2023 Conservation Ag Operator Fellowship Program: Loran Steinlage No-Till Farmer has named Loran Steinlage of West Union, Iowa, as its 2023 Conservation Ag Operator Fellow. Launched in 2022 to mark the start of No-Till Farmer's second 50 years, the annual Conservation Ag Operator Fellowship program follows a selected no-till farmer throughout the year and shares the real-time decision-making and solutions needed to make no-till and conservation ag practices work in real-world conditions. 


For the 2023 fellowship program, made possible by A&I Products, No-Till Farmer's editors and industry advisors selected Steinlage as this year’s fellow due to his ongoing commitment to innovating on his own farm and going above and beyond to share his no-till knowledge with others. Steinlage is a 2020 No-Till Innovator Award recipient and frequent National No-Tillage Conference speaker. 


"It's humbling to be chosen as the Conservation Ag Operator Fellow," Steinlage said. "I see this as part of the mindset we've acquired over the years — to throw ourselves out there and help people. This is a way to give back and an opportunity to share more about the why behind the stories." 


The Conservation Ag Operator Fellowship program includes an in-depth, year-long content series in No-Till Farmer magazine that details Steinlage's decisions and actions throughout the year. The series examines a variety of subjects, including cropping decisions, attachment/equipment purchases, test plots, seeding/planting conditions and on-the-go decisions in response to weather and other variables. 

]]> https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/rss en-us Forward-Thinking Farming Leverages Relay Cropping, Technology mpaukner@lessitermedia.com http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12983 Wed, 27 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12983-forward-thinking-farming-leverages-relay-cropping-technology Steinlage-round-CAF-700.jpg After his old combine started on fire during harvest in 2022, Steinlage bought this John Deere S660 on auction without inspecting under the shields. “This summer we finally started to tear into it, and everybody's reminded me since you don't buy a service manager's combine,” Steinlage says. “Apparently he knew just what the heck to do to make it keep going.” Steinlage found wear strips in the sieves from too much dirt going through them, a junk gearbox and a lot of parts that need to be replaced. The repairs ended up costing an additional $30,000, but he still came out within the insurance payout of the old combine. Photo by: Michaela Paukner Ask the Operator: 2023 in Review & Looking Ahead to 2024 [Webinar] http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12916 Fri, 01 Dec 2023 13:00:00 -0500 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12916-ask-the-operator-2023-in-review-and-looking-ahead-to-2024-webinar NTF Ask the Operator_No Date.png Ask the Operator: Precision Ag & the Future of No-Till [Webinar] 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.]]> http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12839 Fri, 03 Nov 2023 13:00:00 -0400 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12839-ask-the-operator-precision-ag-and-the-future-of-no-till-webinar NTF Ask the Operator_No Date.png Building Structure for Farmer-to-Farmer Education Requires Time, Determination mpaukner@lessitermedia.com A meet and greet event at the bar is the first stop in a whirlwind week of events for the 2023 Conservation Ag Operator Fellow, who spent the summer organizing a group to carry on the late David Brandt’s vision for a farmer-to-farmer learning center in southwestern Wisconsin.

]]> http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12821 Wed, 11 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12821-building-structure-for-farmer-to-farmer-education-requires-time-determination Conservation-Ag-Operator-Fellowship-logo_Feature-image.png Ask the Operator: Harvest Edition [Webinar] for the October harvest edition of the Ask the Operator webinar series]]> http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12781 Fri, 06 Oct 2023 14:00:00 -0400 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12781-ask-the-operator-harvest-edition-webinar NTF Ask the Operator_No Date.png Ask the Operator: Carrying on Dave Brandt’s Legacy of Farmer-to-Farmer Education [Webinar] 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.]]> http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12686 Fri, 01 Sep 2023 08:00:00 -0400 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12686-ask-the-operator-carrying-on-dave-brandts-legacy-of-farmer-to-farmer-education-webinar NTF Ask the Operator_No Date.png Ask the Operator: What No-Tillers Should Know About Strip-Till [Webinar] http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12632 Fri, 04 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12632-ask-the-operator-what-no-tillers-should-know-about-strip-till-webinar NTF Ask the Operator_No Date.png Planting Season Challenges No-Tiller’s Planter, Patience mpaukner@lessitermedia.com http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12614 Thu, 13 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12614-planting-season-challenges-no-tillers-planter-patience Conservation-Ag-Operator-Fellowship-logo_Feature-image.png How Do I Plant Seeds of Different Sizes with a No-Till Drill? http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12593 Fri, 07 Jul 2023 11:31:01 -0400 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12593-how-do-i-plant-seeds-of-different-sizes-with-a-no-till-drill NTF Ask the Operator.png Ask the Operator: International No-Till Perspectives [Webinar] http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12554 Fri, 07 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12554-ask-the-operator-international-no-till-perspectives-webinar NTF Ask the Operator_No Date.png Ask the Operator: The Cost of Soil Erosion [Webinar] 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.]]> http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12484 Fri, 02 Jun 2023 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12484-ask-the-operator-the-cost-of-soil-erosion-webinar NTF Ask the Operator_No Date.png Should I Stagger the Closing Wheels on My No-Till Planter? http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12508 Tue, 30 May 2023 07:06:05 -0400 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12508-should-i-stagger-the-closing-wheels-on-my-no-till-planter NTF Ask the Operator.png What's the Ideal Hydraulic Down Pressure When No-Tilling? http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12507 Fri, 26 May 2023 15:04:49 -0400 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12507-whats-the-ideal-hydraulic-down-pressure-when-no-tilling NTF Ask the Operator.png Ask the Operator: Highly Modified No-Till Planter Setups [Webinar] 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.]]> http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12339 Fri, 05 May 2023 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12339-ask-the-operator-highly-modified-no-till-planter-setups-webinar NTF Ask the Operator_No Date.png Ask the Operator: No-Till & Regenerative Ag in Ukraine [Webinar] 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.]]> http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12338 Fri, 07 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12338-ask-the-operator-no-till-and-regenerative-ag-in-ukraine-webinar NTF Ask the Operator_No Date.png What Herbicides Do You Use When Interseeding into Corn? http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12388 Thu, 06 Apr 2023 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12388-what-herbicides-do-you-use-when-interseeding-into-corn NTF Ask the Operator.png What Cover Crop Should I Broadcast Into V5 Corn Going to Soybeans? http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12362 Wed, 05 Apr 2023 13:28:03 -0400 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12362-what-cover-crop-should-i-broadcast-into-v5-corn-going-to-soybeans NTF Ask the Operator.png Loran Steinlage Named No-Till Farmer's 2023 Conservation Ag Operator Fellow No-Till Farmer has named Loran Steinlage of West Union, Iowa, as its 2023 Conservation Ag Operator Fellow.

]]> http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/14306 Wed, 05 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/14306-loran-steinlage-named-no-till-farmers-2023-conservation-ag-operator-fellow Loran-Steinlage.png Should I Use Shorter-Season Corn & Soybeans for Better Cover Crop Establishment? http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12360 Thu, 30 Mar 2023 14:00:00 -0400 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12360-should-i-use-shorter-season-corn-and-soybeans-for-better-cover-crop-establishment NTF Ask the Operator.png Ask the Operator: Help Me with Cover Crops! [Webinar] 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.]]> http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12248 Fri, 03 Mar 2023 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12248-ask-the-operator-help-me-with-cover-crops-webinar 2023 CCS Benchmark Study Webinar Seeding Timing Slide.png Flexible Mindset, Networking Propel No-Till Beyond Farm Borders mpaukner@lessitermedia.com The 2023 Conservation Ag Operator Fellow works toward net zero inputs with the goal of making his no-till operation & the agriculture industry better going forward. The Conservation Ag Operator Fellowship program is made possible by A&I Products.

]]> http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12265 Fri, 24 Feb 2023 06:00:00 -0500 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12265-flexible-mindset-networking-propel-no-till-beyond-farm-borders INTERSEEDING-SUCCESS.jpg INTERSEEDING SUCCESS. Soybeans sprout among rows of cereal rye in one of Loran Steinlage’s West Union, Iowa, fields. He plants twin 30-inch rows for seed quality and to prevent driving over any plants. Photo: Loran Steinlage What Are Your Must-Haves for Cover Crop Blends? http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12361 Tue, 07 Feb 2023 14:06:46 -0500 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12361-what-are-your-must-haves-for-cover-crop-blends NTF Ask the Operator.png What Grain Separator or Cleaner Is Best for Intercropped Grains? http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12341 Tue, 07 Feb 2023 14:06:46 -0500 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12341-what-grain-separator-or-cleaner-is-best-for-intercropped-grains NTF Ask the Operator.png