ASK THE AGRONOMIST BLOG

As we prepare for the release of the G series line of Stine Enlist E3^® soybeans with our seed growers for 2023 seed production, this means we have seen the introduction of seven generations of Stine Enlist E3 soybeans and have witnessed the market share for these products rapidly increase. In fact, it’s anticipated that Enlist E3 soybeans will make up more than 50% of the market share in 2023. Fortunately, this also means that Stine reps have seen these products firsthand in several different field environments and varying weather conditions over the years, which allows us to provide valuable recommendations to our grower customers, especially when it comes to weed control.  

“Even though we do not sell herbicides at Stine^®, we continue to work closely with Corteva reps and our grower customers to make solid agronomic recommendations for their operations,” says Tony Lenz, technical agronomist for Stine. “From timely applications of 2,4-D choline, glyphosate and glufosinate to general best management practices, we’re well equipped to support our Enlist E3 customers in the 2023 planting and growing seasons. That said, it starts with taking a close look at the growers’ current environmental conditions, in addition to their extended weather forecast and how actively their weeds are growing throughout the season to help inform them of the best strategies for weed control.”

As Enlist E3 acres continue to grow, we have learned many valuable lessons, especially over the past few years when drought conditions have persisted.

“Growers often question the effectiveness of their weed control program in dry conditions,” says Lenz. “But we’ve worked with Enlist herbicides and the Enlist E3 trait long enough to know the program works even in drought years. Scott Jungman, Iowa Enlist field specialist for Corteva, has passed down some incredibly valuable information to help educate our grower customers on getting the most of their Enlist E3 acres with the Enlist herbicide program.”

Here are some of the top recommendations for our growers to consider as we near the 2023 planting and growing seasons.

Recommendation 1: Use the right timing

Don’t wait to make your Enlist applications. Enlist has spoiled some into thinking they can use the product as a “rescue” or a “spray last” type of program. Simply spray weeds when they are on label which will ensure weeds are smaller and have fewer growing points. Spraying later usually means we will hit hotter, dryer weather. This causes weeds to harden off with thicker, waxy cuticles that all herbicides have a tough time penetrating. Lastly, spraying later means weeds will be larger and could be above our 6" label requirements.

Recommendation 2: Use the right chemistries

If we do see dry conditions or later applications when weeds harden off, look at using crop oil concentrates or methylated seed oils as surfactants, and use them at full rates with the correct nozzles, such as AIXR Tee Jet or the AITTJ twin fans. Make sure to consult with your Enlist herbicide dealer or go to Enlist.com to review the section on qualified nozzles for use with Enlist One^® or Enlist Duo^® herbicides.

Recommendation 3: Use the right equipment and pressures

“Scott Jungman shared some very strong points on how to use your sprayer to control tough weeds like waterhemp,” says Lenz. “He says, ‘Take back your sprayer and use it for what it was designed to do. With dicamba, we used TTI nozzles that were first and foremost designed to put out ultra-coarse-sized droplets that didn’t drift, but at the same time didn’t give good weed coverage. Remember to use less coarse spraying nozzles that give better coverage.’” He also recommends using AMS, or ammonium sulfate, as a water conditioner as an additive to get more chemicals into the plant. Run pressures up to the higher end of the approved range. This could mean going as high as 50 to 60 psi. Last, and most importantly, raise spray pressure to no less than 20 GPA when you use Enlist and glufosinate. You may also want to go to 15 to 20 GPA when mixing Enlist with glyphosate.

Interested in learning more about Stine Enlist E3 soybeans and the Enlist system? Contact us or visit our website.  

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. 

Deciphering product performance from plot data can be beneficial for growers making educated seed decisions for the next planting season. You’ve likely already heard from several agronomists from different seed companies presenting their latest local and regional plot results. This is all great information to have, but it’s important to understand what you’re looking at and ask the right questions to make a better decision for your operation. 

One rule of thumb we tell growers is to always keep this equation top of mind:

Genetics + Management + Environment = Yield

“Genetics are only part of the equation,” says Tony Lenz, Stine corn technical agronomist. “Growers need to look at the big picture, as many factors go into producing top-end yield. They need to consider the environment they’re in and the management strategies they employ and those used in the plot results being presented to them. Growers need to take a comprehensive approach to decipher plot data.”

Ask the right questions
When reviewing plot data with your local seed company and dealers, we recommend asking questions to help you better understand what you’re looking at on paper. A few questions we recommend include the following:

1. How was the plot set up? How many products were used for comparison and at what replication?
   Essentially, you want to ensure you’re looking at fair results.
   
   “You really want to make sure  the plots were done right,” says Bill Kessinger, Stine corn technical agronomist. “What’s the plot length? Are you only seeing data from a good-quality plot? How many rows per product were used for the comparison? What was the row width used? How were the comparisons replicated? Were hybrids of similar stature and height used in the plot or could there be potential for a shading effect? These are all important questions to ask when reviewing plot data."
   
   
2. Was the Least Significant Difference Value (LSD) considered?
   LSD is generally reported in plot results and designates the number (typically in bushels/acre) that separates entries without making them significantly different. For example, if Hybrid A made 152 bu/acre and Hybrid B made 141 bu/acre and the LSD of the plot was 13 bu/acre, that data indicates that Hybrid A was not better than Hybrid B, but rather random chance likely accounted for the difference in the two.
   
   
3. What is the product performance history of this plot? Have you done trials in previous years, and what were those results?
   As growers, you understand all too well that no year is the same and Mother Nature brings different variables that will impact yield. It’s important to get what history you can of that plot or of similar plots near that location to determine performance in different years.
   
   “You may have stress in one area this year that skews the data, but we need to think bigger picture,” says Lenz. “If you had a drought year that hurt your yields, you can evaluate data for drought tolerance, but you need to look at how that hybrid did in a lot of different environments year over year. There’s a lot of variabilites to look out for, especially in a year like 2022.”
   
   Make sure to ask how specific products of interest perform in good growing years and in years where stressors such as drought or high moisture could have impacted yields. Always ask for several years of data if available.
   
   
4. Is standard deviation (SD) or coefficient variation (CV) data available?
   SD and CV are typically provided for strip trial plots and are used to report individual hybrid performance in a given location but in a larger context. SD is a mathematical formula that reports one deviation from the mean in a “normal” distribution or bell curve. CV states the SD as a percentage. These terms are basically the same thing; they show you how far the average of Product A deviated from the mean of the plot. Going back to our earlier example, if Hybrid A yielded 152 bu/acre and the average of the plot was 155 bu/acre with a SD of 6, the data indicates that Hybrid A was within the normal distribution of hybrid yields in that plot, regardless of overall yield numbers.
   
   “In our Stine plots, we ensure all plot performance is reported in percent of plot average,” says Kessinger. “This means that if products of similar maturities demonstrate performance of 100% or higher, they are within the normal distribution of yields in the plots.”

With these questions answered and after thorough review of the results, you should be in a position to make sound production decisions for your operations. For more tips on deciphering plot data, review this article or contact your local Stine sales rep or regional sales agronomist.