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Articles by Martha Mintz

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What I’ve Learned from No-Tilling

‘Startup’ No-Tiller Applies Tried & True Farming Know-How to New Operation

A young grower started his own operation strong by leasing long-term no-till acres & gleaning critical knowledge from past employers.
By Martha Mintz and Andrew Bernzott posted on January 28, 2023 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Cover Crops, Nutrient Management
My time spent as a farmhand provided many learning and advancement opportunities — including starting my own farm in Connersville, Ind., which stitched together the one-generation gap in my family’s farming heritage.
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What I've Learned from No-Tilling

Efficiency, Diversification & Bold Cropping Strategies Put New No-Tillers Ahead

Jacob & Cassandra Kubik of Walker, Iowa, build on early no-till efficiencies & profits with relay cropping, innovative cover cropping practices & sheep.
By Martha Mintz posted on January 3, 2023 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Cover Crops, Nutrient Management
Starting a farm from scratch using no-till, EQIP and CSP programs proved the best and easiest path to production for my wife, Cassandra, and me.
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What I’ve Learned from No-Tilling

Cover Crops Pay Big Time In A Drought

Born into no-till, Willis Jepson of Orlinda, Tenn., added cover crops to a legacy of building resilient soils that helped crops fare better against drought.
By Martha Mintz posted on November 2, 2022 | Posted in Cover Crops
I’ve been no-tilling 45 years. That’s also my age. No-till is all I’ve ever known as my dad and grandfather were early adopters of the practice.
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What I’ve Learned from No-Tilling

No-Till Success, Improved Soil Health Means ‘No More’ Chemical Fallow

This northern Montana couple grazes beef and improves soil life with farm-produced microorganisms that they grow, extract and apply to eight different no-tilled crops.
By Martha Mintz posted on October 24, 2022 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Cover Crops, Soil Health

Our soils used to be dead. Now we have mushrooms growing down the rows with our crops. It’s a whimsical nod to the soil health we’ve worked so adamantly to build since we took over farming from Korey’s dad, Randy, in 2012. 


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What I've Learned from No-Tilling

Focus on No-Till, Soil Health Puts Farm Problems Out to Pasture

Veteran no-tiller Terry Ness has found a focus on soil health and diverse rotations can mean reduced inputs and security in the face of weather, insects, weeds and disease.
By Terry Ness and Martha Mintz posted on September 6, 2022 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Cover Crops, Soil Health
My soils were on the verge of giving out on me when I finally made the switch to no-till. I’m a first-generation farmer.
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What I’ve Learned from No-Tilling

Soaking Up Regenerative Ag Knowledge Builds Stable Foundation

Having returned to farming after a career in construction, Chris Schmidt was open to every idea his son brought home from college.
By Martha Mintz posted on August 31, 2022 | Posted in Cover Crops, Nutrient Management, Soil Health
I’m not afraid to listen to my kid. My dad, Dale, was a little more skeptical, but then again, skeptical is understandable — especially when it was his living that was on the line when my son, Brad, and I wanted to do a little experimenting
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What I've Learned from No-Tilling

No-Tilling Boy Scout Style: Always Prepared

Robust storage allows off-peak bulk purchase of farm inputs, which are then applied at the perfect time with on-farm application equipment run by expert help.
By Martha Mintz posted on August 9, 2022 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Cover Crops, Equipment
No-till is all I’ve ever known. The practice was developed just 2 hours south of us in Christian County, Ky. My dad and grandfather bought an Allis-Chalmers no-till planter in the 1980s. By the time I purchased my first piece of land as a sophomore in college it wasn’t even a thought to put a plow to it. It just wasn’t how we farmed
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Last-Minute Planter Prep for No-Tillers & Strip-Tillers

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