Conditions in the U.S., the biggest wheat exporter, are improving after snowstorms increased soil moisture following the worst drought since the 1930s Dust Bowl, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Although reducing tillage intensity can provide conservation benefits and cost savings, adoption of no-till and minimum till practices for corn production has been limited in some areas, particularly in the northern Corn Belt. In this environment, a shorter growing season and cold, poorly drained soils can lead to delayed planting, low and uneven emergence and lower yields for reduced versus conventional tillage. Strip-till has been proposed as an alternative minimum tillage system for areas and soils that are not well suited for no-till management.

During a recent presentation at the 21st annual Conservation Tillage and Technology Conference held at Ohio Northern University in Ada, a Purdue University professor addressed farmers on improving drought tolerance for crops.

When fourth-generation farmer Lance Saathoff climbs into the cab of his 510-horsepower John Deere tractor, he's in a control center that's guided by distant satellites to fraction-of-an-inch precision and programmed for exact application of every last seed, every bit of fertilizer.

KZValve, a Manufacturer of Motorized Valves and Controls, announced today its selection as a recipient of a John Deere supplier innovation award for 2012. The award is presented to a select group of suppliers who have demonstrated innovation in a product or service they provide to John Deere.

Syngenta announced today a new approach within its dealer channel that focuses on growing and strengthening its network of Seed Advisors. Syngenta Seed Advisors combine their knowledge of local farming conditions with strong agronomy skills to help growers maximize returns using the broad portfolio of Syngenta products.

The latest NOAA drought outlook predicts that dry weather is expected to persist and even expand in parts of the central U.S., while some improvement is expected further east in the Corn Belt.

Seed Hawk is pleased to announce that they now have four external warehouses available for parts distribution. The warehouses, located in Saskatoon, Regina, Edmonton, and Minot, ND, will support Seed Hawk’s continuing focus on customer service.

Laura Allen has joined Lessiter Publications as a staff writer for No-Till Farmer and Conservation Tillage Guide. She holds a bachelor’s degree in magazine journalism from Ball State University, and was most recently the assistant editor for Greenhouse Management and Produce Grower magazines. No-Till Farmer is a paid-subscription publication that reaches nearly 8,000 farmers interested in learning more about how to no-till, strip-till or manage other conservation-tillage techniques. The 12 monthly issues include eight issues of a 16-page newsletter and four quarterly issues of a full-length, four-color magazine that accepts display advertising.

Though planting corn early often results in higher yields, choosing the wrong planting date can have adverse effects on crop establishment.