John Deere 750 drill

Rethinking ‘Conventional’ Wisdom Leads to Revelations, 100% No-Till

Parking the plow helped John Macauley cut five passes across the field, save on fuel and labor and maintain yields as he builds a more sustainable operation.

By Ian Gronau posted on March 10, 2018 | Posted in No-Till Farming 101, Cover Crops, Residue Management

Some farmers dive headlong into changing their tillage practices. John Macauley, who farms 1,200 acres with his father, Jim, in Groveland, N.Y., is proof that transitioning to no-till can be done in steps.

No-Till, Covers Make CRP Acres Protected And Productive Again

Missouri farmer Jerry Morris says no-till and cover-crop mixes helped him put CRP acres back into crop production and keep his sloping fields from suffering erosion.

By Mark Parker posted on December 1, 2013 | Posted in Cover Crops, Crop Protection

The benefits of no-till and cover crops have helped a farm in Missouri open up the productivity potential of marginal land and protect fragile soils.

What I've Learned from No-Tilling

Making A No-Till Gamble Pay Off

The promise of less equipment lured Terry Dahmer into no-tilling, but now the Illinois farmer finds gearing up with new technology suits his needs.

By Terry Dahmer and Martha Mintz posted on August 1, 2013 | Posted in No-Till Farming 101, Cover Crops

By day, I’m a general contractor. In my time off, I’m a no-tiller. I consider farming my hobby — a profitable hobby, thanks to no-till.

Doug Caffrey Didn't Listen To ‘No-Till Won’t Work Here’

Planting early, injecting manure and hungry night crawlers pay off for veteran Iowa no-tiller.

By Dan Zinkland posted on September 1, 2010 | Posted in No-Till Farming 101, Seeding & Planting, Nutrient Management

Conventional wisdom says no-till won’t work in northern Iowa, an area infamous for cold, wet soils. But Thornton, Iowa, farmer Doug Caffrey, who grows corn and soybeans and raises grow-to-finish hogs, has no-tilled successfully for almost 25 years.

A Quick Study On No-Till

Since taking over the family farm at age 21, Cameron Mills has successfully transitioned to no-till with cover crops and a can-do attitude.

By Darrell Bruggink posted on August 1, 2010 | Posted in No-Till Farming 101, Cover Crops, Crop Protection

When Cameron Mills jumped into farming full time in 1998, he went into it full bore. His father had just retired from farming and had turned over the operation to his 21-year-old son.

What I've Learned from No-Tilling

Perseverance, Equipment Updates Are Mainstays For No-Tiller's Success

More than 20 years learning, adapting equipment and expanding crop rotations to include small grains and cover crops are a winning formula for Wisconsin no-tiller

By Ross Bishop posted on April 1, 2010 | Posted in No-Till Farming 101, Seeding & Planting, Equipment

With the dire economics agriculture faced in the early 1980s, there was no opportunity for me to join our Wisconsin family farm operation. But farming was my first love and you might say, I was blessed.

What I've Learned from No-Tilling

Family Tradition Of Trying Things Works Well

This Kansas no-tiller has evaluated strip-till and no-till lowered nitrogen rates by more than 50% and developed a prescription precision ag program

By Joel McClure and Ron Ross posted on January 1, 2010 | Posted in No-Till Farming 101, Equipment, Precision Agriculture

I’m the fourth generation to manage McClure Farms in the area of southwestern Kansas that is depicted as the heart of the 1930’s Dust Bowl.

What I've Learned from No-Tilling

Nudging Closer To A Never-Till System

Wendte brothers bring differing career experiences together to take on a tough no-till challenge in the flat, black soils of central Illinois.

By Ron Ross posted on August 1, 2009 | Posted in No-Till Farming 101

I was pleased when the Illinois Department of Agriculture reported in late 2006 that no-till acres in the state had, for the first time, exceeded the number of conventionally tilled acres.