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Articles by Ron Ross

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 No-Till Farming 101, Equipment, Nutrient Management

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 Agriculture

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 No-Till Farming 101, Soil Health, Water Management

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 No-Till Farming 101, Nutrient Management, Soil Health

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 No-Till Farming 101, Equipment, Soil Health

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 No-Till Farming 101, Seeding & Planting, Equipment

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.

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Last-Minute Planter Prep for No-Tillers & Strip-Tillers

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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