FALL 2018

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We always welcome feedback and we would love to hear from you. Please send comments to:

mtorno@landolakes.com — 701-897-1484 winfieldunited.com croplan.com

Please send address changes, subscription requests and/or requests to be removed from this mailing to:

winfield solutions, llc P.o. Box 64281 st. Paul, mn 55164

copyright © 2018 by winfield united.

A rt i c l e S

notes from mark torno 3

land o’ lakes® recipe 4

croPlan® seed enters the 5 hard red winter wheat market

the challenge of targeting 8 herbicide tolerant Volunteer canola

north example crop Budget sheet 10

controlling insects in newly 12 seeded winter wheat

customer testimonial 19

LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL: CANOLA TRAIT DEVELOPERS ANTICIPATE CHINA APPROVAL IN 2019

6

DECIPHERING THE DATA: IS IT TRUTH OR HYPE?

11LEVERAGE RESPONSE TO NITROGEN SCORES IN YOUR WHEAT MANAGEMENT PLAN

16

HARVEST OBSERVATIONS CAN HELP YOU IMPROVE NEXT YEAR’S CROP 14

Follow us:facebook - facebook.com/winfieldunited twitter - @winfieldunited

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ON THE COVERthanks to tony fast of lustre, mt for sharing his photo of croPlan® cP955 wheat.

A rt i c l e S

notes from mark torno 3

land o’ lakes® recipe 4

croPlan® seed enters the 5 hard red winter wheat market

the challenge of targeting 8 herbicide tolerant Volunteer canola

north example crop Budget sheet 10

controlling insects in newly 12 seeded winter wheat

customer testimonial 19

notes from mark torno

we’re always focused on bringing the best CROPLAN seed varieties and hybrids to market at winfield united. But while most seed companies strictly focus their research efforts on creating brand new varieties, we have a tendency to think outside the box.

we’ve long been a proponent of optimizing yield potential through our R7 crop management strategy – putting the right genetics with the right traits on the right soil type at the right population in the right crop rotation with the right crop protection and the right nutrient management. But what about blending the right seed varieties together to optimize yield?

think about it like combining peanut butter and jelly. the two are fine on their own, but put them together and you have something special. our research team began studying this concept in soybeans more than five years ago, resulting in the launch of CROPLAN WinPak soybeans. we’ve continued to introduce new combinations every season since then, and next year the CROPLAN seed brand is offering 35 new and upgraded WinPak varieties in its elite class soybean portfolio.

for me personally, the real excitement came when we started looking at how different wheat varieties played off each other in the field when blended at a 50-50 rate. choosing just one wheat variety for an entire field can be challenging since most fields include a range of conditions. But combining the right two varieties can provide a natural hedge against each season’s unknown conditions to help increase the opportunity for an exceptional level of stability. in short, they can

work together to increase yield potential on tough acres while maintaining yield in higher-producing areas.

of course, we didn’t just randomly toss two wheat varieties together for these trials. for management and harvest purposes, the varieties needed to have similar maturity. we also looked for varieties that would complement each another well – such as mixing a variety with high yield potential with a variety that has high protein content, or combining a variety with strong standability with a variety that has slightly weaker attributes. many combinations didn’t yield extra bushels across our replicated studies, but some did, and those are the ones we selected and brought to market.

we offered CROPLAN cP3100 WinPak wheat last season – a mixture consisting of CROPLAN cP3504 and cP3361. our replicated trial data from 2017 shows this combination yielded a benefit of $12/a when compared to the two component varieties planted separately in Answer Plot locations. that benefit jumped up to $31/a when we looked at the results of customer fields that participated in the same study.

this season we introduced CROPLAN cP3888 WinPak, which is a blend of CROPLAN cP3504 and cP3616. we’re excited to find out how it performed in grower fields this year.

as harvest approaches, take a few minutes to review how your wheat crop has performed this season and talk to your local WinField United retailer about whether a CROPLAN WinPak variety could be a good fit for your wheat acres.

croPlan®, r7®, winfield® and winPak® are trademarks of winfield united.

Mark Torno, Diverse Field Crops Marketing Manager Wheat, Canola, Sunflowertwitter: @marktornoatwork

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L and O’ L akes® recipe: ciL anTrO sL aw GriLLed chicken sandwich

Preparation time: 30 minutes Total time: 1 hour 40 minutes Serves: 6 sandwiches

serve this grilled chicken sandwich topped with refreshing cilantro slaw and pickled onions!

INGREDIENTS:(Pickled onions)1/2 cup rice wine vinegar

1 tablespoon agave nectar

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1 cup water

1 medium (1 cup) red onion, thinly sliced

(slaw)4 cups shredded coleslaw mix

3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves

DIRECTIONS: combine all pickled onion ingredients except onion in bowl; mix well. add onions. cover; let stand at room temperature 1 hour.

combine dressing ingredients in bowl; mix well. Remove 1/4 cup dressing mixture; refrigerate. add slaw ingredients to remaining dressing mixture; mix well. cover; refrigerate until serving time.

Heat gas grill on medium or charcoal grill until coals are ash white.

combine butter, 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1/2 teaspoon cumin, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper in bowl; mix well.

rub chicken breasts with butter mixture. Place chicken onto grill; grill, turning occasionally, 18-20 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165°f and juices run clear when pierced with fork.

spread reserved dressing mixture evenly over cut-sides of each roll. layer bottom half of each roll with chicken breast and slaw mixture. lift desired amount of pickled onions from brine mixture; place over slaw mixture. top each with remaining half of roll.

RECIPE TIPS:

leave remaining pickled onions in brine. cover; store refrigerated. Pickled onions are great for sandwich toppers, tacos or burgers.

agave nectar can be found in the baking aisle near the sugars.

(dressing)3/4 cup mayonnaise

1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar

1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon chili powder

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne)

(rolls)6 soft round bakery rolls, split

3632 ©2018 land o’ lakes®, inc.

NUTRITION FACTS (1 sandwich)

calories 620fat 35 gcholesterol 110 mgsodium 1420 mgcarbohydrate 42 gProtein 33 g dietary fiber 3 g

(chicken)2 tablespoons land o lakes® Butter, softened

1 teaspoon chili powder

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne)

6 (4-ounce) boneless skinless chicken breasts

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after three years of replicated testing at Answer Plot locations across five states, CROPLAN seed is excited to enter the hard red winter wheat market. we’re piggybacking off the success of our long history in the wheat business that started with CROPLAN soft red winter wheat in the south and east more than 15 years ago, and continued with the introduction of CROPLAN hard red spring wheat in the northern Plains about five years ago.

we’ve released two hard red winter wheat varieties for planting this fall – CROPLAN cP7869 and cP7826 wheat – and we’re building up the supply of a third variety (CROPLAN cP7909) so it’s ready for a full launch in 2019.

BRINGING ADDED VALUE AND SUPPORT TO HARD RED WINTER WHEAT

we feel our new CROPLAN hard red winter wheat genetics alone are superior to current public varieties. But the real value will come from our quality seed treatments and R7 high yield management recommendations, which are derived from hundreds of data points from Answer Plot Program locations in states ranging from texas north to montana. here’s a closer look at the advantages of CROPLAN wheat seed and WinField United seed treatments.

• R7® High Yield Management Recommendations: in the past, planting new wheat varieties was a daunting process because it traditionally took you an average of 2 to 3 years to test different management and seed varieties on your fields to find out what worked best. But thanks to the R7 high yield management research we’ve performed, we’re removing that time-consuming trial and error process from the equation. we focused our research on areas like response to Population (rtP), response to nitrogen (rtn) and response to fungicides (rtf) to determine which management levels provide the best response for each variety. this will enable your local WinField United retailer to accurately recommend the CROPLAN hard red winter wheat varieties that will best fit each of your fields and manage them to help optimize yield potential right away, while also retaining favorable grain quality.

• Warden® Seed Treatments: winfield united offers four different Warden seed treatment options for wheat through local retailers. these are designed to increase yield potential and often decrease seeding rates by helping to improve seedling establishment and minimize the losses in yield and quality caused by early season disease and insect pressure.

• Ascend® Plant Growth Regulator (PGR) Seed Treatment: Ascend Pgr by winfield united contains optimal ratios of three plant growth regulator compounds that aid in early germination, emergence and root growth.

our replicated data shows there’s a real opportunity to enhance protein content, increase yield potential and ultimately improve profit potential by planting CROPLAN hard red winter wheat and utilizing our R7 high management system. if you’re ready to see how these new CROPLAN seed varieties perform in your fields, contact your local WinField United retailer to set up some side-by-side trials on your farm.

CroPLan® seed enters the hard red Winter Wheat marketMark Torno, Diverse Field Crops Marketing Manager Wheat, Canola, Sunflowertwitter: @marktornoatwork

CP7869 HRW WHEATMedium Late Maturity, Medium Height

TARGET ACRES

Growers looking for high yield, standability and an outstanding disease package

Widely adaptable variety in the High Plains

Good management dryland or irrigated acres

MANAGEMENT TIPS

High response to flag leaf fungicide applications

Seeding rate: 0.9 to 1 M/ Acre (65-85 lb. estimate)

Highest protein advantage with additional N

KEY STRENGTHS

Intermediate FHB (scab) protection

Excellent stripe, stem, & leaf rust tolerance

Strong test weight and standability

CP7826 HRW WHEATMedium Maturity, Medium-Medium Tall Height

TARGET ACRES

Dryland acre – strong drought tolerance

Growers looking for strong grazing performance

Adaptability to many soil types

MANAGEMENT TIPS

Manage N to improve standability

Seeding rate: 0.7 – 0.9 M/ Acre (50-75 lb. estimate)

High response to fungicide – consider flag leaf applications of fungicide

KEY STRENGTHS

Strong FHB (scab) protection

Excellent stripe and stem rust tolerance

Strong regrowth and yield when grazed

answer Plot®, ascend®, croPlan®, r7®, warden® and winfield® are trademarks of winfield united.

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highly anticipated new traits like monsanto’s truflex™ canola with roundup ready® technology and optimum® glY canola from corteva agriscience™ have been approved for use in the u.s. and canada since 2012, but trait developers have been waiting for export markets – primarily china, one of the world’s biggest canola importers – to give their approval before bringing it to market.

Both of these traits are expected to help farmers improve spring canola yield potential by achieving better weed control. But until recently, the evaluation process in china hasn’t been based on science and it’s moved at a snail’s pace. fortunately trait developers have reported that the chinese government has made substantial changes to its evaluation process in recent months and these companies have provided a significant amount of scientific data, giving them the confidence that china should finally grant approval in the first quarter of 2019.

how has this delay impacted crop production? according to a may 2018 report by croplife international1, delays in chinese approvals of imported genetically modified crops have cut the u.s. gross domestic product by about $7 billion over the past five years due to the lost potential for higher yields that new traits would have offered to crops like canola,

corn and soybeans. there has been a silver lining, however.

“this delay has provided researchers with more time to test new germplasm for local adaptation and develop quality genetics with more disease tolerance and improved yield potential,” explains Jon riley, monsanto’s north american launch lead for canola, cotton and regional crops. “as a result, farmers will be able to choose from a number of proven truflex™ canola varieties to best fit their acres and hit the ground running once china gives its approval.”

if china’s approval does indeed come in the first quarter of 2019, riley says monsanto plans to have a number of truflex™ canola hybrids available for planting next year. at that point, winfield united will be able to start testing the truflex™ trait in our Answer Plot locations and determine which variety or varieties we will carry. that likely means we will have a soft launch of CROPLAN truflex™ canola2 in 2019, with a full launch coming in 2020. check out the interview with riley on the next page to learn more about what this new trait will bring to the table and how it may be able to help you optimize the production of your canola acres.1 https://croplife-r9qnrxt3qxgjra4.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/impact-of-delays-in-chinese-approvals-of-Biotech-crops-05-18-final-1.pdf (page 10)

2 truflex™ canola with roundup ready® technology is not yet available for commercial sale or commercial planting, but current plans are to commercialize for the 2019 growing season.

Light at the end of the tunneL:CanoLa trait deveLoPers antiCiPate China aPProvaL in 2019paul Gregor, WinField United Diverse Field Crops Product Manager

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What is TruFlex™ canola with Roundup Ready® Technology and what will it offer to farmers?

truflex™ canola with roundup ready® technology is the next generation canola trait from monsanto; it will be the first canola trait we’ve released since 1996 when we launched roundup ready® canola in canada. truflex™ canola has been designed to provide more flexibility with roundup PowermaX® herbicide application rates and timing, improved control of tough weeds, enhanced genetics and better crop safety – all contributing to improved yield potential.

Can you expand on the application flexibility you mentioned?

it’s no secret that one of the biggest challenges farmers face is accomplishing a lot of tasks in a small time frame. in-season herbicide application already has a small window since it’s based on crop stage, and unpredictable weather conditions in the spring can make that spray window feel even tighter. truflex™ canola with roundup ready® technology will help solve this problem by increasing the spray window.

the application window for roundup PowermaX® will extend past the six-leaf stage, all the way to the first flower when applying sequential rates of 22 oz/a. so if weather conditions delay your spray date or a late flush of weeds requires a late application, truflex™ canola can give you up to 10 to 14 more days to get a cleaner field than our current technology.

Does this wider application window contribute to the improved crop safety benefit that TruFlex™ canola provides?

absolutely. Both the wider application window of truflex™ canola and the option to spray it with the rate of roundup PowermaX® herbicide needed to deal with conditions unique to each individual farm will help farmers minimize any yield penalty and give them greater peace-of-mind.

our research team conducted field trials to test potential crop injury from spraying later than the 6 leaf stage on genuity® roundup ready® canola, which tends to happen when wet spring conditions delay applications. although farmers typically don’t notice symptoms of crop injury when spraying outside the application window, our research results confirm that doing so can cost farmers 3 bu/a or more in yield.* so, the advantages of the truflex™ canola system could really help farmers optimize their crop’s yield potential.

Other than the wider application window, how else can TruFlex™ canola help improve weed control?

truflex™ canola will give farmers the option of flexible herbicide rates to help them get a better handle on tough-to-control weeds like dandelions, foxtail barley and wild buckwheat. truflex™ canola controls a wider spectrum of weeds (51 weed species controlled) than roundup ready® canola (27 weed species controlled). while no more than 22 oz/a of glyphosate can be applied in-crop on traditional roundup ready® canola, a total of up to 44 oz/a of roundup PowermaX® can be applied in-crop on truflex™ canola with roundup ready® technology.

it’s important to note that not all farmers need to apply higher rates, nor will all farmers see a benefit when increasing their herbicide rates. it’s really about the system giving the farmer greater flexibility on rates if/when they have to. we strongly encourage them to scout their acres for weed pressure and work with their local agronomist to develop a plan that will meet the unique needs of their acres. we have several truflex™ canola test plots in north dakota, and we’re effectively managing them with a close eye on stewardship to ensure that the right amounts of active ingredient are applied to control weeds, and nothing more.

Are there any other new traits canola farmers can expect to see from Monsanto in the coming years?

we’ve been working on dicamba-tolerant canola, which we hope to bring to market within the next decade. we’re also developing a number of new seed treatments to help farmers give their crop an extra boost.

How can farmers order TruFlex™ canola for next year?

Provided china grants its approval in early 2019 like we’re projecting, we anticipate a strong demand for truflex™ canola with roundup ready® technology. we’re building up a good supply of seed to meet that demand. i encourage growers to contact their local WinField United retailer and express their interest in the new trait so their sales representative knows they should contact them and firm up their order as soon as truflex™ canola becomes available.

* monsanto technology development trials 2009-2012.

We recently spoke with Jon Riley, Monsanto’s North American Launch Lead for Canola, Cotton and Regional Crops, to learn more about the benefits that TruFlex™ canola will bring to canola production. Here’s what he had to say about the first new canola trait poised to hit the market from Monsanto in more than 20 years.

answer Plot®, croPlan® and winfield® are trademarks of winfield united. truflex™ is a trademark and genuity®, roundup ready®, roundup ready 2 Xtend® and PowermaX® are registered trademarks of monsanto. optimum® glY is a registered trademark of Pioneer hi-Bred international, inc. corteva agriscience™ is a trademark of duPont.

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the ChaLLenge of targeting herbiCide toLerant voLunteer CanoLa

farmers have good reason for wanting to eliminate volunteer canola from their soybean fields. Volunteer canola pressure can reduce the yield potential of a soybean crop by competing for much needed moisture, sunlight and nutrients. Volunteers in non-canola years can also provide a host for blackleg and clubroot, reducing the effectiveness of crop rotation for managing these diseases.1

i briefly discussed controlling roundup ready® canola volunteers in soybeans in the winter 2018 issue of Beyond Seed, but the more traits that come into the picture, the more complex the process becomes to control volunteers. so here’s a more in-depth look at managing against herbicide-tolerant volunteer canola in different soybean production systems.

PROTECTING ROUNDUP READY 2 XTEND® SOYBEANS REQUIRES EXTRA MEASURES

first, if you’re growing roundup ready 2 Xtend® soybeans, it doesn’t matter if you have roundup ready® or libertylink® volunteer canola in your field. either of these plants can escape a postemerge application of dicamba, regardless of the herbicide rate you use or the size of the canola when you spray. that means you need to shift your focus to managing volunteers through a preemerge application or tank-mixing another herbicide in an early postemerge application. the following herbicides can offer effective control when you’re

facing roundup ready® or libertylink® canola volunteers:

PREEMERGE SOYBEAN HERBICIDES:

• Dimetric® eXt herbicide by winfield united

• PREsidual® herbicide by winfield united

• Authority® mtZ df herbicide

• Authority® assist herbicide2

• Pursuit® herbicide2

POSTEMERGE SOYBEAN HERBICIDES:

• Avalanche® ultra herbicide by winfield united

• Raptor® herbicide

• Flexstar® herbicide

• Pursuit® herbicide2

since each of these products have different strengths, weaknesses and crop restrictions, you should always ask your local WinField United retailer for advice on which product, rate and adjuvant package to use on your soybean fields.

BEWARE OF MULTIPLE TRAIT-TOLERANT VOLUNTEERS

liberty® herbicide continues to be an effective tool in controlling roundup ready® volunteer canola in libertylink® soybeans. But a problem some farmers have

Jason hanson, WinField United Agronomisttwitter: @rocknrollagrnmy

controlling herbicide-tolerant volunteer canola in soybeans can be a challenge depending on the traits used in a rotation. Photo courtesy of manitoba agriculture.

in recent years, more farmers have added soybeans to their canola and wheat rotation to diversify their cropping system. soybeans continue to be a profitable crop and the benefits of incorporating more diversity into a rotation include breaking up disease and insect cycles, improving long-term rotation sustainability and reducing the progression of resistant weeds by using different trait systems and herbicide modes of action.

Producers used to have only one production system to turn to when growing soybeans, but today there are a few different options to choose from to help control weeds, and more are on the way. here’s a look at the options farmers have now and the traits coming in the future.

EXISTING SOYBEAN TRAITS

• Genuity® Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans (tolerant to glyphosate) first-generation roundup ready® soybeans were the only herbicide-tolerant soybeans in the industry for 10 years until the roundup ready 2 Yield® trait was introduced in 2009. we continue to have a full offering of CROPLAN genuity® roundup ready 2 Yield® soybean varieties in our lineup.

• LibertyLink® soybeans (tolerant to glufosinate)the libertylink® trait was also launched in 2009 and introduced the first alternative to glyphosate tolerance. we offer a full portfolio of CROPLAN libertylink® soybeans.

• Genuity® Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® soybeans (tolerant to glyphosate and dicamba) this trait has been on the market for three years. we have an industry-leading lineup of early to late maturity CROPLAN branded varieties in our portfolio.

NEW SOYBEAN TRAITS COMING IN THE PIPELINE

• A number of different manufacturers have new soybean traits that are either awaiting regulatory approval or still in various stages of development. examples include tolerance to combinations of chemistries like glyphosate, dicamba and glufosinate. one in particular will be the first to introduce 2,4-d tolerance to soybeans.

Mike anderson, WinField United Soybean Product Manager

FARMERS HAVE MULTIPLE OPTIONS WHEN ADDING SOYBEANS TO THE ROTATION

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encountered is that canola volunteers that are tolerant to both herbicide traits are popping up in their fields. it appears roundup ready® and libertylink® canola plants are cross-pollinating, rendering both glyphosate and glufosinate unable to control them.

most producers won’t realize canola volunteers are tolerant to multiple herbicides until after they’ve made a postemerge application on their soybeans and they’re left with resilient canola volunteers looming over their crop. at this point they’ll likely be stuck with it for the season, because a follow-up postemerge treatment with different herbicides would either be off label, too late to be effective or not worth the added cost. then the focus will shift to controlling volunteer canola in future soybean crops through good burndown and preemerge applications with multiple modes of action.

2,4-D TOLERANT SOYBEANS COMING SOON

as mike anderson notes in his sidebar article, one promising trait coming down the pipeline will carry tolerance to 2,4-d in addition to glyphosate and glufosinate. a lot of farmers are looking forward to introducing these soybeans to their crop rotation once they’re available because it will help them knock out roundup ready® and libertylink® volunteer canola.

But like every weed control system, 2,4-d tolerant soybeans will also have vulnerabilities. while 2,4-d is effective against volunteer canola and marestail, it doesn’t perform well against hard-to-control weeds like kochia and wild buckwheat. so if you have history with those weeds in your fields, you will need to continue using a preemerge treatment.

HAVE A GOOD PLAN IN PLACE GOING FORWARD

clearly a lot of complexity can be encountered when trying to manage herbicide-tolerant canola volunteers and herbicide-resistant weeds in crops with different weed control traits. therefore, it’s important to work with your local agronomist to develop a three-year plan for your fields. knowing your field history can help you reduce pressure from weeds and volunteer canola while preventing unexpected plant back restrictions from occurring. if you don’t already have a plan in place, reach out to your WinField United retailer to get the process started.

1 “weed management”, www.canolacouncil.org/canola-encyclopedia/weeds/weed-management/

2 authority® assist and Pursuit® herbicides feature imazethapyr as an active ingredient, so farmers need to be aware of herbicide restrictions for other crops. (the rotational guideline for canola, for example, is 40 months with a successful soil bioassay.)

avalanche®, croPlan®, dimetric®, Presidual® and winfield® are trademarks of winfield united. genuity®, roundup ready®, roundup ready 2 Xtend® and PowermaX® are registered trademarks of monsanto. liberty® and libertylink® are registered trademarks of Bayer. authority® is a registered trademark of fmc corporation. Pursuit® and raptor® are registered trademarks of Basf.

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* Pricing data based on the average of elevators in the North Central North Dakota region as of 8/6/18.* Expenses are estimates only and based on the average costs for the expenses listed in the North Central North Dakota region.contact your local seed agronomy advisor for your own customized version. Because of factors outside of winfield united’s control, results to be obtained, including but not limited to yields, financial performance, profits, losses or otherwise, cannot be predicted or guaranteed by winfield solutions.

Data provided is an example only. Actual results may vary. Winfield Solutions, LLC shall have no liability in connection with the performance of your operation.winfield solutions, its affiliates and subsidiaries – and its agents and employees – are not authorized to make a representation of profitability, financial or sales performance in this or any related documents. likewise, winfield solutions does not and cannot make or provide any estimates, representations or projections regarding sales, expenses or profits. this information represents estimates and projections based solely on assumptions made for illustration purposes. winfield solutions and its affiliates and subsidiaries – and its agents and employees disclaim any liability and responsibility in connection with those estimates and projections.

Beyond seed®, croPlan® and winfield® are trademarks of winfield united.

INCOME CROPLAN® Spring Wheat

Public Spring Wheat

Winter Wheat Soybean RR Canola RR Canola LL Sunflower

Express SunSunflower Clearfield Corn

Average Yield 66 56 68 39 21.00 20.00 19.50 19.50 140

Price* $5.93 $5.53 $4.67 $7.75 $15.25 $14.75 $18.24 $18.24 $3.00

Income/Acre $391.38 $309.68 $317.56 $302.25 $320.25 $295.00 $355.68 $355.68 $420.00

ESTIMATED ExPENSES*VARIABLE COSTS

Seed

Seed $25.04 $19.94 $19.53 $63.48 $52.11 $56.20 $34.87 $39.23 $97.55

Seed Treat/Inoculant $12.07 $6.15 $0.00 $9.50 in bag in bag in bag in bag in bag

Crop Protection Products

Tech Fee — — — in bag in bag in bag in bag in bag in bag

Chemicals $34.56 $31.51 $31.51 $49.25 $26.14 $33.00 $38.25 $41.63 $24.06

Fertilizers

Fertilizer $43.97 $36.24 $45.51 $6.96 $41.03 $39.06 $22.01 $22.01 $68.40

Field Operations

Fuel & Lubrication $10.50 $10.50 $10.50 $10.50 $10.50 $10.50 $11.50 $11.50 $13.50

Repairs $18.00 $18.00 $18.00 $18.00 $18.00 $18.00 $18.00 $18.00 $19.00

Drying — — — — — — $7.00 $7.00 $12.00

Misc. Variable Costs

Crop Insurance $11.00 $11.00 $11.00 $12.00 $12.00 $12.00 $11.00 $11.00 $22.00

Operating Interest $6.21 $5.33 $5.63 $6.79 $6.39 $6.75 $5.71 $6.01 $10.26

FIXED COSTS

Machinery $40.00 $40.00 $40.00 $41.00 $39.00 $39.00 $44.00 $44.00 $54.00

Land Investment $75.00 $75.00 $75.00 $75.00 $75.00 $75.00 $75.00 $75.00 $75.00

Total Costs/Acre* $276.34 $253.67 $256.69 $292.48 $280.17 $289.51 $267.34 $275.38 $395.77

Net ROI/Acre $115.04 $56.01 $60.87 $9.77 $40.08 $5.49 $88.34 $80.30 $24.23Break-even Yield 47 46 55 38 18.37 19.63 14.66 15.10 132

Break-even Price $4.19 $4.53 $3.77 $7.90 $13.34 $14.48 $13.71 $14.12 $2.83

Plus Rotational Value

north examPLe CroP budget sheet*many factors go into determining which crops to rotate to and how to manage them, so these decisions shouldn’t be based on gut reactions alone. at winfield united, we’re focused on giving you the right tools to help you decide what’s best for your acres. for that reason, we like to provide example crop budget sheets in Beyond Seed magazine.

crop values and input costs are constantly changing and often vary by region. therefore, the figures in these budget sheets are always ballpark estimates. But the analysis of income, estimated expenses, fixed costs and

return on investment (roi) is an accurate guideline when it comes to helping you think through the pros and cons of each crop and its management options.

we encourage you to work with your local agronomist to use their electronic versions of these budget sheets to help you customize the figures for your fields. it’s a great collaborative tool and it puts you and your agronomist on the same page – both literally and figuratively.

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ag companies are always sharing data that makes their products appear to stand out above the rest. But how can you be sure that data is providing reliable information that’s applicable to your operation?

You’ve probably noticed that we’re constantly talking about the quality of our data at winfield united. we stand behind it because we test all of our crop varieties and hybrids by replicating each trial several times at every applicable Answer Plot location around the country, and we collect more than 5 million data points annually.

this level of local, regional and national testing allows us to be more confident in the validity of our data, and more importantly, it enables us to deliver more predictable product recommendations such as seed prescriptions.

in addition, the WinField United agronomy and product development team adheres to a strict set of standards that shepherd the communication of quality, reliable data with low trial error. this set of data and technology principles mean that any piece of data published by winfield united has been extensively vetted for accuracy and quality.

if you want to be more confident about the data you’re getting from other companies, take a look at the validity of the data and whether they’re providing prescriptive or descriptive analytics.

VALIDITY

if data is not validated by strong replication and analytics, you can’t be sure that it will help you make accurate decisions. field trials like those performed within the Answer Plot Program test products multiple times – even those that directly compete with WinField United products. whatever data source you choose, make sure it considers data integrity as a given.

for example, every variety listed in the wheat characterization charts feature on the R7 tool uses factors such as plant populations and management practices to help you choose the varieties that are best suited to your fields. each of these varieties includes a least significant difference (lsd) – a metric indicating that enough side-by-side replications have been performed on these products to virtually eliminate field variability. this enables you to confidently choose varieties based solely on genetics.

a low lsd essentially means that trial error has been minimized due to replication – it is a good indication of more testing and less variability between results.

we’re able to provide low lsds through the Answer Plot Program due to the level of local, regional and national testing conducted. this means we can account for conditions similar to your field, but are able to ensure validity through regional and national data. it also means that we learn from bad results at our expense, limiting the need to test on your own land.

PRESCRIPTIVE VS. DESCRIPTIVE

analytics should be more than just benchmarking against historical data or performance from other farmers. many crowd-sourced data companies offer descriptive analytics, which tell us about something that happened before. descriptive analytics can be helpful for looking at field attributes like soil sample components, but pairing a variety or hybrid by soil type is not something you likely want to do while looking at the past. You should spend more time looking at prescriptive analytics, which use data to prescribe a recommended action.

there’s little room for error in today’s tough commodities market, so make sure you demand quality data. if someone says you can win big by switching to their seed or dramatically cutting your fertility program, don’t just take their word for it. demand to see data that supports this course of action, and understand the type and quality of the data you’re looking at. if it doesn’t include lsds or if it’s not replicated, question it.

contact your local WinField United retailer to learn more about getting the most value out of your data. and stay tuned to answerPlot.com later this fall for Answer Plot data from the 2018 season once harvest has been completed in your area.

deCiPhering the data: is it truth or hyPe?Mark Torno, Diverse Field Crops Marketing Manager Wheat, Canola, Sunflower@marktornoatwork

answer Plot®, croPlan®, r7® and winfield® are trademarks of winfield united.

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ControLLing inseCts in neWLy seeded Winter WheatMark herz, WinField United Agronomist

insect populations that are left unchecked in the fall can quickly decimate young wheat plants, seriously impacting a stand’s yield potential. But fortunately there are a number of ways to keep pests out of your winter wheat crop, and the process begins before you even put seed in the ground.

REMOVE WHEAT CURL MITE HOST PLANTS

microscopic wheat curl mites, which survive on volunteer wheat and corn, can infect your crop with wheat streak mosaic virus (wsmV) if not eliminated before your stand emerges. the disease can cause yield loss of 50 percent or more if it infects a winter wheat crop in the fall.1

insecticides aren’t effective on this tiny pest, but fortunately farmers can mitigate it by targeting its food source. wheat curl mites can only survive 10 days without green leaf tissue, so a burndown application made at least 14 days before seeding winter wheat helps ensure any existing mites won’t live long enough to infect the crop.

USE INSECTICIDE SEED TREATMENTS

another step in controlling insects that occurs prior to planting is selecting the right seed treatment for your acres. if you take a production-minded approach with your wheat crop and manage it like corn, arming your CROPLAN wheat seed with an insecticide and fungicide treatment is essential. this is especially the case in fields with substantial insect history and no-till acres where higher

insect and disease pressure is of particular concern.

winfield united offers four seed treatment options that are designed to decrease seeding rates by helping to improve seedling establishment and minimize the losses in yield and quality – three of which include an insecticide treatment:

• Warden cereals ii: a combination of three fungicides.

• Warden cereals hr: an insecticide plus two fungicides.

• Warden cereals wrii: four fungicides and a high-rate insecticide for enhanced wireworm control.

• Warden cereals 360: three fungicides and an insecticide, plus Ascend plant growth regulator (Pgr) by winfield united to aid in early germination, emergence and root growth.

every field has different challenges, so consult your local WinField United retailer to determine which Warden seed treatment is best suited to help improve emergence, stand establishment and overall crop health in your fields.

SCOUT AND PROTECT YOUR CROP IN SEASON

several different types of insects are looking to take a bite out of your winter wheat crop every season, so it’s important to stay on your toes by diligently scouting your fields and applying insecticides when necessary.

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TOP PESTS TO BE WARY OF:

Grasshoppers living off the lush food source provided by nearby alfalfa fields could be a threat to your winter wheat crop when it’s emerging, especially if temperatures are warm this fall. three or more grasshoppers per square yard within a field can destroy seedling wheat2, so be sure to continue scouting your alfalfa crop if positioned near wheat and spray when necessary. an application of Grizzly too insecticide by winfield united can help hinder their movement to wheat.

Aphids not only feed on wheat, but they can also transmit Barley Yellow dwarf virus. more than 20 different aphid species can carry the disease3, so farmers should consider the history within the area and be diligent in their scouting efforts. a well-timed application of Grizzly too or Yuma insecticide by winfield united can help you suppress aphid pressure.

Winter grain mite populations peak around the months of october and march and sandy, coarse fields are more at risk. a crop will have a stunted, silver-gray appearance from the road when there is significant pressure; malathion 5 insecticide by winfield united can provide good control.

Brown wheat mites are most active in late fall and early spring. they cause stippling of the leaves by piercing plant cells and give the crop a scorched and weathered appearance from a distance. an application of Yuma or dimate 4e insecticide can help curb the pest.

Armyworms tend to be more of a problem in the spring, but populations can multiply in the fall under warm conditions. these crawlers eat fast and move fast. in fact, one larva can eat about 43 linear inches of plant tissue – 75 percent of that in a three to four day period. for that reason, it’s advisable to spray for them as soon as they show up in your fields. Grizzly too or Yuma insecticide treatments can be effective in reducing armyworm populations.

Your best line of defense against insects is to proactively seek them out and be prepared to spray for them when necessary. so in addition to regularly scouting your fields for pests, be sure to talk with local agronomists and fellow farmers in your area to learn if others are experiencing heavy insect pressure. if they are, it’s likely only a matter of time before populations find their way to your fields.1 “wheat streak mosaic Virus”, www.plantpath.k-state.edu/extension/publications/wheat-streak-mosaic-virus.pdf

2 “wheat insect management”, www.bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/mf745.pdf

3 “Barley Yellow dwarf”, www.cropwatch.unl.edu/plantdisease/wheat/barley-yellow-dwarf

ascend®, croPlan®, grizzly®, warden®, winfield® and Yuma® are trademarks of winfield united.

two-striped grasshopper photo courtesy of whitney cranshaw, colorado state university, Bugwood.org.

russian wheat aphid photo courtesy of mary Burrows, montana state university, Bugwood.org.

winter wheat mite photo courtesy of the kansas dept. of agriculture.

Brown wheat mite photo courtesy of frank Peairs, colorado state university, Bugwood.org.

fall armyworm photo courtesy of frank Peairs, colorado state university, Bugwood.org.

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there are a number of considerations to keep in mind when it comes to harvesting your sunflower crop. whether you’re just about to venture out into the fields or you recently wrapped up harvest, recording your observations while they’re fresh in your mind can go a long way in helping you fine-tune your crop management plan for next year.

here are some of the most important things that i encourage farmers to look at when harvesting sunflowers.

STAND EVALUATION

as is the case with any field crop, a uniform sunflower stand is a key component of realizing optimal yield potential. i always recommend analyzing uniformity and doing a stand count either prior to, or during harvest to determine how consistent your spacing is. consistent seed spacing aids in:

• More efficient use of moisture, sunlight and nutrients.

• Better weed suppression.

• Even plant development and plant drydown across the field.

if you notice some problem areas while scouting, make sure that next year your planter is correctly calibrated for the hybrid/seed size you plant and consider planting at a slower speed. this will help you achieve your target population and prevent gaps and bunching.

HEAD SIzE

the ideal head size for sunflower is around 8 inches. wider heads can get too thick and heavy – causing plants to lodge – and smaller heads often result in reduced yields. sunflowers flex their head size in response to population, so if you find that the heads are too big this fall, you’ll want to consider increasing your population next season. if the heads are too small, you should reduce your population.

WEED PRESSURE

the sunflower canopy does well in suppressing weeds once it has established, so if you encounter weed pressure during harvest and you didn’t have large gaps in your stand, it’s possible that your weed control system didn’t align with the weed species present in your fields. if that’s the case, make sure you do a better

harvest observations Can heLP you imProve next year’s sunfLoWer CroPMatt dybedahl, WinField United Seed & Agronomy Advisor

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job identifying the weed history of the fields you plant sunflowers into next year.

CROPLAN sunflower hybrids with the duPont™ expresssun® trait are tolerant to express® herbicide, which works well against broadleaf weeds like canada thistle, lambsquarters and wild buckwheat, but not against grasses. so if you encounter a lot of grassy weeds during harvest and you anticipate having similar problems next year, you can either switch to the clearfield® Production system or tank mix a product like Section three herbicide by winfield united when spraying express® herbicide. Just make sure you consult your local agronomist for assistance in determining the right Section three herbicide rate to use so you prevent any antagonizing effects with express® herbicide.

the clearfield® Production system is tolerant to Beyond® herbicide, which handles weeds like cocklebur, nightshade, lanceleaf sage, smartweed and grasses better than other weeds. so watch for late season weed flushes to make sure you are using the right herbicide system for your operation.

DESICCATION

applying a herbicide when your crop is around 30 percent moisture allows you to harvest a few weeks earlier and potentially avoid late season yield loss stemming from bird or insect feeding, shatter loss or lodging. Plants reach physiological maturity and are ready for desiccation when the backs of the heads start to yellow (yellow/green is too early) and the bracts turn brown into the shoulder.

if you already harvested your crop and observed problems like those mentioned earlier, keep a closer eye on your crop’s moisture level and make sure you spray at the right time next season. Cornerstone Plus herbicide by winfield united and gramoxone® max herbicide are good products to use for sunflower desiccant applications.

HARVEST ORDER

another way to help prevent yield loss is to prioritize your harvest. when evaluating your stand at the end of the season, identify the fields where lodging or shatter loss is of particular concern and harvest those fields first.

if you find that your harvest schedule was too compressed this year and it all matured around the same time, spread it out more next season by planting a combination of early, mid and/or late maturities. for example, CROPLAN cP432e is an early maturing sunflower hybrid that has great yield potential and drydown. it can be matched up with a mid-maturity hybrid like CROPLAN cP455e.

finally, make sure your combine and fan speed are set correctly so you get as much of the seed in the bin as possible and prevent it from going through your combine.

Your local WinField United agronomist is just a phone call away, so if you have questions leading up to or following harvest, don’t hesitate to reach out.

cornerstone®, croPlan®, section® and winfield® are trademarks of winfield united. duPont™ is a trademark and express® and expresssun® are registered trademarks of duPont or its affiliates. Beyond® and clearfield® are registered trademarks of Basf. gramoxone® is a registered trademark of a syngenta group company.

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for the longest time, you could only base fertility decisions on your personal management style and the yield results of previous wheat crops. after making adjustments from year-to-year, you eventually settled on nitrogen (n) levels that you felt delivered the best results. when you introduced different varieties in your fields, you had to start over again, using trial and error to determine how much n to apply, and when to apply it. if you’re still doing this, it’s time to take a different approach.

thanks to the thousands of replicated trials that our research team has performed in recent years at Answer Plot locations in wheat-producing states, the work has been done for you. we’ve compiled all of this quality data, putting accurate and consistent measurements into the wheat characterization charts feature on the WinField United R7 tool. this virtual playbook tells you which CROPLAN wheat varieties respond favorably to higher n rates, and which don’t. in addition to helping you optimize yield potential, this can save you a significant amount of time and help ensure that you make smart, cost-efficient input decisions.

CUSTOMIzE N RATES BY VARIETY TO OPTIMIzE ROI POTENTIAL

each CROPLAN wheat variety has a response to nitrogen (rtn) rating. these scores help you determine where to place, and how to manage each variety so that you can optimize its yield potential.

• Low N response varieties don’t have much flex, so they often fit best in low-yielding portions of your fields. we’ve even found through our R7 high management research that some wheat varieties actually perform better under reduced n rates. if you tend to be more conservative with crop inputs, these varieties will likely be a good fit for you.

• High N response varieties that have more flex can produce more kernels per spikelet and more spikelets per head, so they usually fit best in the areas that consistently perform the best. if you like to push n rates to manage for high yields, these varieties will probably be right in your wheelhouse.

Example 1:

Variety 1: low response to n

Variety 2: high response to n

Yield averages and n rates vary quite a bit by region, but for the purpose of the example above, let’s say the low n rate in this scenario is 75 lbs/a, while the high n rate is 150 lbs/a. while both varieties improve yield potential with additional n, the high rtn Variety 2 is more efficient at turning that extra n into larger yield potential. the low rtn Variety 1 doesn’t flex as much, reducing the odds that it will provide a return on investment.

SPLIT IN-SEASON N CAN REDUCE LODGING IN SOME VARIETIES

some wheat varieties can handle one large pre-plant n application, but others are prone to lodging if too much n is applied upfront. in addition to assigning rtn scores, we’ve also identified which CROPLAN wheat varieties tend to lodge under high n levels.

Leverage resPonse to nitrogen sCores in your Wheat management PLanJamie kloster, WinField United Technical Seed Managertwitter: @Jamieklost

CROPLAN® VARIETY 1 CROPLAN® VARIETY 2

Low N High N Low N High N

to make for a smoother harvest of these varieties, consider dividing your total n rate into two or even three smaller applications over the course of the growing season. top-dress applications made around the tillering, boot and flag leaf stages can help keep n levels more balanced in these varieties, which can help reduce lodging.

Example 2:

Variety 1: exhibits good standability regardless of when n is applied

Variety 2: Prone to lodging when all n is applied pre-plant; responds better to split applications

in a dry season you might put down half n up front and the remaining half or 1/3 later to optimize plant use. this can help minimize lodging in the field for varieties that are more prone to it.

when weather conditions are favorable and it looks like a bumper crop could be on the horizon, you’ll want to take advantage of the situation and make a supplemental n application during the growing season to help optimize yield potential and maximize protein goals. once again, lodging-prone varieties will likely respond better if that in-season treatment is divided into multiple, smaller applications.

UTILIzE R7® TOOL TECHNOLOGY TO FURTHER IMPROVE EFFICIENCIES

to further leverage rtn scores in your crop management system, be sure to use the R7 tool to help with variety placement and variable rate n applications. also take advantage of the field forecasting tool, which analyzes in-season imagery to measure plant biomass and gauge the quality of the crop to help you determine whether a supplemental n application will pay off in any given season. You can also have tissue samples evaluated by NutriSolutions tissue analysis to get a snapshot of what nutrients are available to the plant at the time the sample is taken to further aid with your crop fertility decisions.

finally, be sure to turn to your local WinField United retailer for a tutorial in using the wheat characterization charts in the R7 tool. they’ll walk you through the program and run different management scenarios to help you select the right CROPLAN wheat varieties for your fields and help optimize their yield potential by prescribing the right amounts of n to apply.

answer Plot®, croPlan®, nutrisolutions®, r7® and winfield® are trademarks of winfield united.

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High N

TOTAL NPREPLANT

SPLIT APPLY N

High N

CROPLAN®

VARIETY 1CROPLAN®

VARIETY 2

MAKE HARVEST MORE FLEXIBLE WITH

HVX MEGATRON ALFALFA.

®

© 2018 winfield solutions, llc. croPlan and winfield are registered trademarks of winfield solutions, llc. harvXtra® is a trademark of forage genetics international, llc. roundup ready® is a trademark of monsanto technology llc, used under license by forage genetics international, llc.harvXtra® alfalfa with roundup ready® technology is subject to planting and use restrictions. Visit www.foragegenetics.com/legal for the full legal, stewardship and trademark statements for these products.

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We last visited with Kent after his family took 1st place in the 2016 National Wheat Yield Contest in the Spring Wheat – Dryland category with CROPLAN® CP3530 wheat. Here’s a look at what’s been going on at his farm since then.

How many acres do you farm and which crops do you grow?

we farm 24,000 acres – 10,000 of which are dedicated to wheat. we also grow 4,000 acres each of corn, soybeans and garbanzo beans and 2,000 acres of pinto beans. most of our corn acres were planted to CROPLAN 2845 smartstax® riB complete® this year. my wife, rhonda, and i run Pfaff farm with our three sons – steve, Zachary and nick – along with our family friend, chris stork, and four other farmhands. we took over the farm from my dad, kenneth Pfaff, and he still likes helping out, too.

How did the 2017 growing season go?

it was a tough one. like most fields in our area last year, yields were down because it was so dry. we received 6 fewer inches of moisture than we did in 2016. we feel we did everything we could to get the most out of that crop though; we managed it the same as we did the previous season. had we given it less inputs, i’m sure yields would have been even lower.

Which CROPLAN® wheat varieties did you plant this year?

this is our 4th season seeding CROPLAN spring wheat; it went on all 10,000 wheat acres this year. we planted most of it to CROPLAN cP3530, but we also planted CROPLAN cP3100 WinPak on about 200 acres of rougher ground this year. we’re also doing a field trial with CROPLAN cP3888 WinPak planted side-by-side with cP3530 to see how the two compare.

How have you managed that trial and have you observed any differences between the two varieties?

first, we order all of our wheat with Warden cereals 360 seed treatment by winfield united to protect it from early season insects and disease. it includes Ascend plant growth regulator (Pgr) by winfield united, which i’ve found has given the seedling an extra boost.

Customer testimoniaL

KENT PFAFF OF PFAFF FARM, WASHbURN, ND

we planted all of our cP3530 wheat seed at a population of 100 lbs/a; cP3888 WinPak was planted at 110 lbs/a. we made a variable rate pre-plant nitrogen (n) application that averaged 140 lbs/a, and we also made an in-furrow application of 8-31-7-7-1 at 75 lbs/a. we planted the trial on may 16 and both varieties were looking good as of early august, but cP3888 WinPak was standing a couple of inches taller.

How has your local WinField United representative provided added value to CROPLAN® brand seed?

we work with winfield united master agronomy advisor tiffany Braasch and she’s an excellent resource. i can call her anytime – including weekends and evenings – and she’s always able to answer questions and help me create a management plan when a problem arises. we’re lucky to have her on our team.

Have you visited your local Answer Plot® site this year?

i’ve been over to the washburn Answer Plot location at least 15 times so far this year. we’re fortunate that at least half of the land we farm is located within 3 to 4 miles of the site, so i’m constantly out there looking at how different crop varieties and hybrids are performing in relation to ours. some of our fields actually border the Answer Plot location, so we have nearly identical soils and overall growing conditions. i’ve especially liked looking at how the different varieties are responding to disease pressure and fungicide treatments. if the crop responded particularly well to a certain treatment, i could either try to replicate it on our fields or keep it in mind for next year.

kent Pfaff’s story is provided as an individual’s experience with WinField United products and may not be a representation of actual results than can be guaranteed. Because of factors outside of winfield united’s control such as weather, soil, planting and product application; individual results to be obtained, including but not limited to: financial performance, profits, losses and yields cannot be predicted or guaranteed by winfield solutions.

kent Pfaff’s sons, steven and Zachary (right), inspect their wheat crop.

answer Plot®, ascend®, croPlan®, warden®, winfield® and winPak® are trademarks of winfield united. smartstax® and riB complete® are registered trademarks of monsanto.

winfield solutions, llcP.o. Box 64281st. Paul, mn 55164

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winField United are trademarks and class act and winField are registered trademarks of winfield solutions, LLc. © 2018 winfield solutions, LLc

Make sUre yOUr Tank Uses aLL iTs FirepOwer.Don’t leave any weed-fighting power in the tank by adding a Class Act® water conditioner. These convenient liquid formulations tie up minerals in hard water that suppress herbicide effectiveness, while nonionic surfactant and patented CornSorb® additive drive active ingredients into the plant. Visit winfieldunited.com to learn more.