Agriculture Policy & Programs

What Does No-Till Have to Do With a Trillion-Dollar Conglomerate’s Chairman Retiring?

lessitef@lesspub.com — Mon, 21 Sep 2026 16:00:00 -0400

At the 2010 National No-Tillage Conference, Howard Buffet challenged farmers to grow more grains and meat to help feed an ever-growing world population.

[Video] Montag Launches American Farmer Profit Saver

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 08:00:00 -0400

Montag's “American Farmer Profit Saver” Product Line provides a convenient on-ramp for reducing input costs and improving profit opportunity, as Roger Murdock, director of sales/marketing for Montag, explains in this video from the 2026 Farm Progress Show.

Strip-Till Hall of Famer Jeff Martin Honored By State of Illinois

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Illinois state Sen. Sally Turner presented Mount Pulaski, Ill., strip-tiller Jeff Martin with an official Illinois Senate certificate for his recent induction in the Strip-Till Farmer Hall of Fame.

‘Bigger Than Life’: Conservation Ag Leader Ray Gaesser Passes After Farm Accident

jdobberstein@lesspub.com — Sun, 06 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The announcement brought shock and sadness to those in the industry who knew and worked with Gaesser, who was one of agriculture’s most respected and well-liked leaders.

Observations from a Field Day at Dornacker Prairie Acres

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 08:00:00 -0400

"Last week, I accompanied Strip-Till Farmer managing editor Noah Newman to a field day hosted by Cedar Creek Farmers at Dornacker Prairie Acres in West Bend, Wis, and I saw some high-tech stuff there."

Applications Open for PFI Program That Helps Cover Crops Pencil Out

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400

In 2025, more than 2,400 farmers received $10 million in PFI cost-share to plant cover crops on more than 900,000 acres.

Hundreds Swap Ideas, Strategies & Moneymaking Insights at 2026 National Strip-Tillage Conference

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 17:00:00 -0400

Over 400 farmers, agronomists, researchers, educators, dealers and manufacturers packed the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel in downtown Springfield, Ill., for the 13^th annual National Strip-Tillage Conference.

Real Property Law at 250: Where Do We Go Next?

janzen@aglaw.us — Sat, 01 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400

"As America turns 250, here are my thoughts about how real property law helped create the US farmland we know today," writes Todd Janzen in his latest blog.

Strip-Tillers Join Forces for ‘Cleaner Water, Stronger Future’ at The Lobe Rangers Field Day

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 16:00:00 -0400

A trio of strip-tillers in Iowa are making big strides in their quest to improve water quality and prove that conservation practices are profitable and scalable.

[Podcast] Strip-Till Knowledge Sharing from All Over the U.S.

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 08:00:00 -0400

On this episode of the Strip-Till Farmer podcast, brought to you by Yetter Farm Equipment, managing editor Noah Newman previews the upcoming National Strip-Tillage Conference, taking place Aug. 6-7 in Springfield, Ill.

[Podcast] ‘Land Rich, Cash Poor’ Author Discusses Biggest Challenges Facing Farmers Today

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 08:00:00 -0400

On this episode of the Strip-Till Farmer podcast, brought to you by Yetter Farm Equipment, we catch up with first-generation strip-tiller James Hepp in Rockwell City, Iowa.

General Mills, ADM, Walmart Partnering to Accelerate Regenerative Agriculture

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Initial projects, with technical assistance from American Farmland Trust and Ducks Unlimited, will deliver demonstrable improvements in soil health, water quality and carbon sequestration, offering a model for cross-sector collaboration.

USDA Launches New FSA Online Scheduling Tool for Farmers, Ranchers

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Following a successful pilot program, FSA is now using a digital appointment platform across the agency to allow producers to make farm program or farm loan appointments online at their convenience.

Farmers and Nature to Benefit from Newly Launched Agroforestry Project

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and partners today announced the launch of the Expanding Agroforestry Project (EAP), an effort to help U.S. farmers strengthen their operations, diversify revenue, and improve land health.

Trump’s Executive Order Prioritizes Precision Ag, Regenerative Farming

jdobberstein@lesspub.com — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Jonathan Lundgren, founder of the Ecdysis Foundation, along with Clarksville, Ind. no-tiller Rick Clark, Bluffton, Ga., rancher Will Harris and Foxholm, N.D. farmer Brendon Bock were on hand last Friday as Trump signed the order, which said funding should be “significantly increased” for regenerative agriculture practices, research and education.

U.S. Supreme Court Sides with Bayer, Backs Federal Labeling

jdobberstein@lesspub.com — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Bayer, which acquired Monsanto several years ago, said lawyers are still analyzing the ruling but added the decision is, “good for science, farmers, and industries that depend on regulatory clarity for innovation,” in a statement posted to the company’s website.

Continuum Ag & Aztalan Bio Prepare to Help Farmers Maximize Profits with the Pending 45Z Clean Fuel Production Tax Credit

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Continuum Ag, a leader in Carbon Intensity (CI) measurement, reporting, and verification, and Aztalan Bio, an ethanol producer based in Johnson Creek, Wisconsin, are preparing for future opportunities tied to the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit.

New Members of CTIC Hall of Fame Inducted

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The honors came during the 19th annual Conservation in Action Tour in Raleigh, N.C.

NRCS Promises Farmers Will See Modernized Approach

jdobberstein@lesspub.com — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

NRCS Chief Colton L. Buckley told No-Till Farmer he is prioritizing field staff to improve field engagement and technical expertise.

What If a No-Tiller Wrote the Farm Bill

lessitef@lesspub.com — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

An innovative approach that offers major Farm Bill conservation and environmental benefits is really built around tripling the current no-till acreage.

[Video] Conservation a Top Priority for 2026 Strip-Till Innovator

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0400

We head inside the office of 2026 Strip-Till Innovator Robert Boyle in Coolidge, Ariz. Boyle details the Conservation Farmer Award he received from all the conservation districts in the state and explains why conservation is always at the forefront in his strip-till operation.

NRCS Announces $65 Million for Conservation Innovation Grants

Wed, 27 May 2026 13:08:22 -0400

USDA today announced the availability of $65 million this year for new tools, approaches, practices and technologies to further natural resource conservation on private lands through the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program.

NRCS Chief Talks Goals for Agency as Ag Tech Evolves

jdobberstein@lesspub.com — Wed, 27 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Buckley told No-Till Farmer Tuesday he will continue pushing to modernize the tools farmers have available through the NRCS and ensure the agency “gets back to basics” helping them succeed with their conservation goals.

CTIC Seeking Participants for New Mentoring Program

Fri, 22 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Through Success from the Ground Up, Cargill provides financial support to soil health organizations focused on providing access to training and technical information that can help remove barriers for row crop farmers who want to rebuild the health of their soils, plant cover crops, and make better use of their water. 

[Video] Minnesota Growers Hit the Road for Strip-Till Learning

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Wed, 20 May 2026 08:00:00 -0400

In this video, Alan Kraus, soil health specialist with Rice and Steele SWCD, joins Strip-Till Farmer managing editor Noah Newman for a conversation about how the trip came about, strip-till trends in the area and his biggest takeaways from attending the last couple National Strip-Tillage Conferences.

Shining a Light on Mental Health in Agriculture

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Thu, 14 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Time flies during planting season, and this year has been no exception. But let’s pause for a moment and talk about something that doesn’t get covered enough in agriculture throughout the year — mental health.

New Program Incentivizes & Promotes Strip-Till Adoption in Michigan

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Thu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The Accessing Subsidized Strip-Till Equipment Trial (ASSET) program offers farmers about $52 per acre if fully enrolled — $32.60 per acre for cover crops and $19.32 per acre for strip-till.

Should Your Farm Sign a Carbon Contract?

janzen@aglaw.us — Tue, 05 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

"To date, farmer uptake of these programs has been very slow, in spite of the promise to pay farmers for participation. I believe a lot of the reluctance stems from the uncertainty about these programs," says Todd Janzen in his latest blog.

Farmers Share Key Takeaways from Feed in Focus Sustainability Program

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Sat, 02 May 2026 14:09:00 -0400

The program has engaged 43 farmers in Idaho, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin, covering 50,000 acres and 43,000 cows so far.

[Video] Dairy Conservation Navigator is a One Stop Shop for Conservation Resources

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Fri, 01 May 2026 08:00:00 -0400

We caught up with Bridgett Hilshey from Dairy Management Inc. at the Dairy Sustainability Alliance Spring Meeting in Oak Brook, Ill., for a first look at the new Dairy Conservation Navigator.