Seeding & Planting

360 Yield Center Splits Into Two Brands: 360 RAIN for Adaptive Application, 360 YIELD for Retrofit Equipment

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 14:00:00 -0400

After more than a decade of agricultural innovation, 360 Yield Center announced today a strategic brand restructuring that establishes two distinct divisional brands: 360 RAIN, focused on adaptive application, and 360 YIELD, focused on retrofit equipment upgrades.

Higher Diesel Prices, Higher Custom Rates

lessitef@lesspub.com — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Earlier this year, 205 custom operators and farm managers in Iowa responded to the annual Iowa farm custom rate survey that is coordinated by Iowa State University ag economists.

Video of the Week: 1-on-1 with Pivot Bio CEO Chris Abbott

mvogel@lessitermedia.com — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 01:00:00 -0400

Moving on now to our Video of the Week, our Mike Lessiter caught up with Chris Abbott, the CEO of Pivot Bio for an exclusive interview following the move of company headquarters to the Twin Cities.

Soil Health Bus Tour Headed to Strip-Till Conference

mvogel@lessitermedia.com — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 01:00:00 -0400

A special Southeast Minnesota Soil Health Bus Tour will bring up to 50 farmers to the National Strip-Tillage Conference, Aug. 6-7 in Springfield, Ill. The tour is sponsored by the Rice and Steele Soil and Water Conservation Districts.

Hitting the Road — Editors Prepare for Upcoming Farm Visits

mvogel@lessitermedia.com — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 01:00:00 -0400

As the weather heats up and farmers everywhere get busier, the editorial team and I are getting plans squared away to hit the road and travel to several farms and field days in the coming months.

What Methods Are No-Tillers Using to Seed Cover Crops?

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Sun, 31 May 2026 01:00:00 -0400

In the No-Till Farmer Email Discussion Group, we asked, “How are you seeding cover crops?” Let’s see what you said.

Innovative Farmer Transforms Soil with Cover Crops, Cutting-Edge Tech

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Sat, 30 May 2026 01:00:00 -0400

I just got back from Coolidge, Ariz., where Strip-Till Innovator Robert Boyle is proving cover crops can work anywhere…even in the desert with less than 7 inches of rain.

[Podcast] Cover Crops, Strip-Till Spark Desert Soil Revival

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Fri, 29 May 2026 08:00:00 -0400

On this episode of Conservation Ag Update, brought to you by Titan International, we pay a visit to Strip-Till Innovator Robert Boyle’s farm in Coolidge, Ariz., for an up-close look at how he’s transforming his soils with cover crops and diverse rotations.

Bringing No-Till to the Last Frontier

jdobberstein@lesspub.com — Thu, 28 May 2026 15:15:08 -0400

AlaskaAgro is converting 5,600 acres to no-till with equipment hauled 6,000 miles & rebuilt on the farm by Wichita-based Quality Drills.

No-Till, Regenerative Practices Fit the ‘Retirement’ Bill

Thu, 28 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Cutting tillage & focusing on regenerative practices helped Greg Woll reduce expenses, boost crop yields & protect the soil.

MASCHIO GASPARDO Opens Its First Full Line Store in North America

Wed, 27 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The Group’s fifth Full Line Store worldwide opened on May 22, 2026, in partnership with Roc-Pit Equipment LLC. Located in the heart of the American Corn Belt, the new dealership brings the full MASCHIO GASPARDO range to North American farmers.

Tony Peirick Shares his 2026 Planting Season Update

mvogel@lessitermedia.com — Thu, 21 May 2026 01:00:00 -0400

This week I’ve got another update from this year’s Conservation ag Operator Fellow — Wisconsin no-tiller Tony Peirick. Let’s take a listen as he gives us his official 2026 planting season update.

Video of the Week: Quintuple Biopass 2.0

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Wed, 20 May 2026 01:00:00 -0400

Headed back to Iowa now for our Video of the Week. Zack Smith fills us in on his latest experiment with his custom-built twin-row planter.

No-Till, Last Frontier: Two Drills, One Mission, 6,000 Miles

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Tue, 19 May 2026 01:00:00 -0400

Sixth-generation farmer Clayton Griffith, who moved from Kansas to the “Last Frontier” 5 years ago to pursue his passion for hunting and fishing, is converting his 5,600-acre farm near Delta Junction, Alaska, to no-till, so he can produce small grains more efficiently and sustainably.

[Video] No-Till & Cover Crops Save the Day — 2026 Planting Season Update

mvogel@lessitermedia.com — Mon, 18 May 2026 08:00:00 -0400

No-Till Farmer's 2026 Conservation Ag Operator Fellow Tony Peirick, shares an update on how his planting season is going so far after an especially wet couple of weeks in Watertown, Wis.

Young Farmer Saves Soil, Crushes Weeds with Strip-Till & Rye

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Sun, 17 May 2026 01:00:00 -0400

Meanwhile, over in Mt. Sterling, Illinois, young farmer Wade Yingling and his dad, Bruce, are capturing success with strip-till and cover crops, with a little vertical tillage mixed in as well.

‘Neighborly Grazing’ Pays Off for Iowa No-Tillers

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Sat, 16 May 2026 01:00:00 -0400

Let’s kick things off in Latimer, Iowa, where Landon and Anne Plagge are coming off a Leopold Conservation Award-winning year in the Hawkeye State.

[Podcast] Farmers Slash Inputs by $170 Per Acre with No-Till & ‘Neighborly Grazing’

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Fri, 15 May 2026 08:00:00 -0400

On this episode of Conservation Ag Update, brought to you by Titan International, Latimer, Iowa no-tillers Landon and Anne Plagge describe the soil health practices that propelled them to the 2025 Leopold Conservation Award, including a unique cover crop grazing system.

How Do Full-Season Cover Crops Affect Insect Populations?

Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

A 2025 study in eastern Nebraska found higher insect abundance and diversity in cover crop areas compared to adjacent seed corn, including both beneficial species and potential pests.

Corteva's Seed & Genetics Spinoff to be Branded as Vylor

Tue, 05 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

With more than 4,000 germplasm patents and more than 2,000 biotechnology patents, Vylor's innovation engine will be anchored in the industry's most elite germplasm and transformative biotechnology, the company says.

No-Tillers Cashing in on Direct Sales to Consumers

lessitef@lesspub.com — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

In recent years, our No-Till Farmer editors have shared numerous conversations with no-tillers interested in finding new ways to expand farm income past traditional cash crop, milk and meat production. While we’ve seen many opportunities for developing a direct-to-consumer business, many growers maintain it seems like too much work.

Photo of the Week: Addressing Major Runoff Problems

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 01:00:00 -0400

Our Photos of the Week come to us from no-tiller Monte Bottens in Cambridge, Ill. He asked ChatGPT to create a photo with 52 semi-trailers dumping anhydrous ammonia into the river.

Beck's Hybrids Acquires Soybean Processing Facility

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The facility includes approximately 150,000 square feet of warehouse space and an additional 5,000 square feet of office space.

No-Till Innovators Join Forces as Yetter Acquires Martin

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 01:00:00 -0400

A couple months ago, we broke the news of Yetter’s plans to acquire Martin. The acquisition became official this week. Our editorial team sat down for an exclusive interview with leaders from both companies to talk about how this move combines decades of no-till expertise and innovation.

Chris Weaver’s Pivotal No-Till Aha Moment

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 01:00:00 -0400

A couple months ago we reported on Maryland no-tiller Chris Weaver’s record-breaking 154-bushel, non-irrigated soybean crop. Cover crops, timely fertility and a slow and steady harvest are all big keys to his no-till success. But he says one of his biggest aha moments came a few years ago in the winter.

Oats, No-Till & Covers Deliver Benefits Above & Below

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Groundwater is close at hand in Karst geography creating more urgency for intentionally careful farming practices

It Pays to Try New Ideas Every Year

lessitef@lesspub.com — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Sparta, Wis., no-tiller Jim Leverich shares a few things he’s changed over the past few years to trim operational costs & boost yields on his 1,000-acre farm

Tony Peirick Highlights Importance of Farmer-Led Learning

mvogel@lessitermedia.com — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 01:00:00 -0400

If you haven’t had a chance to dive into this year’s Conservation ag Operator Fellowship series with Wisconsin no-tiller Tony Peirick, now is the time. He and many other growers around the country are making plans to get into the field and plant in the coming weeks.

Researchers Breeding Covers for Targeted Benefits, Specific Environments

lbarrera@lesspub.com — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

From cereal rye with higher levels of weed-controlling allelochemicals to hairy vetch that germinates in the first year, scientists are working to breed better cover crops

No-Till Trailblazer Shares His Best Investment

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 01:00:00 -0400

While some of you are just getting started, Tom Barcellos never stopped! It’s busy season 24/7/365 for the no-till pioneer in Tipton, Calif. He runs a big dairy operation, grows pistachios, citrus, strip-tills corn for silage and no-tills small grains.