Articles by Frank Lessiter

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Goodbye From A No-TIll Pioneer

By Frank Lessiter posted on August 1, 1998 | Posted in Crop Protection

In mid-July at the Belleville Research Center near Belleville, Ill., George Kapusta held his 32nd annual agronomy “dog-and-pony show.” A veteran no-till researcher and speaker at several of our mid-winter National No-Tillage Conferences, the Southern Illinois University (SIU) weed scientist plans to retire later this year.

Celebrate National No-Tillage Week

By Frank Lessiter posted on July 1, 1998 | Posted in No-Till Farming 101

Soil erosion is the longest-running environmental concern of farmers. However, for the greater urban population, environmental priorities are often diverted elsewhere. To recognize farmers such as yourself who work to “save the soil” and protect our environment, No-Till Farmer is sponsoring “National No-Tillage Week” from Aug. 9 to 15, 1998.

Stubble Height Vs. No-Till

By Frank Lessiter posted on June 1, 1998 | Posted in Precision Agriculture

Questions often arise among no-tillers concerning the best height at which to leave small grain stubble. At the Semiarid Prairie Agricultural Research Centre at Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Canada, researchers set out to find answers by no-tilling four spring crops into three residue combinations.

Forget Obstacles. No-Tilling Corn Works!

No-till doesn’t deserve the reputation its earned in some circles as the “whipping boy” of corn production.

By Frank Lessiter posted on May 1, 1998 | Posted in Seeding & Planting

Many people are finding no-till doesn’t push a farmer’s “hot button” like it did a few years back.

No-Tilling Over Two Decades

By Frank Lessiter posted on May 1, 1998 | Posted in Crop Protection

If you ever had doubts about long-term no-till, you needed to listen to four farmers speak at last winter’s Manitoba-North Dakota Zero Till Workshop in Minot, N.D.

Best Corn Ideas From No-Till Winners

By Frank Lessiter posted on May 1, 1998 | Posted in No-Till Farming 101, Seeding & Planting

Higher fertility, narrow rows, soil-testing changes, higher plant populations, insect-resistant hybrids, yield monitors, soil additives and no-tilling corn into wheat stubble were among the unique ideas used by the top finishers in the three no-till categories in the 1997 yield contest conducted by the National Corn Grower’s Association.

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Continuous No-Till Corn Works

By Frank Lessiter posted on May 1, 1998 | Posted in Seeding & Planting

While some farmers tend to have difficulty no-tilling corn in rotations, a pair of Purdue University researchers are finding row cleaners and avoiding planting in the old rows can make continuous no-till corn feasible. In addition, some ideas they’ve come up with can help if you are following a more traditional crop rotation.

Two New Deere No-Till Drills Coming

This summer, John Deere intends to up the standard a notch or two for no-till drills.

By Frank Lessiter posted on April 1, 1998 | Posted in Equipment

Within a couple of months, you’ll see a replacement coming from John Deere for the highly popular 750 no-till drill as well as a new no-till air drill. Both rigs feature a new single disc opener to deliver excellent seed placement and emergence.

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A New Role For Bt Corn

By Frank Lessiter posted on April 1, 1998 | Posted in Water Management

On droughty soils in the southeastern region of the country, agronomists are suggesting a continuous double-crop no-till rotation. Many growers plant small grain followed by soybeans and then rotate to corn or cotton the following year.

37 Solid Profit-Building No-Till Management Ideas For 1998

Four top-notch no-tillers outline what they’ll do differently during the coming year.

By Frank Lessiter posted on April 1, 1998 | Posted in No-Till Farming 101

Standing pat is not something most veteran no-tillers do. Check out the innovations four veteran no-tillers were trying in 1998. Have you implemented any of these on your farm?

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Articles by Frank Lessiter

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