Articles by Ron Perszewski

Is Nutrient Stratification a ‘Natural State’ for No-Till Fields?

With proper no-till management, nutrients will reach cash crops as nature intended, without spending more on steel to move it through.

By Ron Perszewski posted on July 29, 2017 | Posted in No-Till Farming 101, Nutrient Management, Soil Health

With proper no-till management, nutrients will reach cash crops as nature intended, without spending more on steel to move it through.

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Get Your No-Till Planter In Good Shape For Spring

Here’s a checklist to help ensure that nothing critical to effective, efficient planting is missed before you head into the fields

By Ron Perszewski posted on February 1, 2008 | Posted in Equipment

Given the importance of uniform emergence and a good plant stand, fine-tuning your no-till planter should be a must before spring arrives. Dave Moeller, an experienced no-tiller and ag consultant who operates Moeller Ag service in Keota, Iowa, offers the following guidelines for getting your planter ready.

Buying Or Fine-Tuning A Sprayer? Here Are Factors To Consider

By Ron Perszewski posted on January 1, 2008 | Posted in Equipment, Crop Protection

Timing probably ranks as the most important issue in farming, especially when it comes to spraying, says Phil Needham, a widely known ag consultant and a National No-Tillage Conference speaker.

No-Till Versus Organic Debate Heating Up, Lines Being Drawn

No-till supporters acknowledge increasing public sentiment for organic farming but say science, despite faulty research, still shows that no-till is better.

By Ron Perszewski posted on November 1, 2007 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Nutrient Management

Shots are being fired in what could conceivably grow into a battle between no-tillers and organic farmers for federal funding and consumer food dollars. Both sides are claiming the high ground for their path to sustainable, profitable farming, and no-tillers aren’t backing down as organic farming advocates gain a foothold with the general population and even an occasional researcher.

Managing Carbon Improves Soil Organic Matter And Yields

Dwayne Beck offers insights about ways crop residue can lead to healthier soils and greater crop production for the long run.

By Ron Perszewski posted on October 1, 2007 | Posted in Nutrient Management, Soil Health

Dwayne Beck Puts It Simply: “No-till is not about a lack of tillage, it’s about carbon management. Not doing tillage is only the beginning.”

New Nitrogen Protection Product Said To Work For A Full Season

Specialty Fertilizer Products says NutriSphere-N decreases volatilization and leaching to keep nitrogen available to the crop as nutrients are needed.

By Ron Perszewski posted on September 1, 2007 | Posted in Nutrient Management

A new fertilizer additive designed to protect granular or liquid nitrogen applications from leaching and volatilization for an entire growing season is being marketed by Specialty Fertilizer Products.

Continuous Corn Residue Tough But Manageable

Some no-tillers are learning the ropes and suppliers are looking to meet their needs as rising prices lure growers toward corn on corn.

By Ron Perszewski posted on August 1, 2007 | Posted in Residue Management

Don’t be discouraged by the challenges you faced no-tilling corn on corn for the first time this year; you’re not alone.

Winter Kill, Burndowns Can Pose Ryegrass Challenges

But the benefits of the cover crop keep no-tillers from backing away as work continues on detailed management recommendations.

By Ron Perszewski posted on August 1, 2007 | Posted in Cover Crops, Crop Protection

As no-tillers lead the charge into the use of annual ryegrass as a cover crop, they are also discovering the potential setbacks.

Don't Tell This No-Tiller Continuous Corn Won't Work

Ray McCormick has been profitably growing corn on corn without the disease and insect outbreaks that threaten to keep many no-tillers in their standard rotations.

By Ron Perszewski posted on August 1, 2007 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Nutrient Management

Ray McCormick earns a living through good land stewardship. He operates a peach orchard, maintains about 1,000 acres of woods on his property and builds wetlands and mitigation sites for other landowners.

Cold, Wet Soils Overcome By Far Northern No-Tiller

Joe Breker farms in the challenging climate of North Dakota, but he’s adapted his practices and equipment to succeed in long-term no-tilling.

By Ron Perszewski posted on July 1, 2007 | Posted in Soil Health, Water Management

Cold, wet soils challenge no-tillers everywhere, but they’re old hat for Joe Breker. He’s now in his 28th year of no-tilling in Havana, N.D., where the warmth doesn’t last long — it’s a 95-day maturity zone with just 2,200 to 2,300 growing degree days — and excess moisture is a problem year after year.

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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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