Articles by Ron Ross

Staying A Step Ahead

A stable of late-model, essential equipment and innovative weed control takes Ellis McFadden’s no-till success in new directions.

By Ron Ross posted on August 1, 2006 | Posted in Equipment, Crop Protection

When we wrote about Ellis McFadden’s no-till operation near Fort Wayne, Ind., in November 2003, he noted two important keys to success. First, keep only equipment that is absolutely necessary, but make sure it’s all new or nearly new. Second, don’t be shy about trying new methods that help you farm smarter.

No-Till And Organic Techniques Coming Together Out East

Thirty years of research, trial and error and changing attitudes, along with improved equipment, are setting the stage for grower success.

By Ron Ross and Ron Morse posted on August 1, 2006 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Crop Protection

“HELP!” Horticulturist Ron Morse remembers the day nearly 30 years ago when that message, scrawled by a county extension agent on the bottom of a snapshot, arrived at his Virginia Tech University office. The photo showed a mud slide blocking a rural Appalachian farm road. What was left of a cabbage patch planted on a steep sloping field was mired in the mud.

Seeding Cover Crops With Liquid Manure

No-tillers with livestock will want to study this one-pass system that saves time and money while improving soil quality.

By Ron Ross posted on July 1, 2006 | Posted in Seeding & Planting

How would you like to eliminate shallow compaction, inject manure, seed a cover crop, improve soil quality and protect the environment — all in a single pass? All while boosting your chances of increased yields and profits.

Variable Rates Pay Off For Nebraska No-Tiller

An Exactrix wing injection system cuts nitrogen rates by 70 pounds per acre with no seedbed disturbance.

By Ron Ross posted on July 1, 2006 | Posted in Nutrient Management

About 6 years ago, Loran and Bryce Naber shifted to no-tilling to capture major fuel, equipment and labor savings. The Albion, Neb., corn and soybean producers are also in their fourth season of reaping additional efficiencies with variable-rate dual banding of directly injected liquid anhydrous ammonia and liquid fertilizer.

What I've Learned from No-Tilling

From Rough Start To Smooth Ride, We Keep Looking

An open mind about management practices and equipment is a key tool in taking no-till fields to their full potential.

By Maury McLean and Ron Ross posted on July 1, 2006 | Posted in No-Till Farming 101

We started no-tilling in the mid-1980s with the wrong attitude, the wrong tools and not enough knowledge to make it work. It fell flat on its face. Yet, here we are in 2006, confidently no-tilling 1,300 acres.

Clover And Nightcrawlers Boost Corn And Soybeans

By Ron Ross posted on June 1, 2006

Slug-Control Product Escapes Notice

Sluggo is used mostly in the West, despite research showing that it could be a boon to no-tillers.

By Ron Ross posted on June 1, 2006 | Posted in Crop Protection

Although it has been available for several years, an often-overlooked, environ- mentally friendly slug-control product is gaining popularity in the United States and could provide an alternative to metaldehyde- based products for no-tillers.

Drop Soybean Seed Counts To Aim For Profits, Not Yields

No-tillers and researchers are finding that lower populations can maintain yields while providing healthier plants and bottom lines.

By Ron Ross posted on June 1, 2006 | Posted in Equipment

Grass farming doesn’t demand much attention in No-Till Farmer, but that doesn’t mean a grass farmer can’t find the answers he needs in these pages and from No-Till Farmer readers.

Is There Hope For Biotech Wheat?

Advocates believe lower production costs and higher yields could come from biotech and would reverse the trend of declining wheat acres.

By Ron Ross posted on June 1, 2006 | Posted in Seeding & Planting

As plantings of genetically modified (GM) crops continue to climb by millions of acres per year, one crop stands out for its absence from the list. Wheat growers, including no-tillers, are still waiting for the benefits of biotechnology, and the wait is likely to be a long one.

What I've Learned from No-Tilling

Management Duties And Profits Both Rise In Move To No-Tilling

Switching to no-till doesn’t necessarily mean more free time, but you will trade iron and tractor time for a thinking cap and a fatter wallet.

By Russell McLucas and Ron Ross posted on June 1, 2006 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Equipment

When people ask me for a quick answer to justify shifting to no-tillage, the best one I can come up with is this: Yield is not measured in bushels or tons per acre. Yield is measured in net dollars per acre. No-tilling equals more dollars in the bank.

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

No-Till vs. Mud, Fire & Water Facebook Videos

Twin-Row Cereal Rye Adds 35-Bushel Advantage in No-Tiller’s Irrigated Corn

Add Covers, Subtract Inputs & Multiply Profits with Systems Approach to No-Till

Must Read Free Eguides

Download these helpful knowledge building tools

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.

Top Directory Listings

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.

The Andersons PureGrade

The Andersons grows enduring relationships through extraordinary service, a deep knowledge of the market, and a knack for finding new ways to add value as we have done for nearly 70 years.

Articles by Ron Ross

Top Articles

Current Issue

Must Read Free Eguides

Videos