For many no-tillers, late December is not only a time to spend holiday cheer with family and friends, but also a time to reflect on how operations went on the farm this year. Hopefully most of you got your winter crops no-tilled and you’re thinking about what lies ahead for 2020.

American Farmland Trust rolled out some interesting information about the payoffs for improved soil health this year. In our recent February issue, we explored how bankers value your investment in no-till systems and soil health.

With Australian no-tillers dealing with some of the worst weed resistance issues in the world, the country’s growers are adopting a “zero tolerance policy” or a “take no prisoners” approach to weed control.

As concerns about the viability of the Ogallala aquifer continue, researchers believe they have found a window of opportunity in the growth cycle of cotton to reduce watering without hurting yield in the end.

Will the gradual change in farm production practices to more wholistic methods, including no-till systems, be fought in coffee shops or courtrooms? Read about battles flaring up in two different states.

As northern growers gear up for colder weather, it’s a good time to consider whether cover crops can have any impact on winter temperatures and global warming.

General Mills, Dannon, Land O’ Lakes, Syngenta, Corteva, Wrangler, PepsiCo, The Nature Conservancy. What do they all have in common? These companies and organizations — among others — are working to advance the role of agriculture in addressing the demands of health-conscious consumers while also helping to combat the effects of climate change while improving food security issues across the globe.

Find out what a recent University of Nebraska study concludes about germination and yields for two pulse crops after tillage was done, and what important caveats the research doesn’t address.

As it did for many corn growers in 2019, the late planting season hit home with Fred Below as many of his research plots didn't get planted until after June 1. And he's convinced delayed planting can easily cost a grower 15-20% of their potential yield. So what should a grower do to protect yields when faced with a weather-stressed late planting situation?

Recently I came across a Tweet from cover crop educator Steve Groff, who collected a sample of “snirt” — windblown snow and dirt — from field near his farm in Pennsylvania that was being tilled.