Articles by Frank Lessiter

Gain Moisture with No-Till

By Frank Lessiter posted on February 2, 2021 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Residue Management, Water Management

With the climate becoming warmer, no-tillers are in a much better position to turn limited amounts of rainfall into higher yields than neighbors who are still using intensive tillage.

Double-Croppers Lose Dicamba Options

New application restrictions mean dicamba probably can’t be used for double-cropped soybeans, but there are other options in the weed control arsenal.

By Frank Lessiter posted on February 1, 2021 | Posted in Crop Protection

With a federally-mandated June 30 cutoff for dicamba use (June 20 in Illinois), most no-tillers who double-crop soybeans after wheat or barley won’t be using this herbicide as an over-the-top application.

Building a Customized $350,000 Planter from the Ground Up

Seeking to ratchet up performance, Allan Brooks and a local dealer built a new machine from the “ground up” to fit the unique needs of this no-tiller’s farm.

By Frank Lessiter posted on January 1, 2021 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Equipment

Even though a 7-year-old 24-row John Deere planter was still effectively handling planting tasks, Allan Brooks spent 3 years debating whether investing in new seeding equipment made long-term economic sense.

For Every $1 of Government Funding Invested in No-Till Research and Education, Western Canadian Growers, Suppliers and Consumers Earned $109 in On-Going Benefits

By Frank Lessiter posted on December 29, 2020 | Posted in No-Till Farming 101, Residue Management, Soil Health

With a new administration taking over in Washington, climate change is going to get much more attention. In fact, the new presidential team has already committed to helping farmers expand the use of no-till, cover crops and carbon sequestration in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

More No-Till, Less Farm Stress

By Frank Lessiter posted on November 30, 2020

I’VE ALWAYS FELT no-tillers tend to be more optimistic and happier than the general farm population. Like everyone else in farming, you don’t like low commodity prices, dealing with numerous government regulations and ever-increasing input costs. At the same time, no-tillers don’t seem to get as concerned or complain as much about things they can’t control.

More No-Till, Less Farm Stress

By Frank Lessiter posted on November 30, 2020

I’ve always felt no-tillers tend to be more optimistic and happier than the general farm population. Like everyone else in farming, you don’t like low commodity prices, dealing with numerous government regulations and ever-increasing input costs. At the same time, no-tillers don’t seem to get as concerned or complain as much about things they can’t control.

35 Years of No-Till Savings

By Frank Lessiter posted on November 4, 2020 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Cover Crops

AT 29 YEARS OF AGE, Nick Jorgensen has never operated any tillage equipment. Inspired by the native prairie system in south central South Dakota, his family began implementing no-till practices in the 1980s that are now helping them dramatically trim costs.

More Clarity, Less Chaos Can Help Growers Improve Cropping Decisions

By Frank Lessiter posted on November 2, 2020 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Crop Protection, Soil Health

Syngenta continues to invest in new technologies to meet the changing needs of growers.

When it Comes to Capitalizing on the Many Benefits of Cover Crops, No-Tillers Are So Far Ahead of Growers Using More Intensive Tillage That it’s Embarrassing

By Frank Lessiter posted on October 17, 2020

Data from several surveys conducted this year by No-Till Farmer shows no-tillers are years ahead of growers using other tillage practices when it comes to cover crop adoption.

Ag Equipment Color Preferences are Fading

By Frank Lessiter posted on October 15, 2020 | Posted in Equipment

There’s considerably less “color” loyalty today to major farm equipment brands than in the past.

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Articles by Frank Lessiter

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