Articles by Frank Lessiter

2013: Powering Up Your No-Till System

Jan. 9-12, Indianapolis • 1,222 attendees

By Frank Lessiter posted on January 14, 2017

The key to retaining moisture under no-till conditions depends on improving soil organic matter and leaving residue on the surface to reduce storm runoff, says Jerry Hatfield. The head of the National Soil Tilth Laboratory at Ames, Iowa, says saving moisture also reduces soil-water evaporation, decreases soil temperatures in the summer and allows soil biological activity to function more effectively.

2012: Two Decades Of No-Till Know-How

Jan. 11-14, St. Louis • 973 attendees

By Frank Lessiter posted on January 14, 2017

Phil Needham finds uniform residue distribution at harvest is critical for no-till success, as it has numerous indirect effects on crop emergence and early plant growth. The owner of Needham Ag Technologies in Calhoun, Ky., says a drop off in combine speed going up a hill and dull chopper blades affect spreader performance and residue distribution.

2011: No-Tilling Today For Better Tomorrow

Jan. 12-15, Cincinnati • 935 attendees

By Frank Lessiter posted on January 14, 2017

Since you’re managing a complex ecosystem that includes millions of organisms both above and below ground, Ray Weil says no-tillers need to add “ecologist “to their farming title. The soil scientist at the University of Maryland extols the virtues of earthworms, which incorporate organic matter and burrows that improve soil drainage, aeration and filtration.

2010: A Powerful New Decade For No-Till

Jan. 13-16, Des Moines • 789 attendees

By Frank Lessiter posted on January 14, 2017

Allen Berry is convinced rows narrower than 30 inches are needed to achieve top no-till yields. The veteran no-tiller from Nauvoo, Ill., believes equidistant spacing of plants between and within the rows is the wave of the future.

2009: Charging Ahead With No-Till

Jan. 14-17, Indianapolis • 899 attendees

By Frank Lessiter posted on January 14, 2017

Along with providing nutrients, Neal Kinsey says no-tillers must maintain ideal balances of air, water, organic and mineral soil components to support the soil microbial life. The soil fertility specialist with Kinsey Ag Services in Charleston, Mo., says calcium and magnesium are critical for soil life since they impact the amount of available air and water in the soil.

2008: Gaining The No-Till Edge

Jan. 9-12, Cincinnati • 766 attendees

By Frank Lessiter posted on January 14, 2017

After 12-14 years of continuous no-till, Mark Alley says you’ll be able to dramatically trim nitrogen costs. The retired Virginia Tech University agronomist has research data that indicates long-term no-tillers definitely won’t need as much fertilizer as conventional-tilling neighbors.

2007: Fueling The No-Till Revolution

Jan. 10-13, Des Moines • 743 attendees

By Frank Lessiter posted on January 14, 2017

Putting out your own no-till test plots is definitely a paying proposition, says Jim Leverich. The Sparta, Wis., no-tiller says most no-tillers already have the equipment to effectively evaluate different hybrids and varieties, row spacing, plant populations, variable-rate fertilizer and seed application, compaction concerns, starter fertilizer, nitrogen placement and much more.

2006: No-Till — Your Best Chance For Success

Jan. 11-14, St. Louis • 702 attendees

By Frank Lessiter posted on January 14, 2017

Frank Martin shared his ideas on getting into his fields extra early by looking at the possibility of no-tilling corn into living cover crops. The Hallsville, Mo., grower will burn down the cover crop 2-4 weeks after planting.

2005: Charting A New No-Till Course

Jan. 12-15, Cincinnati • 635 attendees

By Frank Lessiter posted on January 14, 2017

Dan Towery called on growers to shoot for higher profitability by transitioning to continuous no-till. The former staffer at the Conservation Tillage Information Center estimated only 10-15% of U.S. cropland has been continuously no-tilled for over 5 years.

2004: No-Till Knowledge Is Power

Jan. 7-10, Des Moines • 680 attendees

By Frank Lessiter posted on January 14, 2017

A tractor driver’s talents can be critical to the success or failure of strip-tilling, maintains Bill Rohrs. The head of the Conservation Action Project in Findlay, Ohio, says an efficient driver must be able to build a mound that will still have an adequate height in the spring, leaving a strip that will be drier and preparing an air pocket-free seeding area to increase plant germination.

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