LEGEND SEEDS
ADVANTAGE
FEB. 2016
YIELD RESULTS
Upcoming Events
By Glen Davis, President, Legend Seeds
Central MN Farm Show
February 23-25 • St. Cloud, MN
WITH LEGEND SEEDS
As you plan for 2016 planting season there are many
things to consider. We encourage you to focus on
your 2016 yield goals to provide the best results and
profitability in each field.
When we plan with end yields in mind, those goals
can guide our input plans and other important
management decisions.
Consider setting a yield goal field by field and then
evaluate each field’s historic potential. Next, you can
begin reviewing what you can add or subtract in the plan to create the most
profit per acre.
Eau Claire Farm Show
March 8-9 • Eau Claire, WI
Hawkeye Farm Show
March 1-3 • UNI-Dome
North American
Farm & Power Show
March 17-19 • Owatonna, MN
We recognize that no growing season is the same and this is a different
market climate today than we were in four years ago. Your 2016 yield goals
may differ from what they were in 2012 – and then again, they may not.
Developing a successful plan is no easy task. Many factors come into play,
which is the reason Legend Seeds provides Farmacology™ to our growers at
no cost. This total cropping system encompasses the Legend Edge program
which is the database that holds all your field information.
By evaluating your field data and based on your yield goals, Farmacology
will provide guidance on all input decisions – even providing prescriptive
recommendations for all inputs including; seed placement, fertility and multihybrid placement.
If Farmacology™ sounds like a resource you’d like to try, contact your local
Legend Seeds representative and they will help you get started.
We all know that proactive plans excel over reactive ones. The Legend Seeds’
team is focused on helping our growers develop a clear plan for 2016 to
prevent knee-jerk reactions to environmental changes.
Thank you for making Legend Seeds a partner in your plan for success in the
2016 growing season.
Glen, far right, and Tim Bratland, far left, walk a field with a Legend Seeds Grower.
What’s Inside:
PG 2: Results From the
Field
PG 4 : Farmacology™
Delivers For Farmers of All
Sizes
PG 5: Results in Our Fields2015 L.E.A.P. & Knowledge
Plot™ Review
LEGEND SEEDS ADVANTAGE
RESULTS FROM THE FIELD
WHAT GROWERS HAVE TO SAY
Since 1990 seed has been Legend Seeds’ only focus - providing
the best seed for our customers and their unique growing
conditions.
results, and took the time to share were inducted into the
Yield Advantage Club – an idea developed by Legend Seeds
President, Glen Davis.
Along with superior seed, Legend Seeds provides a team of
specialists armed with research-based management practices
and tools to help our growers maximize yields and profits on
every acre. We call this the Legend Advantage.
“Each harvest we learn a lot from our growers as well as
Legend Seeds Knowledge Plot™ and L.E.A.P. plot programs. We
can’t keep all these great stories and testimonials to ourselves,
we wanted to share some highlights with all our customers,”
explains Kristyne Thull, Marketing Coordinator.
Throughout harvest 2015 we reached out to Legend Seeds
growers to learn how they experienced the Legend Advantage
in their fields. Those growers who yielded exceptional
Read on to learn the stories of three Yield Advantage Club
members.
LARRY HOPPE, OSAKIS, MINNESOTA
Yield Advantage: LibertyLink® soybeans yielded 75 bushels per acre and where there had
been some resistance issues in years past, this year the fields were clean.
Tell us about your farm? I raise corn, soybeans and spring wheat. Most of what I raise I feed
to the Holstein feeder steers I buy at 300 pounds and feed to 1500 pounds. I’ve been farming
with my brother (who also happens to be a Legend Seeds dealer) Herb Hoppe since 1977. I look
forward to one day farming with my youngest son, Aaron, who works as an agronomist. It’s not
always been easy – as anyone who farmed in the 80s will attest – but farming is my passion. I
also do some custom combining to diversify my farm income. I guess I don’t like to have all my
eggs in one basket. I need to add that I wouldn’t be farming if it were not for my wife, Bev’s willingness to work off the farm.
Why do you plant Legend Seeds? Did I mention my brother, Herb is a dealer? I like the family connection and the products
work. I also appreciate the information Legend Seeds provides on how to get the best yields. For example, I planted
this traited soybean because I was having resistance issues and Herb recommended we try this variety. I also use seed
treatments.
OFFERING THE BEST
CASH DISCOUNTS
FOR YOUR OPERATION!
Contact your Legend Representative to learn
more about how you can take advantage of
these savings!
2
LEGEND SEEDS ADVANTAGE
LONNIE ERBES, COLFAX, NORTH DAKOTA
Yield Advantage: Legend Seeds’ conventional corn yielded 182 bushels per acre plus it had
excellent standability. We experienced some 50 to 60 mph winds, and there wasn’t any ear
droppage or lodging.
Tell us about your farm? I grew up on this farm and never left. I raise corn, soybeans and
barley. I guess farming is just something that got into my blood and I can’t get rid of it!
Although I won’t get rich farming, it is very rewarding. Every season I enjoy watching the results
of my hard work grow and yield.
Why do you plant Legend Seeds? I like the fact that Legend Seeds is a family-owned regional
company and it’s not owned by a big chemical company or an overseas corporation. They also have a great selection of
conventional seed.
Tell us about why you planted this corn hybrid? I have had some resistance problems – to me it doesn’t make sense
to plant Round-up corn if I am going to use conventional herbicides. Plus, with the commodity prices what they are, by
purchasing conventional corn I can save on inputs without impacting my outcomes.
BRUCE HOFFMAN, ROCKHAM, SOUTH DAKOTA
Yield Advantage: Legend Seeds’ doublepro corn hybrid yielded 191 bushels. I typically get
100-110 bushels per acre. The Legend alfalfa I planted was also excellent – excelling in total
pounds and quality.
Tell us about your farm? Ever since I was knee high to a grasshopper, I knew farming was
what I wanted to do. I enjoy livestock and being outdoors in the open country. I’m a fourth
generation farmer, my dad, Willard, 87, still farms with me. We run a commercial cow/calf herd
and a flock of registered Corriedale sheep. My dad got into raising a registered flock in 1958 and
my daughter, Lacie, is actively involved. Last year our ram was named national champion at the
North Dakota State Fair and a few other shows. In 2013 we won the national champion ram title in Louisville. I am a small
farmer and feed most everything I raise to my livestock. I raise corn, oats, wheat and a little hay millet, a lot of alfalfa and
other prairie hay.
Why do you plant Legend Seeds? Glen and I are fraternity brothers. We were in Alpha Gamma Rho together at South
Dakota State University. So, when he asked if I would try some of his corn 20 years ago, I did. I have been impressed by the
product and the company. I only plant Legend Seeds.
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3
LEGEND SEEDS ADVANTAGE
FARMACOLOGY™ DELIVERS
FOR FARMERS OF ALL SIZES
The Legend Seeds team is focused on providing the
information and knowledge necessary for Legend growers
to make the best management decisions to maximize yield
potential in their fields. To support this initiative, Legend Seeds
provides Farmacology™, a proactive cropping system designed
to help make management decisions with increased accuracy
and efficiency, to growers at no cost.
Because Legend Edge is accessible via web browser, Arlyn’s
field data can be accessed by whomever he provides his login
to, allowing both he and his brother to input data and review
information.
“The Legend Edge program really helps streamline
management operations. Whether you have multiple family
members or employees working together, everyone can input
and access data, which keeps all involved on the same page,”
Josh says. “Anyone with the login can track which fields have
been sprayed and where. It’s not tied to a PC, so all another
person has to do is login and see what was entered to track
progress and finish the job.”
“Through precision services, field-specific data collection and
use of an online interface for information that can be accessed
anytime and anywhere, Farmacology offers tools which
farming operations of all sizes can use to streamline overall
farm management,” explains Legend Sales Agronomist, Josh
Lamecker.
These tools range from basic field management, field mapping,
keeping track of which hybrids are planted where, soil
sampling data, input data, spray dates, calculating growing
degree units and determining maturity dates to providing
variable rate prescriptions, writing dual hybrid prescriptions
and interfacing with drone technology.
With so many resources available to you, where
do you begin?
Josh suggests beginning with a challenge or problem you want
to overcome. “Our team is here to help solve problems so in
the end, growers can increase profits when they plant Legend
Seeds.”
“Unlike many other precision ag software platforms, with the
Legend Edge, the farmer retains ownership of his data,” Josh
says. He adds that another great feature – for farmers of all sizes
– is the fact that Farmacology is color blind. The technology
works with all equipment. “It doesn’t care if a grower has John
Deere or CASE equipment, or both; this technology has the
ability to read data from multiple software formats.”
For Sisseton, S.D. farmer Arlyn Ceroll, the issue was getting a
handle on his fields’ fertility. “We didn’t know what was out
there as far as our nutrients went. We just had the co-op apply
a flat rate,” explains Arlyn. Describing his farm as average-sized,
Arlyn raises corn, soybeans, wheat and alfalfa and operates
a cow/calf herd and raises registered Gelbvieh cattle with his
dad, Art, and brother, Aaron.
User friendly
Arlyn says he was able to learn to navigate the program in one
training session. As he expands his usage of Legend Edge and
other Farmacology tools, he knows that Legend Seeds will
provide him with the support he needs.
For Arlyn, the cloud-based Farmacology program Legend Edge
provided the perfect solution. To get started, Josh worked with
Arlyn to have his fields grid sampled. As expected, Arlyn was
over-applying nutrients on some areas of some fields and other
areas were at a deficit.
“The Legend Edge program, along with our other Farmacology
resources, is very easy to use. The toughest thing about
Farmacology is helping growers understand that it is a portfolio
of precision ag tools,” Josh explains.
Josh showed Arlyn how Legend Edge could take the grid
sampling results and provide his local cooperative with a
variable rate fertility prescription to use when custom applying.
To learn how Legend Seeds’ powerful Farmacology resources
can help you maximize yields, increase profits and overall
better manage your farming operation, contact your Legend
Seeds representative. ADVANTAGE
“This Farmacology tool allowed us to make better use of the
money we spend on fertilizer,” Arlyn said.
4
LEGEND SEEDS ADVANTAGE
RESULTS IN OUR FIELDS:
2015 L.E.A.P. & KNOWLEDGE PLOT™ REVIEW
Results are in from 2015 Legend Elite Advancement Project
or (L.E.A.P.) and Knowledge Plots™ and the data has been
compiled. Legend’s Director of Research, Mike Knight and
Director of Product Development, Matt Raml say based on
results, growers can look forward to yet another generation
of Legend Seeds’ hybrids and varieties to amp up yield goals.
advantage, but provides significant agronomic advantage as
well,” Mike says. “There are some older hybrids in our product
guide which continue to yield exceptional results year after
year.”
Tried and True
Matt Raml echoes Mike’s comments and adds that as
an independent regional seed company, Legend Seeds’
connection to superior germ plasm, from all providers in the
industry, results in a cutting edge product portfolio.
The research, trials and vetting process Legend Seeds’
hybrids and varieties undergo prior to release, is intense.
“We gather more than yield data on the more than 30,000
replicated plots which make up L.E.A.P. We also review
each genetic line’s ability to withstand pest and disease
pressure as well as agronomic traits like lodging, root scores
and ear size and their response to numerous management
techniques,” Mike explains.
Because of this process, Legends Seeds growers can
confidently plant based on the recommendations of their
Legend Seeds representative, knowing seed is developed to
excel in their fields’ growing conditions.
With a nod to our company name, Mike calls these
“legendary.”
“It’s our goal that growers who plant Legend Seeds will
increase their return on investment on every acre,” Matt
explains. “Overall our corn and soybean portfolios are
positioned well throughout the marketplace – this goes back
to the common theme of Legend Seeds having access to
germ plasm from every corn, soybean and alfalfa provider
so that we are able to provide the best new traits to our
growers.”
When a grower has a product that meets or exceeds their
yield goals, Mike encourages them to sit down with their
Legend Seeds representative and visit before making any
changes.
He adds that if you’ve been a Legend Seeds grower for a
while and do not see your favorite hybrid or variety in the
product guide, it’s because something better has replaced it.
“We made some changes this year because we saw a lot of
advantages exhibited by some new hybrids and varieties.”
“Before we introduce a new hybrid or variety to our product
lineup, we want to make sure that it not only provides a yield
To learn more, visit with your local Legend Seeds
representative. ADVANTAGE
NOW OFFERING
ROUNDUP READY 2
XTEND™ SOYBEANS
Legend Seeds is dedicated to providing
high yielding, consistent producing,
top quality products. That is why we are
excited to announce our 2016 Roundup
Ready 2 Xtend™ soybean lineup. Contact
a Legend Representative to learn more
about how you can get your Roundup
Ready 2 Xtend™ soybeans today.
5
LEGEND SEEDS ADVANTAGE
DEALER SPOTLIGHT:
DICK BIRCHMEIER, NEW LOTHROP, MI
Dick Birchmeier has worked
for the same farm family since
he was 14. “They had milk
cows and I heard they needed
help. I’ve been here ever
since,” explains the 55-year-old
Legend Seeds/Lemke Seeds
dealer.
Growing up on a farm just a
mile away, Dick has always
loved farm life. His older brothers took over farming his
family’s operation after his dad passed away when he was only
10 – so when the Gross family needed help, it became Dick’s
way to stay connected to the land and way of life he enjoys. “I
like working outside and doing something different every day.”
It was through his employer, Fred Gross, that Dick became a
seed dealer 20 years ago. “Fred suggested that we partner and
sell seed together.”
From the start Dick has enjoyed the seed business. “I
like getting to meet other farmers and learn about their
operations and seed needs. I’m not a pressure person, I let the
product do the work. The customers keep coming back,” he
explains.
Dick’s product offerings have increased over the years as
the independent seed company he sold for changed hands.
Lemke Seed bought Bayside and recently, Legend Seeds and
Lemke merged. “My customers like the wide range of nonGMO products because they raise livestock feed and these
products perform,” he says, noting that one particular hybrid
yielded 237 bpa in his test plot this summer.
Along with his seed dealership, Dick continues to farm for his
late employer’s wife, Peggy Gross. They raise corn, soybeans
and a cattle finishing operation.
A few years back, Dick had an opportunity to honor Fred
Gross, who he considered a second father, by naming a corn
hybrid for the date Fred passed away 15 years ago.
ADVANTAGE
PO Box 241
De Smet, SD 57231