Ron Ross

Ron Ross pioneered the “What I’ve Learned from No-Tilling” series that has appeared in every issue of No-Till Farmer since August of 2002. He authored more than 100 of these articles.

A graduate of South Dakota State University’s agricultural journalism program, Ross spent most of his career as a writer and editor.

Articles

ARTICLES

No-Tillers Find Success By ‘Keeping It Simple’

Variable-rate fertility, rotating herbicide-tolerant crops and improved soil organic matter helps these Wisconsin no-tillers increase yields and keep expenses in check.

By Ron Ross posted on January 1, 2012 | Posted in Nutrient Management, Water Management

When he turned to no-till in the mid-1980s, Wayne Harrison estimates as much as half of the original topsoil on some of his fields was already gone.

No-Tiller Protects Soil, Profits With New Technology

Modern planters and advanced fertilizer-application tools are helping Rod Nelson advance his decades-old no-till operation in Minnesota.

By Ron Ross posted on December 1, 2011 | Posted in Equipment, Nutrient Management, No-Till 101

In 1977, Rod Nelson had accumulated enough savings to pay down 348 acres of farmland near Chatfield in the rolling hill country of southeastern Minnesota.

U-Trough Planter System Fine-Tunes Nutrient Placement

Under development for years, the new planter setup provides basic crop-nutrient needs and stimulates soil biological activity with microbial additives.

By Ron Ross posted on October 1, 2011 | Posted in Equipment, Nutrient Management

A chance meeting with South African farmers during a trade show inspired Jeff Littrell and his company’s partners to design a planting system that simultaneously applies one dry and two liquid fertilizer products.

What I've Learned From No-Tilling: No-Till Farm Success By Staying The Course

Expanding South Dakota family operation uses technology, crop diversity and better equipment to make no-till work in a limited-moisture climate

By Ralph Holzwarth and Ron Ross posted on January 1, 2011 | Posted in Crop Protection

Ten years ago, when our operation was featured in No-Till Farmer, I told the editors that I would stay with no-tillage regardless of what happened.

What I've Learned from No-Tilling: Evolution To No-Till On Family Farm Pays Off

Iowa innovator links lessons he learned from others with extensive onfarm testing to fine-tune his continuous no-till system.

By Wayne Fredericks and Ron Ross posted on December 1, 2010 | Posted in Equipment, Residue Management

My first experience with no-tilling resulted from bad weather and fortunate networking with innovators who set the pace away from tillage.

What I've Learned From No-Tilling: Total Commitment And Technology Make 100% No-Till Work

No-tiller Cade Bushnell made major planter changes, added continuous corn and cut nitrogen rates with a four-part program.

By Cade Bushnell and Ron Ross posted on November 1, 2010 | Posted in Equipment, Nutrient Management, Precision Ag

Shifting from conventional tillage to no-till often requires a lot of physical change in your operation. Just as importantly, adopting this new way of farming demands a strong dose of faith during a transition period that might take several years. I like to joke it’s the same kind of devotion it takes to make a good marriage work.

What I've Learned From No-Tilling: It Takes Time To Learn How To No-Till Slopes That Exceed 50%

Idaho direct-seeder Russ Zenner spent more than 20 years developing rotations and testing equipment to continuously no-till some of the world’s steepest slopes.

By Russ Zenner and Ron Ross posted on October 1, 2010 | Posted in Soil Health, Water Management, No-Till 101

When I'm asked what the primary differences are between no-tilling in the Palouse region of Idaho and Washington versus the Midwest, the discussion starts with our steep slopes.

What I've Learned From No-Tilling: No-Till Puts Brothers In The Winning Zone

Using the Rawson zone-till system, precision agriculture and conservation planning earns Minnesota no-tillers recognition for their yields and environmental stewardship.

By Steve Bailey, Bill Bailey, and Ron Ross posted on September 1, 2010 | Posted in Nutrient Management, Soil Health, No-Till 101

Looking back, it seems like we did everything we could to make sure no-till wouldn't work. But it fooled us.

What I've Learned From No-Tilling: Seven Strategies Help Missouri No-Tiller Excel

Diverse rotations, improved plant nutrition and control of tough weeds are some of the ways Eddie Hoff boosts no-till yields.

By Eddie Hoff and Ron Ross posted on August 1, 2010 | Posted in Equipment, Soil Health, No-Till 101

I’m the third generation of the Hoff family to operate our farm near Boonville, Mo. Following an early example set by my dad, John Hoff, who first no-tilled in the early 1970s, I’ve spent the past several years fine-tuning our no-till program.

What I've Learned From No-Tilling: It Pays To Listen To Your Dad About No-Till

Twenty-three years after his father suggested they no-till, Wisconsin farmer Dan Stokes no-tills corn as early as possible, grows diverse rotations, custom no-tills and milks cows, too.

By Dan Stokes and Ron Ross posted on July 1, 2010 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Equipment, No-Till 101

Twenty-five years ago, my father, Loren Stokes, and I milked and fed a 100-cow dairy herd and were also tilling about 300 acres of farmland. Needless to say, we were busy daylight to dark. We both decided we were working too hard.

View All Articles by Ron Ross

Current Issue

No-Till Farmer

Get full access NOW to the most comprehensive, powerful and easy-to-use online resource for no-tillage practices. Just one good idea will pay for your subscription hundreds of times over.

Subscribe Now

Compound Interest: Building on the Benefits of Organic Production

Should You Rely on Technology to Guide Your Nitrogen Decisions?

What I've Learned from No-Tilling: One Bold Move Leads to Decades of No-Till Success

Must Read Free Eguides

Download these helpful knowledge building tools

Strip Cropping and Interseeding Cover Crops with Marty Weiss

Capturing sunlight and keeping living roots in the ground as long as possible is the goal of Beaver Dam, Ws., no-tiller Marty Weiss. The co-chair of the Dodge County Farmers for Healthy Soil & Healthy Water talks about strip-cropping and interseeding cover crops at a field day in the summer of 2020.

Events

Project GROW Winter Workshop

Date: 12/03/20

Location: York, NE

Explore the costs, benefits and drivers of soil health at the third annual Project GROW Winter Workshop, featuring Dr. Jill Clapperton, owner and principal scientist at Rhizoterra, Dan Leininger of the Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District and Al Dutcher, associate state climatologist with the University of Nebraska — Lincoln.

View Event

More Events

Top Directory Listings

Yetter Farm Equipment

Finding solutions to the problems farmers face is what inspired Harry and Etta Yetter to open a small machine shop in west central Illinois in the 1930s. Today, four generations later, Yetter continues the tradition of solving agricultural problems to meet the needs of producers all over the world.

Needham Ag Technologies, LLC

Needham Ag understands the role of technology in making better use of limited resources within a specific environment by drawing on a wealth of global experience to overcome the challenges facing today's farmers, manufacturers and dealers.

Titan International, Inc

Titan offers a full line of wheels, tires and undercarriage products for a wide variety of off-the-road equipment.