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Articles Tagged with ''NRCS''

NRCS Promises More Help, Flexibility With Nutrient-Management Programs

By John Dobberstein posted on December 20, 2011 | Posted in Nutrient Management

The USDA's NRCS plans to put more technical staff in the field to help farmers implement voluntary conservation practices that reduce nutrient runoff and protect the environment.

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Old Federal Government Prediction On No-Tilled Ground Was Way Too Optimistic

By Frank Lessiter posted on November 11, 2011 | Posted in Equipment, Residue Management

Some 35 years ago, U.S. Department of Agriculture staffers predicted we’d see more than half of all U.S. cropland being no-tilled by now. The 1975 report also indicated that by 2010, 41% of the ground would be minimum tilled and only 5% conventionally tilled.

Why There Aren’t More No-Tilled Acres

No-till has come a long way in the past 35 years, but is way short of the overly optimistic acreage projections made in 1975.

By Frank Lessiter posted on November 1, 2011

From only 3.3 million acres in 1972 to an estimated 90 million acres today, there’s been plenty of progress as more farmers shift to no-till. Yet, we’re still a long way from the estimated 54% of U.S. row-crop ground U.S. Department of Agriculture economists predicted back in 1975 that would be no-tilled by now.

No-Till Corn Grows In Indiana

October 31, 2011 | Posted in No-Till Farming 101

Source: ISDA, Indiana Ag Connection

The latest bi-annual tillage transect results, compiled by the Indiana State Department of Agriculture and the Natural Resources Conservation Service for 2011, show that 23% of the Indiana's corn crop and 59% of soybean acreage were no-tilled.

No-Till Notes

Tackling Drainage And Compaction In No-Till

Strong soil structure, proper nutrient levels and adequate tiling hold the answer to improving drainage challenges in no-till fields.

By Jim Leverich posted on September 1, 2011 | Posted in Water Management

When it comes to no-till, getting your crops planted and off to a good start is paramount. But wet conditions in a field, or a portion of a field, may limit your ability to plant. That can lead to reduced stands and possibly lower yield potential.

Twin-Row Strip-Till Attracts Farmers

Strip-twinning helps farmers increase in-row spacing between corn plants, exposes corn to more sunlight and can increase yields.

By Dan Zinkland posted on August 1, 2011 | Posted in No-Till Farming 101, Precision Agriculture

Argyle, Iowa, grower Brian Klemme began twin-row strip-tilling corn in the spring of 2009 because he wanted to increase plant populations and spacing within rows and, hopefully, increase yields.

No-Till Builds Soils For Iowa Grower

July 7, 2011 | Posted in Residue Management, Soil Health

Source: Agri-News, Minnesota/Iowa, By Heather Thorstensen

Terry Elsberndbegan using no-till practices on his corn-soybean rotation to save labor and conserve soil and he recently began using no-till in a corn-on-corn rotation.

Frank Comments

No-Till Not Phosphorus Culprit

By Frank Lessiter posted on July 1, 2011 | Posted in Nutrient Management, Water Management

As increased levels of dissolved phosphorus are identified as a major concern dealing with the increased algal blooms found in Lake Erie, some folks have been pointing a finger at no-till as the cause. Yet the facts regarding phosphorus runoff in the Western Lake Erie Basin watershed near Toledo, Ohio, don't back up that argument.

Cereal Rye Helps No-Tiller Prevent Damaging Gullies

Cover crops can elevate no-till systems to the next level by protecting soil resources.

By Mark Parker posted on July 1, 2011 | Posted in Cover Crops, Water Management

Continuous no-till can go a long way toward keeping soil where it’s supposed to be, but a monster rainstorm falling on soybean residue can still result in ephemeral gullies.

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EWG Sounds The Alarm On Farmland Erosion

June 1, 2011 | Posted in Crop Protection, Precision Agriculture, Water Management

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) released a report that says storm water erosion is sweeping away soil across the Corn Belt at a much higher rate than the government estimates.

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Last-Minute Planter Prep for No-Tillers & Strip-Tillers

On this episode of Conservation Ag Update, brought to you by Martin-Till, precision specialist Chad Baker, co-owner of Baker Precision Planter Works in Orangeville, Ill., helps a first-generation no-tiller with planter setup, and later encounters a couple problems with a strip-tiller’s new 24-row planter. Plus, veteran agronomist Brad Forkner checks in with a couple tips for farmers to keep in mind before they take the field.

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