Advanced Acre Rx In-Season Trial Updates

This season, the WinField United agronomy team is conducting a series of trials in partnership with local retailers as part of the new WinField^® United Advanced Acre^® Rx program. Farmers who participate in the program receive a season-long plan with in-season adjustments and a service warranty for performance.

Throughout the season, we’ll be talking with agronomists who are managing Advanced Acre trials across the U.S. and posting updates regarding program recommendations. These Advanced Acre trials will help produce additional comprehensive data that supports a holistic, systems-based management approach rather than simply comparing different products or comparing treated fields to untreated fields.

Take a look at the latest in-season updates from South Dakota and Iowa trials. To learn even more about the trials, read Advanced Acre Trials to Show Value of Data-Backed Approach.

Advanced Acre trial locations

Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Aberdeen, South Dakota

Date reported

July 31, 2020

Agronomist

Kyle Gustafson

Advanced Acre Rx program recommendations

In Sioux Falls, corn is at the R2 to R3 growth stage and soybeans are nearing R3 and R4 – the pod-filling stages. In Aberdeen, corn is closer to the VT and R1 tasseling and pollination growth stages and soybeans are nearing full bloom.

At my plots in South Dakota, tissue samples in late June called for in-season zinc, so we made applications of MAX-IN^® Zinc around the V5 to V6 growth stage. Once we added the tissue sample data to the R7^® Field Forecasting Tool, we saw a positive ROI for nitrogen. Compared to the standard local approach, the tool called for an in-season application of nitrogen at a lower-than-average rate and at a later application time. We had a very narrow window for application but a high forecasted economic return.

From a fertility standpoint, fields are looking good. However, if fertility is looking good, a healthy plant is probably a better host for disease. When we have a healthier plant, it’s essential to maintain its health through the rest of the season. Think of the Advanced Acre Rx program as a way to make more confident decisions. We're managing high yield and we’re watching the entire system work together.

Advanced Acre trial locations

Marshalltown, Iowa, and Washington, Iowa

Date reported

July 31, 2020

Agronomist

Tyler Steinkamp

Advanced Acre Rx program recommendations

In Marshalltown and Washington, corn is around R2 and nearing the R3 stage. Soybeans are at the R3 growth stage and nearing R4.

In my area of Iowa, the Advanced Acre recommendation has allowed us to customize recommendations for each field. The tool has predicted yields below the actual production history (APH), which gives us insight into how to adjust our recommendations accordingly.

Tissue sampling in early July has shown a need for zinc, so we’ve applied MAX-IN^® Ultra ZMB^®. We’re also reminding farmers that since it’s a hot and humid year, scouting will be essential to monitor for diseases such as gray leaf spot.

In early July, the R7 Field Forecasting Tool predicted we might experience drought conditions in the area and, as a result, it recommended using lower levels of nitrogen. There has not been a drought in eastern Iowa, but the R7 Field Forecasting Tool has since recalibrated its recommendation to provide us with a more informed management plan.

With these Advanced Acre trials, we’re learning that if we remove one element from a comprehensive systems approach, we lose more yield than if we had implemented a basic approach. If we’re after high-yield acres, we won’t pull one thing out. Rather, we’ll fire on all cylinders and expect the systems approach to show its value.

All photos are either the property of WinField United or used with permission.

Important: Before use always read and follow label instructions. Crop performance is dependent on several factors many of which are beyond the control of WinField United, including without limitation, soil type, pest pressures, agronomic practices, and weather conditions. Growers are encouraged to consider data from multiple locations, over multiple years, and be mindful of how such agronomic conditions could impact results.
 
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