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International No-Till, Strip-Till and Cover Crops Research Journal – November 2024

Each month, the conservation ag group at Cornell University offers an analysis of the latest scientific papers dealing with conservation agriculture research from around the world. For this on-going web series, our editors will be selecting several research papers from the Cornell list that will be of special interest to North American no-tillers, strip-tillers and cover croppers.
By Frank Lessiter posted on November 13, 2024 | Posted in Cover Crops, Crop Protection, Seeding & Planting, Soil Health

In this edition:

  • Further Adoption of Conservation Tillage Can Increase Maize Yields in the Western U.S. Corn Belt
  • A New Theory for Soil Health
  • Weed Communities after Decades of Mineral Fertilization and Tillage Treatments in a Corn–Soybean Rotation
  • Changes in Soil Microbial Parameters after Herbicide Application in Soils under Conventional Tillage and Non-Tillage

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Strip-Tillers Leverage Financial Assistance to Tackle Top Challenges

By Brandon O'Connor posted on November 6, 2024 | Posted in Strip-Till Farming 101, Cover Crops, Soil Health
Source: USDA
After enrolling with the Midwest Climate-Smart Commodity Program, Bryan Biegler put the financial assistance to good use and made the jump from 100 acres of cover crops in 2022, to covering all 2,500 acres in 2023. He has also adopted strip-till practices throughout his farm and is looking to take the practice even further by adopting vertical tillage.
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7 In-Field Assessments to Determine Soil Health

Indiana USDA NRCS state soil health scientist Stephanie McLain shares indicators to look for in the soil to evaluate how well your soil functions
By Sarah Hill posted on November 5, 2024 | Posted in Strip-Till Farming 101, Soil Health
USDA NRCS State Soil Health Specialist Stephanie McLain outlines 7 soil assessments or diagnostics that can be conducted in the field to determine how healthy soil is and if farmers need to re-activate soil function.
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Dan Crummett

Long-Term Studies Indicate ‘The More the Merrier’ in Crop Rotations

Studies spanning 60-years of data show farms are more resilient to the vagaries of markets, policy meddling and weather with more diverse crop rotations.
By Dan Crummett posted on October 27, 2024 | Posted in Soil Health
A recent report from USDA’s Agricultural Research Service has some interesting insights on the benefits of crop rotations, but researchers caution the “long view” is needed to fully capitalize on such improvements.
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How Strip-Till is Helping Reduce Nutrient Runoff & Algae Toxins in Lake Erie

By Patrick Aftoora-Orsagos and Joshua A. Bickel posted on October 25, 2024 | Posted in Soil Health, Water Management
Source: Phys.org
Bill Kellogg is trying to do something about the chronic algae blooms in America's southernmost Great Lake. Instead of scattering fertilizer atop his fields, Kellogg now uses a strip till machine that knifes fertilizer pellets 8 inches into the soil — deep enough that heavy rains won't wash it away.
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Strip-Till Farmer

Strip-Till Farmer delivers a mix of features on strip-till farmers, strip-till management topics and trending practices in strip-till. This FREE quarterly print newsletter is available to qualified subscribers in the U.S. and Canada. 
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No-Tiller Plants Entire Corn Crop with Driverless Tractor

No-Tiller Plants Entire Corn Crop with Driverless Tractor

On this episode of Conservation Ag Update, brought to you by Titan International, we catch up with young Kentucky no-tiller Quint Pottinger to see how he autonomously planted his entire crop in 2026. Senior editor John Dobberstein checks in from the CTIC Conservation in Action Tour in Scotland Neck, N.C., where no-tiller Zeb Winslow III talks about his multi-species cover crop program.

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