Soil Management Summit
Date: 12/15/20
Location: Mankato, MN
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Earthworms have earned the affection of no-tillers because they turn crop residues into plant nutrients and deftly mine channels in the soil to clear the way for air, water and root systems. But some ecologists are sounding the alarm about the potential impacts of so-called jumping worms.
Must Read Free Eguides
Download these helpful knowledge building tools
- 5 Pillars for No-Till Farming Effectively, Efficiently
- Making the Precision Basics Even Better with Implement Guidance
- Focusing on Smarter, Sustainable Fertilizing Strategies
- How No-Tilling Can Help Growers Ease Flooding Issues
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No-Till Resources
Virtual National Strip-Tillage Conference
Join today's top strip-tillers, agronomists and researchers for 3-days of unrivaled online learning and networking during the 2020 Virtual National Strip-Tillage Conference. Discover cutting-edge ideas, techniques and strategies from the most innovative, forward-thinking minds in strip-till today to raise your level of strip-till profitability, efficiency and efficacy. Register now for just $49. LEARN MORE
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No-Till Farmer
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What I've Learned from No-Tilling: Adding Diversity and Livestock for a Stronger Bottom Line — Now and in the Future
Pros and Cons of 3 Cover Crop Seeding Methods
Unleashing the No-Till Monster
Industry News
- Cargill to Advance Regenerative Practices on 10 Millions Acres
- John Deere & Montag to Deliver Cover Crop Solution for 2660VT
- Anuvia Plant Nutrients Licenses SymTRX10S to The Mosaic Company
- New Bio-Based Fertilizer Susterra Designed to Help Growers Improve Soil Health
- BASF Acquires Tech for L-Glufosinate Ammonium Weed Control
No-Till Videos
Bringing Cattle Back to the Farm to Enhance the Value of Cover Crops
Seeking to combine the return of cattle with capturing the value of cover crops, Rock Creek, Minn., strip-tiller and no-tiller Jon Stevens is grazing cattle on a 30-acre paddock seeded with grasses and cereals with the intention of trying to rotate in corn within 3 years to capture in-field nitrogen.
Allan Brooks on Why He Uses a Harvest International Planter
Allan Brooks no-tills 2,200 acres of vegetables in Markesan, Wis. We caught up with him at the 2020 National No-Tillage Conference, where he explained how he came to use Harvest International planters and reveals the new one he had built for the 2020 planting season.
Regenerative Farming Effects on Water Quality
Addressing a gathering of the Dodge County Farmers for Healthy Soil & Healthy Water, Russell Hedrick of Hickory, N.C., shares a presentation on the impacts on water quality that can be realized by utilizing regenerative ag practices, such as growing cover crops, reducing soil disturbance, maintaining soil armor, and integrating livestock.
No-Tilling...Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow with Frank Lessiter
In a presentation to the Dodge County Farmers for Healthy Soil and Healthy Water, Frank Lessiter shares stories about the past, present and future of no-till farming, including some of the crazy contraptions that got no-till started, obstacles that threatened the viability of the movement, global successes and challenges and more.
No-Till 101
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The Dos and Don’ts of Setting Up Farm Trials, Part One
In part one of a two-part series about setting up farm trials, row crop and livestock farmer Michael Vittetoe shares his insight in this blog from GO Seed. -
Benefits of a Cover Crop Mix Versus a Single Species Cover Crop
The decision whether to mix species or plant a single species as a cover crop depends on your goals, time of the year, and costs. Planting a mix can increase biodiversity on a farm and can also insure against weather extremes, since different species will thrive in different weather conditions. Read more in this article from the University of Nebraska. -
Soil: Water Reservoir for Crop Production
Elwyn Taylor, Iowa State University climatologist, reported that 200-bushel corn needs 19 to 23 inches of water during the growing season. For 200-bushel corn at 75 degree F (soil temperature), corn needs 1-acre inch of water per week, doubling to 2 inches at 85 degrees F, and doubling again to 4 inches at 95 degrees F. Read more in this article from Ohio's Country Journal. -
Cover Crops Lower Cropping Input Costs
Cover crops have proven benefits for soil health. A recent Iowa Soybean Association study shows that cover crops can also reduce the input costs associated with growing crops. Read more in this article from the Environmental Defense Fund.
No-Till Columns
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Unleashing the No-Till Monster
While no-till was pioneered here in the states, our conversion has been gradual when compared with a few other countries. -
Don’t Overlook Drill Calibration to Get Cover Crops Off to a Good Start
An important but often overlooked step in seeding cover crops, drill calibration is easy to accomplish and can prevent wasted seed, time and frustration. -
Sometimes it’s Best to Let the Pictures Do the Talking
Clay Pope discusses what’s going on with the fields where he planted a 17-way cover crop mix vs. neighboring farms where wheat ground is being worked ahead of planting. -
Name Change, Renewed Focus for Dryland Ag Institute
Big changes are apparently in store for the West Texas A&M research facility that conducts important research on dryland agricultural practices to be shared with farmers.
No-Till Farmer Influencers & Innovators Podcast
[Podcast] Digging Into the Rhizosphere with Jill Clapperton
In this episode of the No-Till Farmer podcast, brought to you by Martin Industries, No-Till Farmer Editor Frank Lessiter talks with soil health specialist and rhizosphere ecologist Jill Clapperton about the importance of no-till in building healthy soil structure.
The No-Till Influencers & Innovators podcast series is brought to you by Martin Industries.
Since 1991, Martin Industries has designed, manufactured and sold leading agriculture equipment across the U.S. and Canada. Known for Martin-Till planter attachments, the company has expanded to include a five-step planting system, closing wheel systems, twisted drag chains, fertilizer openers and more in their lineup. Their durable and reliable planter attachments are making it possible for more and more farmers to plant into higher levels of residue. Click here to learn more.
Top Directory Listings
Yetter Farm Equipment
Finding solutions to the problems farmers face is what inspired Harry and Etta Yetter to open a small machine shop in west central Illinois in the 1930s. Today, four generations later, Yetter continues the tradition of solving agricultural problems to meet the needs of producers all over the world.
Needham Ag Technologies, LLC
Needham Ag understands the role of technology in making better use of limited resources within a specific environment by drawing on a wealth of global experience to overcome the challenges facing today's farmers, manufacturers and dealers.
Titan International, Inc
Titan offers a full line of wheels, tires and undercarriage products for a wide variety of off-the-road equipment.
The Andersons PureGrade
The Andersons grows enduring relationships through extraordinary service, a deep knowledge of the market, and a knack for finding new ways to add value as we have done for nearly 70 years.
Farm Innovations Review
Grower Product Showcase
This month's featured products geared towards farmers:
Product Roundups
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Vertical-Tillage Product Roundup 2020
Check out the latest vertical-tillage products from some of the industry's leading suppliers. -
Cover Crop Seed Product Roundup 2020
Check out the latest cover crop seeds from some of the industry's leading suppliers. -
Ditchers & Water Management Product Roundup 2020
Check out the latest in ditchers and water management from some of the industry's leading suppliers.
Top Store Items
Cover Crop Strategies
The editors of Cover Crop Strategies and No-Till Farmer created this 24-page special report to share ideas on getting covers established, using a roller-crimper for termination, successfully integrating livestock into a cover-crop system and using covers to transition away from an overdependence on herbicides and fertilizers.
Covering Up, Part 4: Getting Results with Innovative Cover Crop Systems
In this 32-page special report, you’ll read about some of the farmers and researchers who are pushing the boundaries of cover crop management, discovering new ways they can extend the growing season, supplement grazing, capture more sunlight, feed the biology underground and even improve the bottom line.
Turning Your Sprayer into an Effective No-Till Asset
Make your spraying operations an even more valuable tool for your no-till system with this special 32-page management report. Get up to speed on the cost-saving precision spray technologies available on the market and pick up several how-to tips on improving application effectiveness. Plus, hear first-hand from No-Till Farmer readers as they share some of the updates they’ve made to their sprayers to ratchet up performance.
Getting More From Your Nitrogen Investment
Discover numerous tools and application strategies at your disposal today including the case for moving nitrogen (N) applications in corn to later in the season and the potential that crop sensors are showing for targeted N applications to increase efficiency and profitability. Plus, learn about certain species of cover crops that can fix significant amounts of N.