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John Dobberstein

John Dobberstein was senior editor of No-Till Farmer magazine and the e-newsletter Dryland No-Tiller. He previously covered agriculture for the Tulsa World and worked for daily newspapers in Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Joseph, Mich. He graduated with a B.A. in journalism and political science from Central Michigan University.

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ARTICLES

Making Long-Term No-Tilled Fields Even Better

Nebraska no-tiller Ben Steffen is turning to cover crops, variable-rate fertilizer application and manure from his dairy to build even further upon his farm’s 40 years of no-till success

By John Dobberstein posted on March 1, 2013 | Posted in No-Till Farming 101, Cover Crops

Ben Steffen's farm embraced no-till practices nearly 4 decades ago, as he and his late father sought to reduce input costs and erosion and save soil moisture.

Record-Setting No-Till Crowd Soaks Up Valuable Tips At NNTC

More than 1,150 attendees come to Indianapolis to improve their knowledge of precision farming, cover cropping, fertility management, soil health and other no-till practices.

By John Dobberstein posted on March 1, 2013 | Posted in No-Till Farming 101

For the second straight year, the National No-Tillage Conference shattered its previous attendance record, as farmers came from near and far to gather ideas on how to make their no-till system more productive.

Myths That Hold No-Till Back

By John Dobberstein posted on February 20, 2013 | Posted in No-Till Farming 101

A no-tiller from Iowa once told me his biggest frustration wasn’t necessarily dealing with residue, controlling weeds or getting a good stand. It was the fact that he couldn’t convert his neighboring farmer to no-till.

March 2013 Poll: Cropping Changes in 2013 vs. 2012

By John Dobberstein posted on February 16, 2013 | Posted in Seeding & Planting

From February 16th, 2013 - March 15th, 2013, we asked No-Till Farmer readers: "Are you planning any cropping changes heading into 2013 vs. 2012?"

So God Created A Farmer

By John Dobberstein posted on February 6, 2013 | Posted in No-Till Farming 101

There were lots of things I expected to see during last Sunday’s Super Bowl, including hyped-to-the-max pop culture. But I also heard something meaningful that pertained to farming.

Tillage Radish Honored As Top No-Till Product Of 2012

From no-till attachments to spraying equipment to crop protection, no-tillers voted for the best-performing products, across 13 categories, for their farm operations.

By John Dobberstein posted on February 1, 2013 | Posted in No-Till Farming 101, Cover Crops, Equipment

A product that serves as a foundation for innovative no-tillers looking to reduce compaction and enhance soil tilth has taken the top prize as No-Till Product Of The Year for 2012.

New Concepts For Deep-Furrow Drills May Boost Dryland Conservation

Research in the Pacific Northwest finds new packer wheels, coulters, spider wheels and wider row spacings could help wheat farmers embrace conservation tillage without sacrificing yields.

By John Dobberstein posted on February 1, 2013 | Posted in Equipment, Residue Management

New technology and setups are emerging that could solve decades-old problems with deep-furrow drills and encourage more no-till on millions of dryland acres in the Pacific Northwest.

No-Tillers Gain Flexibility With New Crop Protection Products

Manufacturers are rolling out new insecticides, herbicides and fungicides with improved formulas and tankmix compatibility to help no-tillers reduce trips across the field and boost yields.

By John Dobberstein posted on February 1, 2013 | Posted in Crop Protection

Another wave of new crop-protection products is expected to hit the U.S. market in time for the 2013 growing season, as no-tillers and strip-tillers look for ways to fend off resistant weeds and yield-robbing diseases and insects.

Saving Water, Boosting Yields With Subsurface Drip Irrigation

A perfect fit with non-disturbance no-till acres, SDI systems offer the potential of improved water- and fertilizer-use efficiency and higher yields

By John Dobberstein posted on February 1, 2013 | Posted in Precision Agriculture, Water Management

As drought conditions persist and water supplies are pressured, an increasing number of farmers, including no-tillers, are turning to subsurface drip-irrigation systems to maximize water use.

Pillars Of No-Till Adoption, Growth Are Recognized

The latest class of No-Till Innovators have strived to improve no-till practices and help farmers be better stewards of farmland.

By John Dobberstein posted on February 1, 2013 | Posted in No-Till Farming 101, Cover Crops, Nutrient Management

During the 21st annual National No-Tillage Conference in Indianapolis, Ind., Syngenta and No-Till Farmer honored the 17th class of No-Till Innovators.

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