In this edition:

• Can no-tillage and crop diversification sustain nutrient stocks in acidic and poorly-fertilized soils? Evidence from 32 years of real-world agricultural management in Paraguay.
• The key role of local and global farmer networks in the development of conservation agriculture in California.
• Mega-analysis of no-tillage and reduced tillage impacts on crop yields and greenhouse gas emissions.
• Beyond the buzz: analyzing actors promoting regenerative agriculture in Europe.

When it comes to crop production, averages don’t work as a guide for fertilizing and controlling weeds or pests. If a grower collects data and then uses averages as a guide, the field will be over-fertilized in some places and under-fertilized in others.

Following the use of cover crops, farmers reported increased yields of corn, soybeans and wheat, and improved control of herbicide-resistant weeds, according to a nationwide survey. In addition, the survey of 2,012 farmers showed acreage planted in cover crops has nearly doubled over the past five years.

We spoke with Roger Murdock of Ingersoll Tillage Group at the 2014 National Strip-Tillage Conference in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In this video, he discusses how proper selection of tillage discs affects handling residue, crop yield, soil health and their key characteristics contributing to field performance. He also addresses Ingersoll's approach to meeting the changing needs in today's tillage practices.

Correcting acid soil conditions through the application of lime can have a significant impact on crop yields, especially with alfalfa. Liming is one of the most essential, but often overlooked, management decisions a producer can make.

Sometimes the best plan in strip-till is to plan for the unexpected. This is a philosophy Jerry Baysinger knows well after almost 20 years of strip-tilling.

About 30% of the major global cereal crops - rice, wheat and corn - may have reached their maximum possible yields in farmers' fields, according to UNL research. These findings raise concerns about efforts to increase food production to meet growing global populations.

Like many farmers during this past growing season, Iowa strip-tiller Frank Moore harvested corn and soybeans with wildly varying yields. Much of the variation stemmed from when, where and how much rain fell, along with planting dates and when corn pollinated.

Ricky Rhode of Dorchester County, SC, has a cotton field that is just unbelievable to some people.