Features

Are You Delaying Corn Harvest to Cut Down on Drying Costs?

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Sun, 26 Oct 2025 06:00:39 -0400

With harvest season in full swing, we asked our audience — Given the low corn prices, are you leaving corn in the field longer to dry so your drying costs aren’t as high? If so, are you going to plant covers crops later or just skip them?

Retaining High Strip-Till Yield by Protecting Variable Soils

Tue, 04 Jun 2024 01:01:00 -0400

John Potter was looking for a way to reduce labor on his west central Illinois farm when he decided to become a strip-tiller nearly 20 years ago.

Stretching Strip-Till Value with Crop Diversity, Cover Crop Height

Thu, 09 May 2024 12:01:00 -0400

Barry Martin was completely convinced of the benefits of a heavy cereal rye cover crop on his cotton and peanut farm near Hawkinsville in central Georgia long before cover crops were the rage.

Attaining Planting Perfection with a Decisive, Flexible Strip-Tilling Strategy

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 01:01:00 -0400

Strip-tillers often talk about the need to be more sensible with their seed placement and planter setups to create an increasingly responsive environment for initial plant growth.

Improving Soil & Water Quality with Strip-Till & Cover Crops

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 10:00:00 -0500

Robb Ewoldt relies on what he calls “the trifecta” to boost yields while improving soil and water quality at the same time. The trifecta includes nutrients (timing and placement), equipment (technology to cut down on fertilizers) and cover crop/edge of field conservation practices.

5 Efficiency Enhancing Tips for Strip-Till Nutrient Management

Wed, 27 Dec 2023 23:01:00 -0500

When it comes to nutrient management, Deweese, Neb., farmer Brian Herbek lives by the 4R philosophy. As a fifth-generation farmer on a dryland and irrigated 1,900-acre corn and soybean operation, he’s focused on slowly evolving his practices over the years to become more efficient.

What to Expect When You’re Expecting Strip-Till

Mon, 13 Nov 2023 23:00:00 -0500

Elk-Point, S.D., strip tiller Joey Hanson works strips not just for himself, but also for his strip-till customers on both sides of the Missouri River.

Working Smarter, Not Harder Helps Strip-Tiller Strive for 25% Reduction in P&K Application

Mon, 09 Oct 2023 00:01:00 -0400

Clayton Coulter is a young man of purpose and it doesn’t take a long visit with him to realize the self-directed momentum that led him to launch his own farm at 24 years old as a strip-tiller for corn production — on land that had been 100% conventionally farmed for years.

6 Strip-Till Adjustments for Ideal Berm-Building

Tue, 03 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Mead, Neb., farmer Kerry Knuth, made the transition from dragging a disc ripper and mulch finisher across his 2,200-acre corn and soybeans operation to strip-tillage back in 2005.

Farmer's Earthworm Handbook Shares 19 Tips for Building Up Soils with Earthworms

Tue, 12 Sep 2023 15:55:00 -0400

Learn How Earthworms Can Save You Money, Time, And Your Fields For Just $15.95! If crop residues are removed too quickly in the fall or spring, worms may not have the opportunity to eat and breed. Learn to leverage earthworms for better crop production & improved profitability. Everything you always wanted to know about improving soil fertility and managing earthworms can be found in the 112 pages of our best-seller, The Farmer's Earthworm Handbook.

Resourceful Management Reaps Strip-Till Benefits

Thu, 07 Sep 2023 14:00:00 -0400

Justin Krell says he started strip-tilling in 2017 mainly to make better use of his time and money — both important factors considering he’s trying to expand his farm while also working full-time as an agronomist for a seed corn company.

Strip-Tilling Toward New Corn Yield Thresholds

Thu, 10 Aug 2023 01:00:00 -0400

For Virginia farmer David Hula, busting bins is about calculated risk-taking and a strategic move to strip-tilled corn, as he continues to expand his yield horizon.

Reducing Costs & Increasing ROI with Custom Strip-Till

mpaukner@lessitermedia.com — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Farming practices in northeast Wisconsin have changed for the better in the past 7 years, thanks largely to the conservation efforts of Mike Pribyl and Brent Petersen.

3 Tips for Testing Biologicals on Your Farm

mpaukner@lessitermedia.com — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Biologicals are like the Wild West of agriculture — products with big potential but little regulation. As a result, it can be difficult to determine what’s a worthy investment.

‘Be the Plant’ for Better Strip-Till Yields

Fri, 21 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Crop consultant Dorian Gatchell writes: "I grew up on a typical corn/soybean operation in Granite Falls, Minn. I think the biggest mistake made when adopting strip-till is not looking at the operation as a whole."

Manage Weight on Single Disc Air Seeders for Consistent Depth

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0400

One of the most critical aspects of weight management is ensuring that we're carrying enough weight on the gauge wheels at all times to maintain a consistent seed depth. The Seeder Maintenance series is brought to you by Precision Planting.

Don't Overlook Main Opener Pivot: Crucial for John Deere Air Seeder Performance

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 07:00:00 -0400

When it comes to your no-till seeder’s performance, there's a crucial component that you shouldn't overlook: the main opener pivot. The Seeder Maintenance series is brought to you by Precision Planting.

Strip-Till Viable on Both Ends of Cross-Country Farm Move

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 00:01:00 -0400

It’s rare when a farm gets bought out that the owner moves half way across the country just to start again. That’s what brothers Brandon and Colt Woody did, after some serious, careful planning.

The Key to Perfect Furrow Creation on John Deere Single Disc Air Seeders

Tue, 06 Jun 2023 07:00:00 -0400

When it comes to achieving the perfect seed slot and furrow creation, the opening disc plays a crucial role. But there are several aspects to consider when examining this essential part. The Seeder Maintenance series is brought to you by Precision Planting.

Ironing Out Nutrient Management, Equipment Challenges in Strip-Till

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Mon, 29 May 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Scott Hoober says proper nutrient uptake is key to closing the corn yield gap. And the key to uptake, he says, is getting the nutrients into the root zone. Using an application rate of 100 pounds of N and 40 pounds of P2O5 as an example, Hoober says nutrient concentrations in the root zone vary dramatically based on application method.

Maximizing Your Yield: The Importance of Regular Seeder Maintenance

Tue, 02 May 2023 00:00:00 -0400

One way to ensure that your crops get off to the best start possible is by properly maintaining your seeder. The Seeder Maintenance series is brought to you by Precision Planting.

Cover Cropping for Hunting and Grazing

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -0400

The formula to success never stays the same. “I’m still learning every year, I’ll be learning forever,” Gene Holt says, but the utilization of cover crops is a key part of it. The Holts began planting covers almost a decade ago, mainly for two reasons: grazing and wildlife.

United States Farmers Leading the Way in Sustainable Practices

Tue, 28 Mar 2023 01:00:00 -0400

In January 2020, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released data documenting the nation’s agricultural outputs, inputs and total farm factor productivity. The research shows a steady increase in total agricultural output from 1948 to 2017, with no increase in farm inputs over the same period.

To Make Cover Crops Fit, a Little Space Makes a Big Difference

Tue, 28 Mar 2023 00:01:00 -0400

John Werries, his son Dean, and one employee are no strangers to making adjustments year-to-year to combat the unpredictable conditions of their Chapin, Ill., operation of no-tilled beans and strip-tilled corn.

Surviving & Thriving with Minimal Moisture Strip-Till

Mon, 20 Mar 2023 00:01:00 -0400

During California's devastating 2012-15 drought, many Central Valley growers depending on surface water to irrigate crops were forced to cut planted acres — and potential income — by up to 50%.

Transitioning to 20-Inch Strip-Till: An Economic, Efficient Decision

Fri, 17 Mar 2023 00:01:00 -0400

Every farmer has certain aspects of the business that they just click with. Some producers are really into agronomy; some enjoy going deep on the financial side of the business; while for others, it's all about equipment.

Solving Stubborn Soils with Strip-Till

Sun, 12 Mar 2023 00:01:00 -0500

Since beginning as a 160-acre Grade A dairy in 1926, there’s been a lot of change and adaptation made at Moench Farms near Agua Dulce in the Texas Coastal Plain west of Corpus Christi.

5 Strategies for Managing Heavy Residue on Continuous Corn

Thu, 09 Mar 2023 23:00:00 -0500

From implementing shredding corn heads to running an extra vertical tillage pass, strip-tillers employ a number of different techniques to deal with heavy residue on continuous corn.

Strip-Till & Cover Crops Offer the ‘Best of Both Worlds’

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 07:00:00 -0500

In 2012, the Isley family took a firm dislike to using the word “dirt.” They had gone through a substantial drought and were working ground, watching it turn to powder.

WATCH: Longtime Strip-Tiller Uses Old Feed Grinder to Blend Cover Crops

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Sun, 26 Feb 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Jeff Duling's creativity is on full display in this video, as the longtime strip-tiller explains how he uses an old feed grinder to blend cover crop seeds.