No-Till Farmer editors encounter a variety of articles, social media posts, podcasts and videos that offer a unique look at the grower's world from the lofty digital realm. Here is our favorite content from the past week from across the web:

Best of the Web This Week is brought to you by Sound Agriculture.

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SOURCE by Sound Agriculture wakes up the soil microbiome so you can access more nitrogen and phosphorus from your field. This bioinspired chemistry fixes atmospheric nitrogen and unlocks phosphorus that is tied up in the soil. It’s like caffeine for microbes, working with the soil you’ve already got to make your season more productive. Learn more at www.sound.ag.

No-Till Water Jet Technology Up Close

This video from the South Australia No-Till Farmer's Association shows the technical specs and up-close video on an AquaTill rig in action. The Association has been bullish on the technology for awhile, and now claims the technology, which uses high-pressure water jets to cut through residue and soil, is nearing full commercialization.  The video shows a knife-style planter, though they also say seeding disks can be used.

How to Manage the Best Worst Case Scenario for No-Tillers

Weather has been weird this year. Some places are facing drought conditions. Other places are faced an abundance of water that delayed planting. Input costs are higher. Diesel is prohibitively high. Any number of factors might mean you're facing the worst possible outcome: no grain harvest. The alternative might be to turn planned grain lots into forage, right? This video from Oklahoma State University discusses some of the pitfalls and perils associated with the transition. For example, have you applied herbicides to your corn? Grain corn can be loaded with nitrates at levels too high for cattle consumption. The video discusses precautions to avoid poisoning your cattle.

 

These Cover Crops Will Help You Save on N

Scientists from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's ARS are breeding strains of ryegrass designed to work with the soil microbiome to retain nitrate and ammonium in crops. This article from the High Plains Journal looks at the process of identifying beneficial agricultural traits in rye grass.

Crops at sunset, taken by Ron Nichols

 

Feeling the Squeeze from Soil Compaction? Don't Give Up No-Till

Among the many tours and presentations at Milan No-Till Field Day, this presentation on whether or not occasional till is the way to combat soil compaction and nutrient stratification caught our eye. The overall verdict was that tillage shouldn't be scheduled or even the main tool for attacking compaction. It should only be tried when cover crops and controlled traffic don't work.

 

Star-Wars-themed Tweet Rebukes Tillage Tuesday

Maybe you're more of a Star Trek than Star Wars person (Maybe you're into Bablyon 5?). However, this tweet by user @agronomist09 in response to a short poem and a podcast in favor of tillage really hits the nail on the head in terms of why we love no-till. May the Force (and not the plow) be with you, no-tillers.

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Best of the Web This Week is brought to you by Sound Agriculture.

SOURCE by Sound Agriculture wakes up the soil microbiome so you can access more nitrogen and phosphorus from your field. This bioinspired chemistry fixes atmospheric nitrogen and unlocks phosphorus that is tied up in the soil. It’s like caffeine for microbes, working with the soil you’ve already got to make your season more productive. Learn more at www.sound.ag.

SOURCE by Sound Agriculture
           

More from this series