https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/rss en-us Cutting tillage & focusing on regenerative practices helped Greg Woll reduce expenses, boost crop yields & protect the soil.

]]> http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/15308 Thu, 28 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/15308-no-till-regenerative-practices-fit-the-retirement-bill What I've Learned from No-Tilling-Greg Woll-1.jpg PLANTING OPPORTUNITY. At planting, biologicals are applied in furrow. They're also applied in season and to corn stubble in fall. The biology, amino acids and micronutrients work to break down residue and free nutrients from the soil. Phosphorus hasn't been necessary for years. Greg Woll Groundwater is close at hand in Karst geography creating more urgency for intentionally careful farming practices

]]> http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/15230 Tue, 21 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/15230-oats-no-till-and-covers-deliver-benefits-above-and-below WILFNT_Oats-No-Till-and-Covers-Deliver-Benefits-Above-and-Below-5.jpg BOOSTING PROFITS. Cover crops and oats serve up savings and yields. Residue gives Larsen the upper hand with glyphosate resistant waterhemp and the crop rotation has eliminated the need to purchase expensive corn rootworm protection in his traited corn hybrids. Corn and soybean crops in rotation with oats also see yield bumps up to 11%. Martin Larsen Soil health & soil carbon building goals drive commitment to developing cover crop, intercrop & bio-till strategies

]]> http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/15137 Mon, 16 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/15137-forty-years-of-less-tillage-more-plants What-I've-Learned-from-No-Tilling-Joe-Breker-1.jpg SOLAR CORRIDOR. Paired 60-inch corn rows create a solar corridor where interseeded cover crops can thrive without competing with the crop. The entire corn plant also stays greener longer, helping achieve ever increasing farm yeilds. Joe Breker For these Montana growers, nurturing the next generation of farm leaders is as important as managing soils & crops

]]> http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/15048 Tue, 17 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/15048-a-family-farm-aiming-for-regenerational-no-till-success WILFNT_Streit-1.jpg ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT. When there wasn’t room on the home farm, Tyler started his own custom combining business. Since then Tyler & Jillien have developed several companies, including a bar, a commodity business, their farm and they now sell a biological seed and soil product as they turn their attention to soil health. Tyler and Jillien Streit After mastering no-till practices, the Mowbrays now have cover crops in their sites & are working to wratchet the ROIs on their farm practices even higher 

]]> http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/14976 Thu, 22 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/14976-persistence-keeps-no-tiller-picking-at-the-next-production-challenge WILFNT-Scott-Mowbray-Consistant-Yields.jpg CONSISTENT YIELDS. Severe drought in 1988 devastated crop production. The Mowbrays have been able to produce strong crops under similar conditions with no-till and improved crop genetics. Scott Mowbray Technology needed for strip-till helped fuel a data-driven farming strategy that keeps pushing yields & profits for Michigan grower Jake Isley

]]> http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/14922 Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/14922-solving-a-farm-puzzle-1-piece-at-a-time WILFNT-Solving-a-Farm-Puzzle-1-Piece-at-a-Time_1.jpg CRACKING THE CODE. The technology needed to strip-till opened more doors for effective and efficient farm management. They’re now able to collect data that has helped transform fertility strategies, evaluate corn hybrids, and determine impact and profitability of crop inputs like fungicides and sulfur. Jake Isley From recordkeeping to the latest technologies, Tom McKinney is always looking to push production & profits to the next level

]]> http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/14830 Mon, 01 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/14830-data-crunching-constant-curiosity-drives-steady-no-till-progress Tom-McKinney.jpg Tom McKinney Almost 30 years of on-farm trials has guided Blaine Baker on adoption of technologies & practices that are truly profitable on his Michigan farm

]]> http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/14713 Tue, 04 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/14713-proof-of-no-till-benefits-found-in-the-plots Blaine-Baker-16-row-Horsch-planter-with-Martin-row-cleaners-is-used-to-no-till-corn-and-soybeans.jpg MAKE WAY. A 16-row Horsch planter with Martin row cleaners is used to no-till corn and soybeans. With cover crops, the Bakers believe residue managers are critical to clearing the path and create better conditions for successful planting.  Blaine Baker The only place this no-tiller shoots for the moon is when he aims to maximize return on investment

]]> http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/14514 Wed, 13 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/14514-dryland-no-till-requires-careful-balance-of-risk-and-reward WILFNT-Ben-Palen-18-inch-wheat-stubble.jpg Ben Palen http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/14319 Wed, 28 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/14319-finding-efficiency-drives-decisions Nolan-Tyrel-and-Greg-Billings.jpg Nolan, Tyrel and Greg Billings. (Photo from Greg Billings) http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/14074 Tue, 18 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/14074-a-no-till-farming-system-55-years-in-the-making Kaiser-farm-1.jpg SITUATIONAL AWARENESS. Kaiser Lake Farms is unique. The 1,300-acre block of farming is surrounded by high-value residential real estate and waterfront. The Kaisers do community outreach, forming relationships with and educating their neighbors about practices that conserve and protect the land they farm and the surrounding area. Ian McDonald, OMAFA field crop specialist http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/13993 Tue, 21 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/13993-50-years-of-no-till-and-still-going-strong WILFNT-Paul-Dotterer-1.jpg STAYING COMMITTED. The Dotterers brought some of the first no-till planters to the area through their Allis Chalmers dealership. This Deutz-Allis 385 wasn't the first, but it was one of Paul's favorites. Equipment may change, but the family remains committed to no-till. Dotterer Family http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/13928 Fri, 20 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/13928-decades-of-data-drive-ongoing-improvement WILFNT_CTG_0225-1.jpg Kenneth Hartman’s planter seeds a different corn hybrid on each half, resulting in whole-farm performance data come harvest. Data is then used to identify which hybrids perform the best in various fields and soil types, helping to match the right seed to the right acre. Yields have steadily climbed 2 bushels per year by constantly assessing and adopting the best hybrids. http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/13852 Fri, 22 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/13852-switching-from-cows-to-crops-brings-growth-in-no-tilled-fields http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/13775 Tue, 29 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/13775-grazing-cover-crops-builds-farm-and-field-resilience Mixed-livestock-groups.jpg TEAMWORK IS BEST. Mixed livestock groups are used to rotationally graze cover crops. Keeping the animals together is more about logistics, but there are claims that large and small ruminants impact soil health in different ways. Carl Whitworth http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/13687 Tue, 08 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/13687-engineering-a-triumphant-return-to-the-ridge WILFNT_CTG_1024_Desmond-Miller_1.jpg CLEARED PATH. Heavy residue is moved to the side to make way for seeding corn and soybeans. Desmond Miller http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/13615 Tue, 17 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/13615-making-no-till-cover-crops-work-in-harsh-climate WILFNT-Bryce-Wrigley-1.jpg http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/13538 Tue, 06 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/13538-no-till-planter-adjustments-upgrades-propel-next-generation-of-conservation WILFNT_Robert-and-RJ-Fulper-1.jpg COVER crop UPGRADE. Implementing cover crops on every acre and venturing into diverse mixes helped boost advances in soil health and crop production that had stagnated in the Fulpers’ Lambertville, N.J., system when it was no-till only. Robert & RJ fulper http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/13362 Tue, 28 May 2024 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/13362-rapid-management-changes-prioritize-no-till-soil-health WILFNT-0724-1.jpg NET GAIN. Having wheat in the rotation opens a slot for a multi-species diverse cover crop on Ben and Grant Moest’s Winslow, Ill., farm. The practice may not seem profitable when only considering 1 year of the rotation, but a longer-term, more comprehensive evaluation reveals value added to the subsequent crop in nutrients and long-term soil health improvements. Both can reduce the need for applied input and build a more resilient farm. Ben Moest http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/13266 Wed, 17 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/13266-add-covers-subtract-inputs-and-multiply-profits-with-systems-approach-to-no-till Smooth-Operator.jpg SMOOTH OPERATOR. Cover crops interseeded at V4 corn roll out a green carpet for harvest equipment. They help hold heavy machinery, minimizing impact on the soil and making for a smooth, clean harvest that uses less fuel than a harvest spent bogged in the mud. Photo by: John Gibner http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/13212 Wed, 27 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/13212-diversifying-no-till-operation-with-dairy-makes-smart-business-sense Diversifying-no-till-operation.jpg Tillage used to be the easiest way to be first to the field and speed through the planting process for the VanTilburgs in Celina, Ohio. Now, the family can compete in both areas without tillage, thanks to advancing no-till planter technology and years of building healthy soils.Photo by: Luke Vantilburg Soil testing, cover crops & biological products maximize the nutrients in the soil available to the cash crop

]]> http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/13114 Tue, 20 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/13114-no-till-biologicals-save-money-on-dryland-acres WILFNT-0424-1.jpg ACCURATE SEEDING. Exapta UniForce hydraulic down pressure on each row unit and an electronic scale on Don Tilton’s 1990 John Deere air seeder have helped ensure wheat, cover crops and, more recently, camelina are seeded precisely. The 24-row John Deere 1770 planter also features swath control, air-assist row cleaners and hydraulic closing wheels. Don Tilton http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12930 Wed, 29 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12930-every-year-i-will-get-better-no-tiller-constantly-embraces-change WILFNT-White-1.jpg HIGH-OLEIC SOLUTION. High-oleic soybeans provide market premiums but come with the challenge of limited herbicide tolerance traits. Heavy cereal rye cover crop residue provides extra protection to keep herbicide-resistant weeds from overtaking the high-value crop. Photo: Chuck white http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12860 Mon, 30 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12860-planting-green-consistently-delivers-100-of-fertility-to-next-crop Aaron-Krueger-1.jpg AUTO FEED. A diverse cover crop mix that includes multiple legumes, brassicas and grass species provides steady nutrition to the following cash crop as they break down. Legumes release nitrogen roughly 2 weeks after termination, while cereal rye holds fast to protect the soil and provide a later flush of nutrients. Photo: Aaron Krueger Our heavy clay soils are among our greatest farm management challenges. They’re also vaults holding exceptionally valuable production rewards.

]]> http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12812 Wed, 11 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12812-tough-soils-require-management-shift-stubborn-persistence WILFNT_Rodman-Lott-1.jpg SeedRight vacuum plates with large seed cells are used for accurate bio strip-till cover crop seeding with the planter. The Lotts have tried various seeding techniques for bio strip-till, including 2 planter passes that are 30 inches wide, a strip-till rig with mounted air seeder and manipulating the delivery system on a 15-inch row width soybean planter. The aim is to seed winter kill cover crops in the row where the corn crop is seeded and covers that will overwinter between the rows. Image: Rodman Lott http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12724 Thu, 31 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12724-precision-planter-tech-cover-crops-set-stage-for-perfect-no-till-corn-stand Blaine-Hitchens-hairy-vetch.jpg VETCH FIT. Veering away from slug-prone cereal rye, Blaine Hitchens has found hairy vetch to be an excellent cover crop for his Laurel, Del., operation. It’s seeded in a 5-way mix between full-season soybeans and corn. Only hairy vetch and balansa clover survive the winter. The nitrogen that the legumes fix and quickly release from their leaves means Hitchens doesn’t need to apply any nitrogen with his planter. Photo: Blaine Hitchins http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12494 Tue, 23 May 2023 06:00:00 -0400 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12494-no-tilling-and-cover-cropping-every-acre-every-year Pre_dig_seeding_Feature.jpg PRE-DIG SEEDING. Doug Newton of Clio, S.C., would broadcast cover crops ahead of digging peanuts. The cover crops are already sprouted by the time the peanuts dry down and are harvested. The head start is great for the cover crops and gets a few hundred acres of cover crop planting done before the hustle of harvest. Photo: Doug Newton http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12429 Tue, 25 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12429-daily-data-analysis-keeps-nutrients-water-in-place Brooks-Garland-caranita-winter-crop.jpg GROWING BUSINESS. Always looking for a new challenge and a new income stream, no-tiller Brooks Garland of Lee, Fla., added caranita, a canola cousin, as a winter crop that also serves as a cover crop. He sells it for use in green jet fuel.  Brooks Garland http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12359 Wed, 29 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12359-why-i-dont-farm-every-acre-of-my-land Doug-Doughty’s-fields.jpg COVER SHIELD. Doug Doughty’s fields and the surrounding environment benefit from his various conservation strategies, including terraces, waterways, no-tillage, CRP acres and field borders. Images: Doug Doughty http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12200 Sat, 28 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12200-startup-no-tiller-applies-tried-and-true-farming-know-how-to-new-operation cover-crop-on-Andrew-Bernzotts-farm.jpg UNDER COVER. Aerial application has worked for establishing a cover crop on Andrew Bernzott’s Connersville, Ind., farm, but he wants to increase consistency by switching to a Phoenix Harrow with a Gandy airseeder.  Andrew Bernzott