Ask the Operator

Ask the Operator: Planter Walk-Through with No-Till Legend Ray McCormick [Webinar]

Wed, 15 May 2024 15:00:00 -0400

Join No-Till Living Legend Ray McCormick live from the tractor cab Wednesday, May 15 at 7 a.m. CST!

Ask the Operator: 2023 in Review & Looking Ahead to 2024 [Webinar]

Fri, 01 Dec 2023 13:00:00 -0500

Join Loran Steinlage and his special guests for a conversation about lessons learned from drought, valuable technologies utilized on the farm in 2023, expectations for the year ahead and more.

Ask the Operator: Precision Ag & the Future of No-Till [Webinar]

Fri, 03 Nov 2023 13:00:00 -0400

2023 Conservation Ag Operator Fellow Loran Steinlage talks about what he sees as the most promising agtech for no-tillers and how precision agriculture plays a role in his no-till operation.

Ask the Operator: Harvest Edition [Webinar]

Fri, 06 Oct 2023 14:00:00 -0400

2023 Conservation Ag Operator Fellow Loran Steinlage broadcasts live from FLOLO Farms in West Union, Iowa, for the October harvest edition of the Ask the Operator webinar series

Ask the Operator: Carrying on Dave Brandt’s Legacy of Farmer-to-Farmer Education [Webinar]

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 08:00:00 -0400

In the September edition of No-Till Farmer’s Ask the Operator webinar series, Loran Steinlage, Adam Daugherty, Jimmy Emmons and Rick Clark discuss carrying on the late Dave Brandt's vision for a farmer-led learning center in southwestern Wisconsin, the goal for the center as defined by Brandt, details about the Sept. 14 event, best practices for inclusive farmer-to-farmer education and more.

Ask the Operator: What No-Tillers Should Know About Strip-Till [Webinar]

Fri, 04 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0400

2023 Conservation Ag Operator Fellow Loran Steinlage of West Union, Iowa, hosts a webinar broadcast from the main stage at the National Strip-Tillage Conference in Bloomington, Ill.

How Do I Plant Seeds of Different Sizes with a No-Till Drill?

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 11:31:01 -0400

Our latest Ask the Operator question asks how to plant seeds of different sizes at different depths using a no-till drill.

Ask the Operator: International No-Till Perspectives [Webinar]

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0400

2023 Conservation Ag Operator Fellow Loran Steinlage of West Union, Iowa, takes us on an international no-till tour in the July 7 edition of the Ask the Operator webinar series.

Ask the Operator: The Cost of Soil Erosion [Webinar]

Fri, 02 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0400

In No-Till Farmer’s June Ask the Operator webinar, 2023 Conservation Ag Operator Fellow Loran Steinlage of West Union, Iowa, leads a panel discussion about the cost of erosion to farmers and society, and what the no-till community can do to educate other farmers and the public about soil-saving practices like no-till and cover crops.

Should I Stagger the Closing Wheels on My No-Till Planter?

Tue, 30 May 2023 07:06:05 -0400

Our latest Ask the Operator question asks if it's better to stagger closing wheels on a no-till planter or run them next to each other.

What's the Ideal Hydraulic Down Pressure When No-Tilling?

Fri, 26 May 2023 15:04:49 -0400

Our latest Ask the Operator question asks what is the right setting for hydraulic down pressure on a no-till planter.

Ask the Operator: Highly Modified No-Till Planter Setups [Webinar]

Fri, 05 May 2023 00:00:00 -0400

No-Till Farmer broadcasts live from Loran Steinlage’s FLOLO Farms in West Union, Iowa, for the May edition of the Ask the Operator webinar series: No-Till Planter Walkthroughs & Troubleshooting. The 2023 Conservation Ag Operator Fellow gives a live walkthrough of two of his highly modified no-till planters and shares the reasons behind his setup decisions.

Ask the Operator: No-Till & Regenerative Ag in Ukraine [Webinar]

Fri, 07 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -0400

In the second installment of No-Till Farmer’s Ask the Operator webinar series, 2023 Conservation Ag Operator Fellow Loran Steinlage of West Union, Iowa, welcomes Olexiy and Konstantin, two Ukrainian no-tillers, and UW-Madison's Erin Silva for a live discussion about organic no-till and the regenerative practices the farmers are experimenting with in Ukraine.

What Herbicides Do You Use When Interseeding into Corn?

Thu, 06 Apr 2023 12:00:00 -0400

Our latest Ask the Operator question asks what herbicides to use when interseeding into corn.

What Cover Crop Should I Broadcast Into V5 Corn Going to Soybeans?

Wed, 05 Apr 2023 13:28:03 -0400

Our latest Ask the Operator question asks what cover crop to seed into standing corn around V5 that will be going to soybeans.

Should I Use Shorter-Season Corn & Soybeans for Better Cover Crop Establishment?

Thu, 30 Mar 2023 14:00:00 -0400

Our latest Ask the Operator question asks if 100-day corn and shorter-season soybeans should be used in northern latitudes to get better cover crop establishment.

Ask the Operator: Help Me with Cover Crops! [Webinar]

Fri, 03 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0500

In this panel discussion, No-Till Farmer managing editor Michaela Paukner and No-Till Farmer's 2023 Conservation Ag Operator Fellow Loran Steinlage of West Union, Iowa, give you a first look at the results of the 4th annual Cover Crop Benchmark Study, a nationwide survey of hundreds of growers using cover crops, and talk through key takeaways for successfully using cover crops.

What Are Your Must-Haves for Cover Crop Blends?

Tue, 07 Feb 2023 14:06:46 -0500

Our latest Ask the Operator question asks what should be must-have species in cover crop blends.

What Grain Separator or Cleaner Is Best for Intercropped Grains?

Tue, 07 Feb 2023 14:06:46 -0500

Our latest Ask the Operator question asks for advice on grain separators and cleaners are best for intercropped grains.

What Cover Crops Should I Plant After Wheat?

Wed, 28 Dec 2022 14:06:46 -0500

Our latest Ask the Operator question asks for advice on planting cover crops after wheat harvest.

Did You Use a Biological Product This Year?

Fri, 29 Jul 2022 16:00:00 -0400

Our latest edition of Ask the Operator resolves something of a cliffhanger from the beginning of the Fellowship Program. Jim Leverich had said he planned to potentially use a biological product for yields this year.

No-Till Trials Zero in on Hybrids, Fertilizer Applications

Tue, 12 Jul 2022 00:00:00 -0400

Sparta, Wis., home to Jim Leverich, No-Till Farmer’s 2022 Conservation Ag Operator Fellow, is not far from the beautiful sandstone bluffs of the Mississippi River. Hugging the west-central part of the state, Leverich’s farm features a range of soils from sandy loam to heavier clay loam soils.

How Do You Pick Your Corn Hybrids?

Fri, 11 Mar 2022 11:15:00 -0500

No-Till Farmer's Conservation Ag Operator Fellow for 2022, Jim Leverich, discusses how he goes about selecting corn hybrids each year.

Whats the Deal With Pop Up Placement?

Mon, 07 Mar 2022 11:30:00 -0500

No-Till Farmer's Conservation Ag Operator Fellow for 2022, Jim Leverich, discusses why pop-up placement matters to his operation.

On-Farm Testing Unlocks No-Till Success

Tue, 22 Feb 2022 00:00:00 -0500

As a former extension educator, Leverich is accustomed to keeping good records of practices and having others pick his brain about all the nuances of no-till, making him an excellent candidate for our inaugural Conservation Ag Fellow. He is an advocate for integrating data and precision ag into farming practices and believes on-farm testing is critical to achieving no-till success.

What are the biggest problems first-time no-tillers need to be ready for?

Thu, 27 Jan 2022 12:00:00 -0500

Starting out in no-till can be tricky. What's the first thing that might trip you up?

What was the best change you made in your no-till operation in the last 3 years?

Fri, 21 Jan 2022 15:51:00 -0500

No-Till Farmer's Conservation Ag Operator Fellow for 2022, Jim Leverich, discusses a recent change he made to his no-till operation that has made a positive impact.

Do you have any significant worries for 2022?

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 12:20:00 -0500

No-Till Farmer's Conservation Ag Operator Fellow for 2022, Jim Leverich, discusses areas of concern for the coming year.

Do you have all your equipment and parts in hand for spring planting?

Fri, 07 Jan 2022 12:19:00 -0500

No-Till Farmer's Conservation Ag Operator Fellow for 2022, Jim Leverich, discusses his operation's equipment and parts status ahead of spring planting.