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John Dobberstein

John Dobberstein is the Senior Editor of No-Till Farmer, Strip-Till Farmer, and Cover Crop Strategies. He previously covered agriculture for the Tulsa World and worked for daily newspapers in Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Joseph, Mich. This is John's second stint with Lessiter Media, the previous lasting almost 13 years.

Contact: jdobberstein@lessitermedia.com

jdobberstein@lesspub.com

Articles

ARTICLES

Q&A: Is Late-Season Nitrogen for Corn a Good Investment?

By John Dobberstein posted on August 22, 2025 | Posted in Nutrient Management

In an interview with Strip-Till Farmer Senior Editor John Dobberstein, Pioneer agronomist Matthew Vandehaar discusses why late-season nitrogen (N) still has a place in this year’s corn crop, in spite of high input prices.

USDA Seeks Input on Controversial Restructuring Plan

By John Dobberstein posted on August 5, 2025 | Posted in Agriculture Policy & Programs

The massive agency is proposing to close one of its largest buildings and move the employees from Washington to five hub centers in the U.S.

‘Soil Wastage’: A Peek at What Soil Erosion Looked Like 90 Years Ago

By John Dobberstein posted on August 2, 2025 | Posted in Nutrient Management, Soil Health

Ever been frustrated when you couldn’t convince a neighbor to start no-tilling, or just stop plowing as much? Tired of seeing soil and nutrients wash into the ditch or waterways? Or reading about dust storms popping up again? You aren’t alone. This battle has been fought for nearly a century.

Booker Targets ‘Immunity’ for Pesticide Makers.png

Proposed Law Would Create Federal Right to Sue for Pesticide Harms

By John Dobberstein posted on July 17, 2025 | Posted in Agriculture Policy & Programs

The Pesticide Injury Accountability Act, floated by Sen. Cory Book (D-N.J.), would amend the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act of 1972 (FIFRA), “to create a federal right of action for anyone who is harmed by a toxic pesticide.”

The Hidden Cost of Dust Storms

By John Dobberstein posted on July 14, 2025 | Posted in Soil Health

A new dataset unveiled in 2023 shows there were 232 deaths from windblown dust events from 2007- 2017.

Farmers, Ranchers in Texas Fighting Flood Destruction

By John Dobberstein posted on July 10, 2025

Texas Department of Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller told Fox News that in the 21-county area affected by the floods, hundreds of miles of fencing was lost, along with countless barns, outbuildings and other farm structures. Deceased livestock is another challenge farmers and ranchers are dealing with.

Feds Unveil Plan to Fight Agroterrorism, Foreign Influence in Agriculture

By John Dobberstein posted on July 9, 2025 | Posted in Agriculture Policy & Programs

Federal agencies unveiled a plan Tuesday that would make sweeping changes in how the USDA and other federal agencies protect U.S. agriculture from harm and influence.

As Tar Spot Emerges, Here are Tips for Protecting Corn Yield

By John Dobberstein posted on July 3, 2025 | Posted in Crop Protection

Tar spot infections showing up in cornfields across the U.S., and strip-tillers should be vigilant about the disease and explore preventative measures.

Supreme Court Asks Government to Weigh In on Roundup

By John Dobberstein posted on July 2, 2025 | Posted in Agriculture Policy & Programs, Crop Protection

As Bayer looks to contain the damage caused by thousands of lawsuits filed over the alleged health effects of Roundup, the U.S. Supreme Court asked the Solicitor General to weigh in on a filing before the court.

How Balancing Micronutrients Can Boost Strip-Till Yields

Micronutrients only make up about 2% of a typical fertility program, but failing to manage them properly can limit yield potential significantly

By John Dobberstein posted on June 29, 2025 | Posted in Nutrient Management, Precision Agriculture, Soil Health

Micronutrients only make up about 2% of a typical fertility program, but failing to manage them properly can limit yield potential significantly

View All Articles by John Dobberstein

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