Farmers can protect their soil from erosion with conservation tillage -- drilling seeds through the previous crop's stubble rather than turning up the dirt.

Today, precision no-till farming took a step forward when industry leaders Ag Leader Technology, Inc., Ames, Iowa, and AutoFarm, Fremont, Calif., joined forces. The collaboration be¬tween the two companies brings together the highly popular and successful precision ag products of Ag Leader with the latest embedded and integrated steering solutions from AutoFarm.

Elizabeth Runema still does not have oxen of her own for plowing, but she no longer needs them. Her secret: conservation farming. "These days I use zero-tillage, and I am getting much more yield than I ever used to get when I used to rely on other people’s draught power."

The next Green Revolution must be guided by small-holder no-till farmers, adapted to local circumstances and sustainable for the economy and the environment, said Microsoft founder and chairman Bill Gates to a crowded hall at last week's World Food Prize Borlaug Dialogue in Des Moines.

A report that says the Clean Water Act has failed to reduce pollution in the nation's rivers and streams is being questioned by some no-tillers who say water quality is much better than it was 20 to 40 years ago.

Diplodia and Gibberella ear rot of corn have been observed in many no-till fields in Indiana this year.

North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring has commissioned a broad-based study of the possible economic consequences to the state’s farmers if a national carbon cap-and-trade policy is implemented as part of the climate change legislation now working its way through Congress.

Greg Appleyard steals a few minutes out of a whirlwind day to receive a special delivery with a much sweeter smell — a check for about $100,000.

Freezing temperatures this past weekend likely ended the growing season for late maturing no-till crops in northern and western growing areas before full yield potential was reached.

Monsanto will increase seed prices up to 10% overall next year even as it holds certain "workhorse" hybrid no-till seed prices flat for farmers unwilling to pay premiums for the company's genetically modified seed technology.