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Martha Mintz

Martha Mintz

Since 2011, Martha has authored the highly popular “What I’ve Learned About No-Till” series that has appeared in every issue of No-Till Farmer since August of 2002.


Growing up on a cattle ranch in southeastern Montana, Martha is a talented ag writer and photographer who lives with her family in Billings, Montana.

Articles

ARTICLES

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What I've Learned from No-Tilling

Stepping Up: No-Till, Tile, Cover Crops and Now Organic

Dana, Ind., no-tiller Kelly Cheesewright is always game to take the next step to improve the function, productivity and sustainability of his farm.
By Martha Mintz posted on February 23, 2021 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Cover Crops, Nutrient Management, Soil Health

What I’m doing isn’t for the faint of heart. I not only want to farm, I want to be profitable, take care of the soil, water and wildlife and make sure my children and grandchildren can keep farming in the future. Doing things the right way — not just the easiest or most profitable in the right here and right now — is what I want to achieve.


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What I've Learned from No-Tilling

Attention to Detail Unlocks Long-Term No-Till Success

It’s the little things that add up to success for this North Dakota no-till veteran.
By Martha Mintz posted on February 3, 2021 | Posted in Cover Crops, Soil Health

THIS MAY SOUND crazy for a 72-year-old to say, but I can’t retire because I’m at the top of my game. My soil is the best it’s ever been. 


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What I've Learned from No-Tilling

Keeping on an Even, Reliable Keel with Decades of No-Till

A long running commitment to no-till, cover crops and constant learning make for smooth sailing on this Virginia farm.
By Martha Mintz posted on December 1, 2020 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Cover Crops, Nutrient Management, Water Management
We quite buying crop insurance 30 years ago. We kept paying premiums and paying premiums and never had yields low enough to qualify for payment. In fact, I haven’t had a crop failure since I started no-tilling more than 50 years ago.
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What I've Learned from No-Tilling

One Bold Move Leads to Decades of No-Till Success

Jumping aggressively into no-till and later cover crops created an efficient, productive system and flexibility for off-farm adventures.
By Martha Mintz posted on November 3, 2020 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Cover Crops, Equipment, Soil Health
I’M A BIT of an adventurer. In my 20s I ran triathlons, then I traveled the country as a wind surfer and for the last 15 years I’ve enjoyed getting way off the beaten path with my dirt bike. I’m certainly not afraid to try something different or think outside the box and that’s true in my farming operation, too.
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Building a Case for the Economic Benefits of Improving Soil Health

To help farmers make informed decisions, the Soil Health Partnership is gathering data on the financial impacts of conservation practices.
By Martha Mintz posted on October 20, 2020 | Posted in Cover Crops, Nutrient Management, Soil Health, Water Management
FOR THE PAST 7 years, the National Corn Growers Assn. and their partners have been working to increase the confident adoption of soil health management practices today and in the future through the Soil Health Partnership (SHP).
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What I've Learned from No-Tilling

Taking No-Till Diversity Beyond the Annual Cycle

Wildflowers, perennial grasses, intercropped cover crops and more have this Idaho farm leading the pack in crop diversity.
By Martha Mintz posted on October 17, 2020 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Cover Crops, Nutrient Management, Soil Health
Keeping soil in place in the Palouse can be a real challenge, one we haven’t always been the best at meeting. The growing season is short, and slopes can be as steep as 40-plus degrees.
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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

Playing the long game means this no-tiller’s profits may be more impressive when viewed by the decade rather than the year.
By Martha Mintz posted on September 11, 2020 | Posted in Cover Crops, Nutrient Management, Soil Health, Water Management
Farmers want to see a profit. They want to see it every year and with every crop. There’s nothing wrong with that exactly, but I want to consider long term potential benefits and compounding profits as much as short-term gain when weighing management strategies.
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What I've Learned from No-Tilling

Securing Stability Through Stacked Enterprises and Stockpiled Carbon

With an eye on a variable future, no-tiller Jesse Hall diversifies his rotations and income streams for lasting success.
By Martha Mintz posted on August 4, 2020 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Cover Crops, Nutrient Management
Stability is the goal and what drives nearly every decision on our farm. It can come in many forms. I want stability in yields, stability in soil conditions and, ultimately, stability in our farm’s overall economic health.
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Variety Stated: Advancing Cover Crop Genetics and Performance

Advances in cover crop species and variety evaluation, development and breeding will hopefully soon make seed bag tags with “Variety Not Stated” (VNS) the odd rarity, not the norm.
By Martha Mintz posted on July 24, 2020 | Posted in Cover Crops
T he steady rise of cover crop use and interest in recent years has plant breeders, geneticists, agronomists, cropping systems researchers, government agencies, universities and seed companies turning their attention to making the practice a success.
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