Frankly Speaking

Vermont Is First State to Ban Paraquat

lessitef@lesspub.com — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

One of our 50 states has decided to ban the herbicide that got no-till started in the early years before glyphosate came along.

Quake Sensors Show Tillage Weakens Soil

lessitef@lesspub.com — Fri, 22 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The same highly sophisticated seismic tools and methods used to measure the severity of earthquakes show promise in determining the impact tillage has on soil moisture and water retention.

Nobody Likes High Nitrogen Costs, But…

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

If you’re no-tilling and seeding cover crops, you’re in a much better position to deal with higher nitrogen (N) prices than many other growers.

USDA Fought Regenerative Agriculture… Now There’s a $700 Million Turn-Around

lessitef@lesspub.com — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

At this year’s 34th National No-Tillage Conference in St. Louis, I heard the real story behind a federal controversy I’ve wondered about for 10 years. This revelation came during a classroom session presented by Jonathan Lundgren.

Tractor Costs Are More Than You Think

lessitef@lesspub.com — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

There’s a gigantic difference in overall tractor costs between a no-tiller and a neighbor doing two-pass chisel plow/disc tillage on 1,000 acres of corn with a 240-horsepower tractor.

No-Till Lessons to be Learned from Brazil

lessitef@lesspub.com — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

At all of our 34 National No-Tillage Conferences, a commonly-asked question has dealt with how to get more growers to adopt the reduced tillage practice that’s already being used on 108 million U.S. acres.

How Farm Equipment Dealers Are Anticipating 2026 Machinery Sales

lessitef@lesspub.com — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

It’s no surprise that farm equipment prices will likely continue to rise to during the coming year. In fact, 89% of farm equipment dealers expect prices will rise by 1-6% this year.

Dealing with 5 Perennial Weeds & Trees Makes Organic No-Till Much Tougher Than Expected

lessitef@lesspub.com — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Rick Clark has been a big believer in no-till organic for some time. However, that doesn’t mean it’s always been an easy cropping shift to manage.

No-Till & Strip-Till Interest Growing Among Ukraine Farmers

lessitef@lesspub.com — Sat, 27 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Dealing with military issues, labor shortages, shifting to larger-acreage operations in western Ukraine areas and other concerns, growers are taking a closer look at no-till and strip-till.

The Perils of Buying Bin-Run Cover Crop Seed

lessitef@lesspub.com — Sun, 14 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Several paragraphs in a recent No-Till Farmer article sparked several comments about the use of bin-run cover crop seed.

No-Till Purges Major Mother Nature Concerns

lessitef@lesspub.com — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Last fall, Farm Journal editors posted an article, “Unpacking the Disappointment: 5 Reasons Some Iowa Growers Had Ho-Hum Corn Yields.” In some areas of Iowa, agronomist Nicole Stecklein said, Mother Nature delivered a series of agronomic problems that led to an only average corn crop.

Razor-Sharp Corn Stalks Can Slice No-Till Planter Tires

lessitef@lesspub.com — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 13:00:00 -0500

No-tillers and strip tillers need tires that reduce compaction and stand up to jagged stalks produced by today’s high-yielding, genetically modified hybrids.

Halloween Sales to Suburbanites Worth Making

lessitef@lesspub.com — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Frank's "crazy, thinking outside the box” mentality got him pondering about alternative options to just selling the grain from your no-till wheat and corn fields, and how you can boost your no-till income.

No-Till Soybeans First, No-Till Corn Second? Or Try No-Tilling Your Soybeans in October?

lessitef@lesspub.com — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

With many farmers and educators recognizing that earlier planting pays dividends, more no-tillers are starting with soybeans.

What Does a Big-Time No-Till Booster Do in Retirement?

lessitef@lesspub.com — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

If you’re Dick Foell, who extensively promoted no-till while working for Chevron and Zeneca in the 1970s and 1980s, you keep busy in many different ways.

New Drone Usage Likely Not Important to Many No-Tillers

lessitef@lesspub.com — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

TerraClear is offering a new service to help you more easily spot “rock picking” opportunities while also delivering a GPS map that farmers can accurately spot the location of rocks that need to be removed from a field.

Cover Crops Can Stretch No-Till Water Use

lessitef@lesspub.com — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

As growers in numerous areas of the country tackle serious drought concerns, it’s a good time to look at the water-saving benefits to be gained with cover crops.

Why Farmers Believe This Video Should Embarrass John Deere

lessitef@lesspub.com — Sat, 30 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

A few days ago, Guy Swanson of Exactrix Global Systems tipped me off to a ridiculous YouTube video that totally paints an inaccurate picture for consumers of what modern-day corn production is all about.

3,000 Acres of No-Till Leads to 21,000 Sprayed Acres

lessitef@lesspub.com — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

With no-tillers among agriculture’s most impressive innovators, they definitely see the value in making timely application of pesticides, biologicals and liquid fertilizers.

Corn Belt Data Doesn’t Reveal True No-Till Story

lessitef@lesspub.com — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Results from a recent Purdue Univ. 10-year analysis of Corn Belt farm records do not show no-till in a very favorable light.

30 Years of No-Till and Cover Crops Dramatically Boost Carbon, Nitrogen Values

lessitef@lesspub.com — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400

New USDA findings reveal the long-term payoff of pairing no-till with cover crops. And the best part? No yield penalty.

Latest EPA Dicamba Ruling Is Good News for No-Tillers

lessitef@lesspub.com — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Even after federal courts have twice banned the use of dicamba, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced plans to bring it back this herbicide for over-the-top broadleaf weed control in soybeans and cotton.

While Less Tillage Expands, Too Many Growers Fail to Continue with Seeding of Cover Crops

lessitef@lesspub.com — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400

While the no-till, strip-till and other conservation tillage system acreage continues to grow and boost profits, a mid-year USDA report based on a historical review of research articles and Census of Agriculture from 2012-2022 indicates on-going acceptance of cover crops isn’t fairing as well.

No Reason to Lose Year’s Income with No-Till

lessitef@lesspub.com — Wed, 28 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

For years, a few farmers have questioned whether doing a single year of tillage with continuous no-till is a good idea. Based on many years of successful experience by no-tillers, that’s turned into a “no-no” for lots of growers.

Planting Green Benefits Being Recognized

lessitef@lesspub.com — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0400

The many benefits of no-tillers planting green are starting to be recognized much more by folks as shown in two recent developments that promoted the concept through unique corn and soybean yield contests.

Good or Bad Time to Start No-Tilling?

lessitef@lesspub.com — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0500

For growers still using intensive tillage and facing less income and more costs, the question is when the best time is to shift to no-till. A major worry is the fear of a yield drag and its impact on income.

Long-Term No-Tillers Deserve a Fair Shake

lessitef@lesspub.com — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Whether it’s due to government policies or carbon credit incentives, veteran no-tillers are getting the short end of the stick. With most carbon credit companies refusing to accept veteran no-tillers in their programs, you can see why I think the current rules are unfair.

Yes, He's a Regenerative Agriculture Skeptic

lessitef@lesspub.com — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0500

When the principles of regenerative ag are broken down to their core components, Shane Thomas sees it as a bundling of practices with the aim of “regenerating” the soil (an outcome), including increasing organic matter (soil carbon) encouraging biological activity and mitigating soil erosion.

When it Comes to Brand Loyalty, More Growers Are Willing to Switch Brands with Planter, Drill & Sprayer Buys — Three Slices of the Overall Farm Equipment Market Which Are Critical for No-Tillers

lessitef@lesspub.com — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500

When it comes to brand loyalty with different ag equipment products, no-tillers are more likely than the general farm population to change brands when it comes to purchasing seeding and planting equipment.

Mentor Puts Employment on the Line for ‘Rookie’ Writer

lessitef@lesspub.com — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500

This column features an early-day mentor of mine who went out of his way to put his job on the line for me, a student journalist at the time.