Frank Lessiter

Among No-Tillers With Dairy, How Well Do the Cows Adapt to Daylight Saving Time?

By Frank Lessiter posted on November 16, 2024

Whether it is “spring ahead” or “fall back” time, the schedules of no-tillers are somewhat impacted by the twice-a-year shifting of the clock. And for farmers spending time in the milking parlor, there’s a question on how cow behavior and milk production is affected.

International No-Till, Strip-Till and Cover Crops Research Journal – November 2024

Each month, the conservation ag group at Cornell University offers an analysis of the latest scientific papers dealing with conservation agriculture research from around the world. For this on-going web series, our editors will be selecting several research papers from the Cornell list that will be of special interest to North American no-tillers, strip-tillers and cover croppers.

By Frank Lessiter posted on November 13, 2024 | Posted in Cover Crops, Crop Protection, Seeding & Planting, Soil Health

In this edition:

Further Adoption of Conservation Tillage Can Increase Maize Yields in the Western U.S. Corn Belt
A New Theory for Soil Health
Weed Communities after Decades of Mineral Fertilization and Tillage Treatments in a Corn–Soybean Rotation
Changes in Soil Microbial Parameters after Herbicide Application in Soils under Conventional Tillage and Non-Tillage

How Weeds Handle the Drought

By Frank Lessiter posted on October 28, 2024 | Posted in Water Management

With many North American no-tillers dealing with several years of serious drought, it’s critical to understand how weeds respond to low moisture conditions much better than most no-tilled crops.

Frankly Speaking

Will Climate Change Halt Oats Winterkill?

By Frank Lessiter posted on October 16, 2024 | Posted in Seeding & Planting

If you’re seeding oats and expecting winter temperatures to terminate this cover crop before spring planting rolls around, you may want to rethink that decision.

Your No-Till History

When Equipment Firms Hated No-Till

Widespread acceptance of no-till from equipment companies didn't happen overnight

By Frank Lessiter posted on October 9, 2024 | Posted in Equipment

Today’s no-tillers can choose from a variety of planters, drills and air seeders not only from shortline manufacturers, but the major equipment companies as well. That wasn’t always the case. The No-Till History series is made possible by Calmer Corn Heads.

Rethink No-Till Yields: Measure Bushels per Inch of Rain, Not Just Costs

By Frank Lessiter posted on October 8, 2024 | Posted in Water Management

When you listen to Rick Bieber talk about how he measures crop results, you quickly learn he’s not a big fan of the word “yield.” No-tilling for over 4 decades, the Trail City, S.D., farmer certainly understands that yield is what pays the bills.

Frankly Speaking

Ag Retailers Slow to Add Drones

By Frank Lessiter posted on September 30, 2024 | Posted in Precision Agriculture

High costs are apparently keeping many ag retailers from adding drone pesticide spraying, fertilizer applications, cover crop seeding and field imagery to their lineup of services offered to no-tillers.

Frankly Speaking

When it Comes To Reporting on Sustainability, European Writer ‘Hacks Up’ Huge Hiccup Over Burping Dairy Cows

By Frank Lessiter posted on September 18, 2024

Frank Lessiter critically examines the Wall Street Journal article outlining Mars' $47 million European-based program aimed at reducing methane emissions from dairy cattle.

International No-Till, Strip-Till and Cover Crops Research Journal – September 2024

Each month, the conservation ag group at Cornell University offers an analysis of the latest scientific papers dealing with conservation agriculture research from around the world. For this on-going web series, our editors will be selecting several research papers from the Cornell list that will be of special interest to North American no-tillers, strip-tillers and cover croppers.

By Frank Lessiter posted on September 11, 2024 | Posted in Cover Crops, Soil Health, Strip-Till Farming

In this edition:

Earthworms as Soil Health Indicators in No-Tillage Agroecosystems
No-Till Farming and Climate Change Mitigation: Lessons Learnt from Long-Term No-Till Experiments and Future Perspectives (Chapter 2)
The Impact of ‘T’-shaped Furrow Opener of No-Tillage Seeder on Straw and Soil Based on Discrete Element Method
Characterization of Soil Pores in Strip-Tilled and Conventionally-Tilled Soil Using X-ray Computed Tomography
Critical Review of the Impact of Cover Crops on Soil Properties
Understanding Farmers’ Adoption of Conservation Tillage in South Dakota: A Modified Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior

Frankly Speaking

Measuring the Risk of Shifting to No-Till

By Frank Lessiter posted on September 4, 2024

With more growers shifting to no-till or strip-till, the risks and impact on cash flow need to be weighed carefully — particularly with today’s tough economic times.

Articles by Frank Lessiter

Among No-Tillers With Dairy, How Well Do the Cows Adapt to Daylight Saving Time?

International No-Till, Strip-Till and Cover Crops Research Journal – November 2024

How Weeds Handle the Drought

Will Climate Change Halt Oats Winterkill?

When Equipment Firms Hated No-Till

Rethink No-Till Yields: Measure Bushels per Inch of Rain, Not Just Costs

Ag Retailers Slow to Add Drones

When it Comes To Reporting on Sustainability, European Writer ‘Hacks Up’ Huge Hiccup Over Burping Dairy Cows

International No-Till, Strip-Till and Cover Crops Research Journal – September 2024

Measuring the Risk of Shifting to No-Till

Top Articles

Current Issue

No-Till Farmer

Cover Crops Managed Properly Can Bring Immediate Benefits

Boost Revenue & Soil Health by Integrating Livestock with No-Till

Quake Sensors Show Tillage Weakens Soil

Must Read Free Eguides

Videos

Cover Crops, Strip-Till Spark Desert Soil Revival

Estes Performance Concaves

Titan International Inc

Servitech