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

Reports: USDA Closing Washington D.C. Office, Laying Off Thousands

By John Dobberstein posted on April 10, 2025 | Posted in Soil Health

The news isn’t exactly a surprise to those who follow the agency, as USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins has previously said the massive agency would undergo some restructuring to reduce management layers and refocus efforts on serving farmers, ranchers, foresters and consumers.

Shining a Light on Better Corn, Soybean Management

Beck’s Practical Farm Research puts equipment, planting practices & crop protection products to the test at multiple sites

By John Dobberstein posted on April 7, 2025 | Posted in Strip-Till Farming 101, Cover Crops, Equipment, Nutrient Management, Seeding & Planting

Each year, Atlanta, Ind.-based Beck’s Hybrids puts out one of the most comprehensive books on ag research centered around the company’s Practical Farm Research (PFR) program.

USDA Funding

Farm Groups, Lawmakers Press USDA on Frozen Payments

By John Dobberstein posted on March 28, 2025 | Posted in Cover Crops, Equipment, Seeding & Planting

The bill – supported by more than 300 farming stakeholders across the U.S. — would also prohibit the USDA from cancelling agreements or contracts with farmers, or organizations providing assistance to farmers, “unless there has been a failure to comply with the terms and conditions of the agreement or contract.

Biologicals Front & Center at Commodity Classic

By John Dobberstein posted on March 25, 2025 | Posted in Crop Protection, Equipment, Nutrient Management

Only a handful of such products were on the show floor several years ago, but at the 2025 show in Denver there were dozens of firms — including offerings from major crop protection players.

Staff Blog

Our Indebtedness to Farmers on National Ag Day

By John Dobberstein posted on March 18, 2025 | Posted in Nutrient Management, Soil Health, Water Management

We earnestly wish all our readers a very happy National Ag Day – not just the farmers, but the agronomists, university researchers, corporations, equipment dealers and many others who work to make the industry successful.

USDA Secretary Praises Farmers’ Innovation, Says Economic Aid Moving Soon

By John Dobberstein posted on March 3, 2025 | Posted in Soil Health

Rollins, speaking before a jam-packed audience on the main stage at Commodity Classic, also announced the USDA will soon be releasing funding for the popular EQIP, CSP and ACEP programs that had been previously frozen during the review process.

New Technology Lets Farms ‘Steam'-roll Weeds & Pests

By John Dobberstein posted on February 22, 2025 | Posted in Equipment

The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) and University of California-Davis recently unveiled an eco-friendly solution for “soil disinfection” with the propane-powered soil steamer.

Eye on Washington

New USDA Secretary Lays Out Priorities in First Day

By John Dobberstein posted on February 14, 2025 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Soil Health

Newly confirmed U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said Friday the U.S. farm economy is in the “worst economic straits in a century” with tough challenges on prices, markets and labor all hitting at the same time.

6 Lessons Learned from NNTC ‘25

Nitrogen management, biologicals, landlord relationships, micronutrients & cost of erosion among hot topics at 2025 conference

By John Dobberstein posted on February 4, 2025 | Posted in Nutrient Management, Soil Health

More than 600 of the most innovative farmers in North America and around the globe came together in Louisville, Ky., for the 33rd annual National No-Tillage Conference (NNTC) to take in knowledge of cutting-edge production practices and recharge for the coming growing year.

Kennedy: MAHA Can’t Succeed Without ‘Partnership’ with Farmers

By John Dobberstein posted on January 29, 2025

Kennedy dismissed any notion that HHS and USDA would have conflicts over ag policy. Rollins testified she would staunchly support the interests of agriculture.

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John Dobberstein

ARTICLES

Reports: USDA Closing Washington D.C. Office, Laying Off Thousands

Shining a Light on Better Corn, Soybean Management

Farm Groups, Lawmakers Press USDA on Frozen Payments

Biologicals Front & Center at Commodity Classic

Our Indebtedness to Farmers on National Ag Day

USDA Secretary Praises Farmers’ Innovation, Says Economic Aid Moving Soon

New Technology Lets Farms ‘Steam'-roll Weeds & Pests

New USDA Secretary Lays Out Priorities in First Day

6 Lessons Learned from NNTC ‘25

Kennedy: MAHA Can’t Succeed Without ‘Partnership’ with Farmers

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