No-Till History

The No-Till History digital archive to commemorate no-till’s historic year in 2024 is made possible by Calmer.


Calmer

In 1975, after borrowing $500 from the bank and $500 from his grandma, Marion started his farming operation of 80 acres of corn and 10 gilts. He would go on to build the world’s first 15-inch corn head in 1994, the world’s first 12-inch corn head in 2013 and the world’s largest corn head (at the time) that same year. Most recently, Marion invented the BT Chopper® Upgrade Kit system to enable factory corn heads to manage cornstalk residue more efficiently than ever, saving farmers time and money. On top of that Calmer Corn Heads build custom corn heads that will fit most combines. Visit them at calmercornheads.com.


Enjoy a stunning and unique collection of no-till stories, photographs, facts, and figures chronicling the history of no-till farming from the early years through today. This extraordinary hardbound book is over 400 pages and takes a decade-by-decade look at the world of no-till as seen through the eyes of those who observed the many changes in no-till since the first commercial U.S. plot in 1962. Learn more about "From Maverick to Mainstream: A History of No-Till Farming" and information to order here.



View the full archive of content below, or click on one of the following sub-categories for media-specific coverage.


Timeline | Articles & News | Videos | Podcasts

ARTICLES

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Your No-Till History

No-Till Legends Recall USDA's Role in 'Revolution on the Land'

'Grandfather of No-Till' Bill Richards & retired Ohio State ag engineer Randall Reeder discuss how Richards increased no-till acres as chief of the Soil Conservation Service
Staying true to the impact that farmer-to-farmer education has on encouraging adoption of no-till, the USDA changed the course of ag history by appointing a no-tiller to a key position in the early 1990s. The No-Till History series is made possible by Calmer Corn Heads.
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Your No-Till History

Decades of Research Data Illustrate No-Till Soil Health Advantages

Historical data from Southern Illinois University’s research plots reveals no-till makes soil chemically & biologically healthier while maintaining competitive yields
In this month’s edition of Your No-Till History, we’re taking a look at 50 years of research data from the Belleville Research Center at Southern Illinois University, located in Belleville, Ill. The No-Till History series is made possible by Calmer Corn Heads.
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Your No-Till History

Unsolved Mystery: Who Was the National No-Tillage Conference Spy?

A dust-up between no-till suppliers led to legal strong-arming at the 2001 National No-Tillage Conference
While many readers think of Keeton seeding attachments and similar units on the market as seed firmers or seed firming devices, this column will explain the reasoning behind our decision to start calling them by their generic name.The No-Till History series is made possible by Calmer Corn Heads.
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Your No-Till History

Stripper-Header Revolutionized No-Till Wheat

Pitched as ‘the greatest breakthrough in grain harvesting since the self-propelled combine,’ the stripper-header redefined no-till's prospects in high-yield wheat

The originator of the stripper-header was Shelbourne-Reynolds (S-R), based in Suffolk, England. The grain stripper was borne from the picking head on the manufacturer’s self-propelled green-pea harvester.  The No-Till History series is made possible by Calmer Corn Heads.


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Your No-Till History

Remembering Howard Dean Martin (1944-2024) & the No-Till Row Cleaner

Credited with the first mechanical no-till row cleaner, the No-Till Farmer Legend, farmer & designer left a swath of innovation that helped no-till work
The future of Howard Martin’s industry-leading innovation, which was so critical to success with the new no-till method, was in doubt on several occasions. The No-Till History series is made possible by Calmer Corn Heads.
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Your No-Till History

No-Till’s Value Seen During Oil Crisis — in South America, That Is…

Interest in no-till adoption got a shot in the arm when struggling Brazilian farmers saw the practice as a means to address sky-high fuel bills from the 1970s oil crisis.

Throughout the region of Brazil’s Northern Paraná area, slowly some farmers showed at least some curiosity about how no-till worked. The researchers were also curious.The No-Till History series is made possible by Calmer Corn Heads.


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Your No-Till History

John Franz & the Glyphosate Discovery

With no prior cropping knowledge, John Franz was an unlikely candidate to change farming’s fortunes

This installment of “Your No-Till History” expands upon a 1-page article that appeared in June 2022. The No-Till History series is made possible by Calmer Corn Heads.


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