select the right seed for their operation.”

Our experts prioritize four questions when helping growers consider their seed options.

1. What maturity makes the most sense for you? Maturity is key as it determines the amount of time a crop takes to fully mature from planting. Selecting a maturity that best fits your environment may seem obvious, but another factor our sales reps often discuss with growers is the value of testing different maturities.
   
   “Sometimes it makes sense to spread the risk when buying seed,” says Larson. “This can look like going with 20% earlier maturity products and 60% of your normal maturity to ensure you have a good variety and spread to cover all your bases no matter the growing environment.”
   
   Check out our full lineup of corn and soybeans in a variety of maturity options in our 2023 Stine Seed Catalog. 
   
   
2. Is a trait necessary? No two fields are the same. If you have ground where you typically don’t experience heavy insect or weed pressure, maybe you can cut costs by going with a conventional option.
   
   “Growers looking to save money should always consider the condition of each of their fields before purchasing a traited product,” says Larson. “On good ground where you’ve rotated crops and don’t typically have a ton of issues, you can likely cut costs by sticking with a conventional option. Stine has an excellent selection of conventional corn and soybeans, and these products are produced with our newest germplasm, so you know you’re getting the best-performing product with the highest yield potential.”
   
   If you do need a traited platform or a seed treatment option, we have a number of different products in a wide range of maturities to choose from, including the most extensive selection of Enlist E3® soybeans in the industry, a complete offering of Stine Agrisure®-brand corn and our line of Stine XP seed treatments.
   
   
3. What population and row widths are you considering? Stine has bred our corn hybrids and soybean varieties to perform in different environments, including higher planting populations and narrower row widths. Our products have outstanding emergence and standability in these environments.
   
   “If you’re looking for short corn that can thrive in higher planting populations, we’re the leader in the industry and have the most diverse options that are time-tested in our lineup,” says Larson. “And for soybeans, you’re not going to get a better selection. We’re known for our soybean germplasm, and we have options that will thrive in any environment where soybeans are grown, whether you’re at 100K pop or pushing to 140K.
   
   
4. Do you need financing? Stine has financing available for growers through John Deere Financial. Growers who purchase seed from Stine by Dec. 31, 2022, using their John Deere Financial Multi-Use Account are eligible to receive special financing at a fixed 0% APR*. Learn more about this financial solution for all crop inputs, farm supplies and parts and service here.

Ready to start the process of choosing Stine seed? Contact your local Stine rep today.

*Fixed 0% APR financing is available for a limited time through December 31 and is subject to credit approval. 

As reported in August, tar spot was problematic throughout the Midwest this year and continues to spread. The disease is caused by the fungus Phyllachora maydis and can be detrimental to yields as it causes leaf deterioration, poor grain fill, compromised stalks and even plant death. In fact, experts from Purdue University Extension note that in cases of severe infection, yield losses can be upwards of 60 bushels per acre. Typically, the fungal disease affects corn later in the season during the critical grain fill stage, and unfortunately, there’s not much that can be done after it’s detected. That said, there are some effective strategies we can plan for now as we gear up for the 2023 season.

“Tar spot moved west in my regions and was detected late in the growing season,” says Tony Lenz, Stine^® corn technical agronomist. “But what was really alarming in 2022 is that it moved quickly, even in a drought year. It’s bound to cause some angst for growers next year, so we must get ahead of it as early as possible as it’s likely to overwinter in infected fields this year to come back even stronger next growing season.”

Tony adds that the most important factors leading to this increase in tar spot are leaf moisture (when the leaves are wet for seven or more hours) and relative humidity 75% or greater.

While tar spot will likely be a problem next year, our experts provide a few tips to tackle the disease head-on next season.

Crop rotation and tillage
“If you experienced heavy tar spot pressure this last season, consider rotating to soybeans,” says Lenz. “It may be only one piece to a larger puzzle, but it’s a good start.”

Crop rotation gives the infested corn residue left over from harvest additional time to break down in the soil, reducing the presence of the fungal pathogens. Tillage is another strategy to help further break down the infected residue. 

“Tillage and then crop rotation are a good one-two punch to get your fields prepped for planting season,” says Lenz. “Again, it’s not an all-in-one solution, but it’s shown to help slow down the disease before it rears its head in the growing season.”

Hybrid selection and timing
“Since tar spot is a relatively new disease, we’re still learning which hybrids are handling it well and which aren’t,” says Lenz. “Technically, there’s no good resistant hybrid available yet, but there are some with better resistance than others. Talk to your seed dealer or sales rep to walk you through which options might make the most sense in your environment.”

Even at Stine, we’re still researching tar spot and its impact on our corn products, including when the disease hits and how severely it affects the plants.

“It seems like late planting and planting a late-maturing hybrid are a bad recipe for having tar spot as the disease seeks and thrives off of green plant material,” says Lenz.

A resistant hybrid may come to market in the future, but in the meantime, it’s always best practice to discuss what options are available before purchasing seed.

 Fungicides
“While seed treatments aren’t really known to control tar spot, there are some good fungicides on the market to help mitigate the disease,” says Lenz. “That said, the timing of application is the key to catching it before it explodes.”

Lenz recommends applying a fungicide at around VT to R2, and applying only one application has been the most effective strategy. That said, if the disease shows up later in the reproductive stage, two applications or a delayed application may be necessary.

For more tips on planning ahead to tackle tar spot, contact your local Stine rep or extension field agronomist.