Articles by Frank Lessiter

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It Happens, Now And Then

By Frank Lessiter posted on April 1, 2004 | Posted in No-Till Farming 101, Crop Protection

BASF, the chemical company most widely known for its ongoing “We make it better” TV commercials, owes U.S. farmers $52 million for making it dishonestly.

Swap Last-Minute No-Till Machinery Tips For Extra Dollars

There’s no better time than now to fine-tune your no-till seeding system.

By Frank Lessiter posted on April 1, 2004 | Posted in Equipment

As you get ready to no-till this spring, check out these practical no-till planter and drill adjustment and modification ideas that will help you improve stands, yields and profits in 2004.

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Does Mixing Order Matter?

By Frank Lessiter posted on February 1, 2004 | Posted in Crop Protection

An item in the October, 2003, issue on the proper order of tankmixing glyphosate products led to a comment from a No-Till Farmer reader in North Dakota. He informed us that research conducted at North Dakota State indicates that the efficacy of Roundup herbicide is not affected by the order in which it is mixed with water and ammonium sulfate (AMS).

Four No-Till Innovators Honored

Expanding the acceptance of no-till, the award winners in this eighth annual program have made a significant contribution to modern-day farming practices.

By Frank Lessiter posted on February 1, 2004 | Posted in No-Till Farming 101, Equipment

Progressive leaders in four no-tilling areas were honored for outstanding achievements in consulting, crop production, research and education at the early January National No-Tillage Conference in Des Moines, Iowa.

It’s The Little Things That Count In Trimming Your No-Till Costs

By Frank Lessiter posted on January 1, 2004 | Posted in Crop Protection

When it comes to the next major breakthrough in no-till, it may well be a combination of several items that end up boosting your efficiencies and profits.

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Is Straw A Solid Waste?

By Frank Lessiter posted on January 1, 2004 | Posted in Residue Management

While we think of straw and chaff strictly as valuable no-till residue, environmentalists in the Pacific Northwest are attempting to get the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to label straw and other crop residue materials as solid waste. The result of these legal maneuverings could eventually have a serious impact on the residue management strategies used by no-tillers all around the country.

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Tackling Resistance Woes

By Frank Lessiter posted on December 1, 2003 | Posted in Crop Protection

Even though there's a growing concern over the development of herbicide-resistant weeds in no-till fields, the problem still appears to be manageable. While some no-tillers are facing problems with resistant weeds, the resistance is not yet widespread.

Stretch Your No-Tilling Window

Weather protected seed expands the no-till planting window, no-tillers believe, dropping labor needs by 30 percent when it comes to getting crops planted on time.

By Frank Lessiter posted on November 1, 2003 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Crop Protection

Would it make you nervous to no-till a field of corn in mid-March and then not see the plants pop out of the ground until sometime in May?

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A No-Tilling Nightmare

By Frank Lessiter posted on November 1, 2003 | Posted in Crop Protection

If dandelions are causing major problems in any of your no-till fields, the best time to control them for the 2004 cropping season is unfortunately already past. That’s because recent research indicates the best time for you to try to control this little yellow weed in your no-tilled fields is in the fall.

Variable Rate Technology Requires More Time To See The Payoff

No-tillers need to have patience with this technology as returns won’t come as fast as using global positioning system equipment to boost your yields.

By Frank Lessiter posted on October 1, 2003 | Posted in Nutrient Management, Precision Agriculture

While the idea of using global positioning satellite technology took off quickly because the financial returns were immediate, Matthew Sullivan says the returns from variable rate technology may not be as noticeable.

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Articles by Frank Lessiter

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