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Frank Lessiter

Frank Lessiter has served as editor of No-Till Farmer since the publication was launched in November of 1972. Raised on a six-generation Michigan Centennial Farm, he has spent his entire career in agricultural journalism. Lessiter is a dairy science graduate from Michigan State University.

lessitef@lesspub.com

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ARTICLES

Wanted: No-Till Farm Office Management Tips, Techniques, Tricks, Forms

By Frank Lessiter posted on August 1, 2000 | Posted in No-Till Farming 101

“I’d bet every no-till couple has valuable farm office management ideas they could share at the National No-Tillage Conference in Cincinnati,” says Elaine Hottel of Burkittsville, Md. “Trading valuable farm office management tips, tricks, techniques and forms could be a very valuable part of next January’s meeting.”

Stretch Your Anhydrous Efficiency!

Here’s a system that can give you higher no-till yields, less nitrate leaching and reduce opener freeze up.

By Frank Lessiter posted on August 1, 2000 | Posted in Nutrient Management

With growing concern over the efficient use of nitrogen, a new system for applying anhydrous ammonia more accurately may be just the ticket for no-tillers.

Franks Comments

No-Till Always Saves Moisture

By Frank Lessiter posted on August 1, 2000 | Posted in Water Management

Regardless of what tillage system was used, no-till consistently provided a moisture advantage over a 3-year period in the Mid-Atlantic Cropping Systems Project at Port Royal, Va.

Polymer Coatings Already Profitable For Canadian No-Tillers

Polymer coatings have opened up new cropping oppurtunities for direct seeders in western Canada.

By Frank Lessiter posted on July 1, 2000 | Posted in Cover Crops

Thanks to polymer seed coatings, western Canadian no-tillers are already making fall dormant seeding of canola work.

Needed: New Ways To Expand No-TIll Acres!

Here's what veterans say about the advantages of no-tilling, concerns keeping other farmers from trying it and their thoughts on expanding no-till acres.

By Frank Lessiter posted on July 1, 2000 | Posted in Seeding & Planting

“I don't get it,” a leading farm magazine editor said to me at the conclusion of the seventh National No-Tillage Conference in St. Louis, Mo., in January of 1999.

"Best $900 I've Ever Spent!"

Nothing means more to your no-till success than how you handle crop residue.

By Frank Lessiter posted on July 1, 2000 | Posted in Residue Management

When Neal Droupe unpacked a new chaff spreader, the Crandall, Manitoba, farmer felt he’d been robbed. In exchange for a $900 check, all he saw was a bunch of iron that didn’t look like it would do him much good.

Frank Comments

Do More With Less Herbicides

By Frank Lessiter posted on July 1, 2000 | Posted in Crop Protection

How would you like to use a new sprayer in your no-tilled fields that would use only half as much pesticide as conventional sprayers, yet still do as good or even better in controlling insects and weeds?

Reduce Surface-Applied Nitrogen Losses

Make sure you’re getting full value from nitrogen applied to your no-tilled crops.

By Frank Lessiter posted on June 1, 2000 | Posted in Nutrient Management

When it comes to surface-applying UAN solutions or urea, it’s easy to end up with considerable losses due to volatilization.

Frank Comments

$1.5 Million Fine For Plowing?

By Frank Lessiter posted on June 1, 2000 | Posted in Water Management

Results of A recent California judicial ruling indicate plowing and deep ripping of wetlands may be against the law. As many no-tillers have maintained for years, the cropping and environmental perils of plowing may finally be recognized when it comes to controlling erosion and protecting our land.

Fuel Cost Increases... Pennies Vs. Dollars

If you wished you’d topped off your diesel fuel tank last fall, how do you think neighbors who work their ground feel?

By Frank Lessiter posted on May 1, 2000 | Posted in Equipment

The math is pretty simple.

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