Considering the challenging spring weather, to what degree did your cropping choices change from what you originally planned over the winter? (You may select multiple answers.)

I stuck with my original plan 81%

In no-tilled more corn 8%

I no-tilled more soybeans 8%

I no-tilled more small grains/specialty crops 7%

May 16-June 15, 2011

If you experienced a wetter-than-normal spring that delayed planting, how did that affect your no-till plans? (Choose the answer that best describes your situation.)

I stuck with no-till and patiently waited until it was dry enough to plant because no-till is worth the wait 71%

I lost patience, pulled out a tillage tool and hit some wet spots 7%

I'm not a 100% no-tiller and followed my typical practice of tilling locations that I felt needed to be tilled 17%

I think this year may have caused me to quit no-tilling 5%

April 16-May 15, 2011

If you are raising soybeans in 2011, what will you use to seed soybeans?

No-Till Drill 41%

No-Till Planter 50%

Both 9%

If you are using a no-till drill to seed soybeans, what will be your average seeding rate?

200,000 or more seeds/acre 7%

175,000-199,999 seeds/acre 32%

150,000-174,999 seeds/acre 39%

125,000-149,999 seeds/acre 16%

100,000-124,999 seeds/acre 4%

Less than 100,000 seeds/acre 2%

Average seeds/acre 167,477

If you are using a no-till planter to seed soybeans, what will be your average seeding rate?

200,000 or more seeds/acre 1%

175,000-199,999 seeds/acre 10%

150,000-174,999 seeds/acre 35%

125,000-149,999 seeds/acre 44%

100,000-124,999 seeds/acre 9%

Less than 100,000 seeds/acre 1%

Average seeds/acre 147,592

March 16-April 15, 2011

When will you make nitrogen applications for the 2011 corn crop? (Multiple answers are acceptable.)

Fall 14%

Spring Pre-Plant 37%

At-Plant 63%

Sidedress 59%

Foliar 18%

February 16-March 15, 2011

Are you planning any cropping changes heading into 2011 vs. 2010? (Select all that apply.)

We will no-till a higher percentage of corn 24%

We will no-till a higher percentage of soybeans 21%

We will no-till a higher percentage of small grains 10%

We will increase specialty crop acreage 5%

We will make no changes to our cropping plan 48%

January 16-February 15, 2011

What equipment purchases will you make ahead of the 2011 production season? (You may select multiple answers.)

GPS/Precision Tools 49%

Row Unit Attachments 36%

No-Till Planter 29%

Tractor 25%

Fertilizer Toolbar 14%

Self-Propelled Sprayer 13%

Combine 11%

Tillage Tools 11%

Strip-Till Rig 9%

No-Till Drill 8%

Pull-Type Sprayer 8%

No-Till Air Seeder 6%

December 16, 2010-January 15, 2011

What corn hybrids will you use in your no-till operation in 2011? (You may select multiple answers.)

Conventional 25%

Roundup Ready (RR) 60%

LibertyLink (LL) 15%

European Corn Borer 6%

ECB/RR 19%

ECB/LL 6%

ECB/RR/LL 15%

ECB/Corn Rootworm (CRW)/RR 48%

ECB/CRW/LL 7%

ECB/CRW/RR/LL 34%

November 16-December 15, 2010

What comments best describe your situation with fall fertilization? (Multiple answers accepted.)

I did not apply nitrogen in the fall of 2009 58%

I applied nitrogen in the fall of 2009 20%

I did not apply nitrogen in the fall of 2009
due to the late harvest, but I am applying
some nitrogen this fall 10%

I am applying nitrogen this fall because I
think it will be economically advantageous 20%

I do not apply nitrogen in the fall because I
think it is a poor agronomic practice 55%

I did not apply potassium and/or
phosphorus in the fall of 2009 55%

I applied potassium and/or phosphorus
in the fall of 2009 35%

I did not apply potassium and/or phosphorus
in the fall of 2009 due to the late harvest,
but I am applying P and/or K this fall 17%

I am applying potassium and/or phosphorus
this fall because I think it will be
economically advantageous 49%

I do not apply potassium and/or
phosphorus in the fall because I think it
is a poor agronomic practice 20%

October 16-November 15, 2010

Will you make herbicide applications this fall to any of your planned crop acreage for 2011?

Yes 57%

No 43%

September 16-October 15, 2010

Where do you think your corn yields will end up this year vs. your expectations from earlier in the summer?

They will exceed my expectations 15%

They will meet my expectations 22%

They will fall short of my expectations 63%

August 16-September 15, 2010

How do you plan to manage corn residue this fall to improve next spring's planting efforts? (You may select multiple answers.)

Let earthworms, microbes break it down 73%

Combine spreaders 49%

Header, knife rolls or other combine improvements 24%

Nitrogen or biological agents 15%

Chop the stalks 13%

Grazing 12%

Run harrows or vertical-tillage tools 10%

Harvest for ethanol 0%

July 16-August 15, 2010

If you are not operating in a pure no-till system, what do you need to be able to conduct more no-till on your farm? (You may select multiple answers.)

More technical assistance 25%

More cost-share funding 8%

Tax incentives 17%

Higher grain prices 16%

Less government paperwork 9%

More confidence in system 52%

Equipment upgrades 7%

June 16-July 15, 2010

Will you apply fungicides to your crop this summer? If so, which crops will you spray? (You may select multiple answers.)

Corn 42%

Soybeans 38%

Small grains 13%

No plans to apply 37%

May 16-June 15, 2010

Are you participating in the Conservation Stewardship Program?

Yes 63%

No 37%

April 16-May 15, 2010

When it comes to planting corn, which of the following tillage practices will you increase the use of in 2010 vs. 2009? (You may select multiple answers.)

No-tillage 46%

Strip-tillage 21%

Minimum Tillage 23%

No changes 30%

March 16-April 15, 2010

Will higher prices for soybean seed cause you to lower your seeding populations?

Yes 50%

No 50%

Feb. 16-March 15, 2010

Are you planning any cropping changes heading into 2010 vs. 2009?

(Check all that apply)

We will plant a higher percentage of corn 46%

We will plant a higher percentage of soybeans 35%

We will plant a higher percentage of small grains 12%

We will increase specialty crop acreage over the Big 3 of corn, soybeans and small grains 23%

Jan. 16-Feb. 15, 2010

Due to the late harvest, do you think you will conduct some type of tillage in areas of fields impacted by rutting or compaction?

No, we will be 100% no-till whether we have problems or not — 29%

Yes, but we will only scratch problem areas with a harrow, vertical tillage tool, subsoiler, etc. — 33%

Yes, we will use more aggressive tillage methods like discs, field cultivators, etc. — 27%

I really don't know what we will do at this time — 11%

Dec. 16, 2009-Jan. 15, 2010

Will the higher price of seed corn impact your at-plant populations next year?

Yes, I will cut back a little on my seed corn populations next year — 11%

No, I will maintain the same seed corn populations as this past year — 46%

Yes, I thought about increasing populations, but I will keep the same rate — 16%

No, I'm still planning to increase seed corn populations next year — 27%

Nov. 16-Dec. 15, 2009

If you typically fertilize in the fall, are harvest delays forcing you to withhold applications until the spring?

Yes 53%

No 47%

Oct. 16-Nov. 15, 2009

Compared to your expectations prior to harvest, what are your no-till yields looking like as you take crops out of the field?

Better Than Expected 53%

As Expected 31%

Worse Than Expected 16%

Sept. 16-Oct. 15, 2009

To what percentage of your acreage do you plan to seed cover crops this fall?

More than 50% 30%

25% to 50% 22%

1% to 25% 29%

None 19%

Aug. 16-Sept. 15, 2009

How much fertilizer do you plan to apply this fall on a per-acre basis compared to the fall of 2008?

More 35%

Less 6%

Same 59%

July 16-Aug. 15, 2009

Are you in favor of the Cap-and-Trade proposal before Congress that could result in increased carbon credit payments?

Yes 12%

No 78%

Only if all no-till acres are eligible for payout 10%

June 16-July 15, 2009

Who applies crop protection products like herbicides to your no-till crops?

I handle it myself with my own sprayer 79%

The local co-op handles applications 10%

I have a neighbor who custom applies to my fields 3%

I use a combination of the above sources 8%

May 16-June 15, 2009

What percentage of your 2009 corn crop will be planted to herbicide-tolerant hybrids like Roundup Ready or LibertyLink?

100% 59%

75-99% 7%

50-74% 9%

25-49% 7%

1-25% 9%

None 9%

April 16-May 15, 2009

What would you like to see done with the current farm program payments?

Leave payments the way they are 19%

Tie payments to conservation practices 44%

Eliminate payments altogether for free market 37%

March 16-April 15, 2009

Are you making any last-minute changes to your cropping acreage?

I'm going to plant more corn? 17%

I'm going to plant more soybeans 17%

I'm going to plant an alternative to corn or soybeans 14%

I'm sticking with my original cropping plans 52%

Feb. 16-March 15, 2009

How have lower commodity prices and a slowing U.S. economy affected your no-till equipment purchase decisions?

I went ahead with my planned purchases 22%

I put new purchases on hold this winter 31%

I didn't plan to purchase new equipment 32%

It wasn't in my plans originally, but I decided to invest in new equipment 15%

Jan. 16-Feb. 15, 2009

What will you do with your no-till soybean seeding rates in 2009?

I will increase seeding rates 5%

I will maintain the same rates as 2008 51%

I will decrease seeding rates 44%

Dec. 16, 2008-Jan. 15, 2009

Considering the drop in commodity grain prices off of 2008 highs, my optimism for 2009 can best be described as...

Pretty good, all things considered 26%

Cautiously OK 43%

Nervously pessimistic 23%

Downright dreary 8%