New to no-till? A no-till veteran but looking to revisit the fundamentals? Gather more about the basic principles and key concepts of no-till systems and how to overcome the initial challenges to successfully convert to the practice. Feeling overwhelmed? Start with these information-packed articles hand-picked by our editors: Focus on Biology for Better Soil Health What You Should Know About No-Till Planters Digging Into the Principles of Regenerative Ag No-Till Farmer's "Getting Started With No-Till Farming" is brought to you courtesy of Calmer Corn Heads. Farmer Invented. Farmer Tested. Farmer Proven.® Calmer boasts this motto proudly as it references our farmer-first mentality and state-of-the art technology. Calmer offers a custom experience, suited to your farm’s needs. Whether its talking with our experienced sales team or directly with the folks who designed and built your corn head, we are committed to providing you top-notch service without the red tape of a big corporation. Calmer specializes in products suited to benefit your no-till operation including the patented BT Chopper® Stalk Rolls, versatile Corn Head Upgrade Kit for harvest efficiency and residue management, and the High-Performance Concave Upgrade Kit. We know Calmer products work because we run them on our own farms; that’s why we offer a 100% Satisfaction or Your Money Back Guarantee! https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/rss en-us This article is an excerpt from Ukrainian no-tiller Mykhaylo Draganchuk's book No-Till for Beginners. Getting Started with No-Till Farming is supported by Calmer Corn Heads. This article is an excerpt from Ukrainian no-tiller Mykhaylo Draganchuk's book No-Till for Beginners. Getting Started with No-Till Farming is supported by Calmer Corn Heads.

]]> http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/15311 Thu, 28 May 2026 14:47:46 -0400 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/15311-switching-to-no-till-the-right-way Mykhaylo-Draganchuk.jpg NO-TILL OVERSEAS. Mykhaylo Draganchuk has been working with no-till fields since 1991 when he started his farm in Crimea, Ukraine. This article is an excerpt from Ukrainian no-tiller Mykhailo Drahanchuk's book "No-Till for Beginners." Getting Started with No-Till Farming is supported by Calmer Corn Heads. This article is an excerpt from Ukrainian no-tiller Mykhailo Drahanchuk's book "No-Till for Beginners." Getting Started with No-Till Farming is supported by Calmer Corn Heads.

]]> http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/15231 Tue, 21 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/15231-more-tips-for-switching-to-no-till epub_Mykhailo-Drahanchuks-book-No-Till-for-Beginners_800x800_webp.webp The book contains 4 chapters and 125 pages of practical information to help growers transition to no-till successfully. This article is an excerpt from Ukrainian no-tiller Mykhailo Drahanchuk's book "No-Till for Beginners." Getting Started with No-Till Farming is supported by Calmer Corn Heads. This article is an excerpt from Ukrainian no-tiller Mykhailo Drahanchuk's book "No-Till for Beginners." Getting Started with No-Till Farming is supported by Calmer Corn Heads.

]]> http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/15142 Tue, 17 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/15142-how-to-transition-to-no-till Mykhailo-Drahanchuk's-book-No-Till-for-Beginners.jpg The book contains 4 chapters and 125 pages of practical info to help growers transition to no-till successfully. A planter or drill’s ability to cut through tough residue, penetrate the soil & maintain consistent depth across a field relies on a properly managed downforce system to provide downward pressure on independent row units. Getting Started with No-Till Farming is supported by Calmer Corn Heads. A planter or drill’s ability to cut through tough residue, penetrate the soil & maintain consistent depth across a field relies on a properly managed downforce system to provide downward pressure on independent row units. Getting Started with No-Till Farming is supported by Calmer Corn Heads.

]]> http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/15056 Wed, 18 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/15056-downforce-and-down-pressure-tips Check-seed-depth-during-planting.jpg Most cover crops can double as a high-quality forage for livestock during early spring or late fall; integrating livestock into crop systems accelerates soil health improvements. Getting Started with No-Till Farming is supported by Calmer Corn Heads. Most cover crops can double as a high-quality forage for livestock during early spring or late fall; integrating livestock into crop systems accelerates soil health improvements. Getting Started with No-Till Farming is supported by Calmer Corn Heads.

]]> http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/14982 Fri, 23 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/14982-grazing-cover-crops Grazing-Cover-Crops.jpg Expert tips & possibilites when dealing with cover crops & chemical applications. Getting Started with No-Till Farming is supported by Calmer Corn Heads. Getting Started with No-Till Farming is supported by Calmer Corn Heads.]]> http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/14924 Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/14924-chemical-cover-crop-control-considerations Getting Started With No-Till Farming-VNS Ryegrass.jpg Expert Tip. Be wary of VNS Ryegrass, which can contain a mix of varieties that respond to herbicides differently and break dormancy at different time periods. This can complicate termination. Bridgett Hilshey Here are some ways to keep the cost of cover crops down, especially for farmers planting a lot of acres. Getting Started with No-Till Farming is supported by Calmer Corn Heads. Getting Started with No-Till Farming is supported by Calmer Corn Heads.]]> http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/14815 Fri, 21 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/14815-tips-for-reducing-the-cost-of-cover-crops Cover crops are grown between 60-inch corn rows during the summer. When the corn is harvested, strips of cover crops remain to protect the soil during the winter. Getting Started with No-Till Farming is supported by Calmer Corn Heads. Calmer Corn Heads.]]> http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/14716 Tue, 04 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/14716-cover-crop-application-tips-intercrops-alternating-crops-and-row-spacing Cover-crops-row-spacing.jpg A wet spring may prevent farmers from entering fields to terminate cover crops until later in the growing season. Getting Started with No-Till Farming is supported by Calmer Corn Heads. Getting Started with No-Till Farming is supported by Calmer Corn Heads.]]> http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/14666 Thu, 16 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/14666-benefits-of-planting-green Pumpkins-and-Rye-Covers.png Pumpkins growing after planting into a rye cover crop in Western Maryland. Source: Edwin Remsberg Some herbicides will remain in the soil for months after application; these residual herbicides can significantly harm subsequent cover crop stands.Getting Started with No-Till Farming is supported by Calmer Corn Heads. Getting Started with No-Till Farming is supported by Calmer Corn Heads.

]]> http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/14601 Thu, 18 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/14601-tips-for-managing-herbicide-carry-over-with-cover-crops prevent-plant-covers.jpg PREVENT-PLANT COVERS. The soggy spring of 2019 prevented Randolph, Wis., no-tiller Dale Macheel from planting a cash crop in a handful of fields. So that June, he seeded this mix of radishes and crimson clover instead. On Sept. 6 he seeded cereal rye into the green, growing cover crop, which he then terminated a week later. The following July, he harvested 45-bushel-per-acre rye for his own use and then seeded another cover crop. Committing to no-till practices means putting in the time and effort required to understand the system & realize benefits. Getting Started with No-Till Farming is supported by Calmer Corn Heads. Committing to no-till practices means putting in the time and effort required to understand the system & realize benefits. Getting Started with No-Till Farming is supported by Calmer Corn Heads.

]]> http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/14519 Wed, 13 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/14519-what-to-expect-in-the-beginning-the-first-3-years Getting-Started-with-No-Till-Farming-thriving-soil-ecosystem.jpg Combines can be outfitted with a small air seeder that broadcasts cover crop seed during combining. Getting Started with No-Till Farming is supported by Calmer Corn Heads. Getting Started with No-Till Farming is supported by Calmer Corn Heads.]]> http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/14461 Thu, 17 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/14461-broadcasting-covers-during-harvest Field Day 1.png Cover crop seeding equipment can be placed on the combine for true one-pass harvesting/seeding. The seed is blown under the rollers so the residue pushed out the back of the combine comes out on top of the ryegrass, says Indiana no-tiller Ray McCormick. Source: “No-Tiller Seeds Cover Crops While Harvesting”  nnewman@lessitermedia.com Kris Green's light bulb moment with cover crops came in 2016 at a local field day hosted by longtime northeast Ohio no-tiller Dale Daniels. http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12088 Tue, 15 Jul 2025 01:00:00 -0400 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/12088-tackling-labor-and-erosion-issues-with-cover-crops-no-till-and-strip-till soybeans.jpg PLANTING GREEN. No-till soybeans emerge in late June at Willow Brook Farm. Soybeans are no-tilled into standing cereal rye in mid-April at the earliest. Green terminates the rye with herbicide, sometimes as late as 2 weeks after soybean planting.  Watch as Mike Lessiter, Editor/Publisher of No-Till Farmer magazine, interviews representatives from the Agricultural Retailers Association, National Association of Conservation Districts, The Fertilizer Institute and Field to Market. Watch as Mike Lessiter, Editor/Publisher of No-Till Farmer magazine, interviews representatives from the Agricultural Retailers Association, National Association of Conservation Districts, The Fertilizer Institute and Field to Market.

]]> http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/14391 Thu, 26 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/14391-lessiter-media-washington-dc-interviews-june-2025 Under no-till management, fertilizer & manure are typically broadcast on the soil surface & residues are not incorporated. These practices have a number of profound impacts to nutrient cycling & availability. Getting Started with No-Till Farming is supported by Calmer Corn Heads. Under no-till management, fertilizer & manure are typically broadcast on the soil surface & residues are not incorporated. These practices have a number of profound impacts to nutrient cycling & availability. Getting Started with No-Till Farming is supported by Calmer Corn Heads.

]]> http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/14322 Wed, 28 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/14322-how-no-till-influences-nutrient-management Solutions to Seed on soil surface, Sidewall smear, Hairpinning, Uneven depth, Poorly closed slot and Seed not reaching bottom. Getting Started with No-Till Farming is supported by Calmer Corn Heads. Solutions to Seed on soil surface, Sidewall smear, Hairpinning, Uneven depth, Poorly closed slot and Seed not reaching bottom. Getting Started with No-Till Farming is supported by Calmer Corn Heads.

]]> http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/14257 Mon, 28 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/14257-troubleshooting-common-no-till-challenges NTF-101_NTF_0625_Troubleshooting-No-till.jpg Under no-till management, fertilizer & manure are typically broadcast on the soil surface & residues are not incorporated. These practices have a number of profound impacts to nutrient cycling & availability. Getting Started with No-Till Farming is supported by Calmer Corn Heads. Getting Started with No-Till Farming is supported by Calmer Corn Heads.]]> http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/14143 Mon, 17 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/14143-how-no-till-influences-nutrient-management NTFStalksbeans167F.jpg University of Maryland researcher Ray Weil says high-quality soils no-tilled for more than 20 years likely contain 1 ton per acre of earthworms, a level 10 times greater than heavily tilled soils. Soil structure, nutrients and biological activity are improved by earthworms. No-Till Farmer If planting into a field with cover crops, follow these guidelines to reduce potential planting problems. Getting Started with No-Till Farming is supported by Calmer Corn Heads. Getting Started with No-Till Farming is supported by Calmer Corn Heads.]]> http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/14083 Thu, 20 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/14083-know-when-to-make-adjustments-with-no-till-planters corn-no-till-planted-into-wet-soils.jpg DEALING WITH MOISTURE. This photo shows corn no-till planted into wet soils. Although the seed trench initially closed during planting, as the soil dried, the seed trench opened up, causing uneven germination and poor root growth.  Bridgett Hilshey Transition to no-till management on cropland is a multi-staged process that requires planning, preparation & substantial equipment modifications. Success hinges on being prepared. Before beginning, here are some key tips to keep in mind. Getting Started with No-Till Farming is supported by Calmer Corn Heads. Getting Started with No-Till Farming is supported by Calmer Corn Heads.]]> http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/13998 Tue, 21 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/13998-preparing-ground-for-no-till-transition-requires-thinking-ahead Preparing-Ground-for-No-Till-1.jpg IN THE FIELD. Farm manager Evan Miles with soil conservation district agent looking at corn no-tilled into sprayed-down cover crops on Bluestem Farm in Chestertown, Md. Edwin Remsberg and USDA-SARE No-till planters & drills are unique in their ability to plant into undisturbed soil with large amounts of crop residues on the soil surface. Getting Started with No-Till Farming is supported by Calmer Corn Heads. Getting Started with No-Till Farming is supported by Calmer Corn Heads.]]> http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/13930 Mon, 23 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/13930-understanding-the-basics-of-no-till-equipment NTF-101_CTG_0225_Art.jpg For early no-tillers or those looking to start the practice, optimizing soil health and function is the ultimate endgame, says former NRCS soil scientist and nationally renowned soil health expert and agricultural consultant Ray Archuleta. Getting Started with No-Till Farming is supported by Calmer Corn Heads. Getting Started with No-Till Farming is supported by Calmer Corn Heads.]]> http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/13853 Fri, 22 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/13853-all-reasons-for-no-till-lead-back-to-soil-health Worm-Closeup.Take-Care.jpg TAKE CARE. Soil should be treated as an ecosystem habitat that farmers protect with no-till and feed with a varied food supply created by plant diversity, says soil health expert Ray Archuleta. Photo by: Martha Mintz Carbon farming involves implementing agricultural practices that sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into the soil, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. As global industries and governments increasingly prioritize sustainability, carbon farming presents not only an opportunity for conservation but also for farmers to diversify revenue streams through carbon credits. http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/13437 Tue, 02 Jul 2024 08:00:00 -0400 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/13437-carbon-farming-basics-that-every-no-tiller-should-know lessitef@lesspub.com In the more than 45 years that I’ve been covering no-till, I’ve never seen anything that sums up the many merits of no-till as well as the chart shown here. It’s an excellent resource for showing rural and city folks alike what no-till is all about and the impact crop residue can have on improving yields, the environment and food security. http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/blogs/1/post/8805 Wed, 22 May 2019 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/blogs/1-covering-no-till/post/8805-what-no-till-is-all-about Frankly-Speaking-logo_0324_1000px (1).png lessitef@lesspub.com When it comes to acquiring new land, the Rulon family at Arcadia, Ind., follows an intensive 3-year plan to make the switch to no-till. http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/4502 Mon, 09 Mar 2015 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/4502-converting-land-to-no-till Though only 17 years of age, I consider myself an experienced farmer. I have worked alongside my father on our family’s farm since I was a small child, learning the skills of agriculture and developing a desire to make farming my own life’s work. Living on a farm that has belonged to and supported our family for generations, I am acutely aware of how drastically farming techniques have changed over the years. http://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/3006 Sun, 01 Feb 2004 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/3006-the-benefits-of-no-till-farming