Seeding & Planting

No-Tiller Plants Entire Corn Crop with Driverless Tractor

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0400

On this episode of Conservation Ag Update, brought to you by Titan International, we catch up with young Kentucky no-tiller Quint Pottinger to see how he autonomously planted his entire crop in 2026.

[Video] Capturing Strip-Till Success With Less Than 7 Inches of Rain

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0400

Hop in the cab with 2026 Strip-Till Innovator Robert Boyle, as he explains how he adopts a strip-till mindset when it comes to water conservation in dry Coolidge, Ariz.

360 Yield Center Splits Into Two Brands: 360 RAIN for Adaptive Application, 360 YIELD for Retrofit Equipment

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 14:00:00 -0400

After more than a decade of agricultural innovation, 360 Yield Center announced today a strategic brand restructuring that establishes two distinct divisional brands: 360 RAIN, focused on adaptive application, and 360 YIELD, focused on retrofit equipment upgrades.

[Video] Managing a Strip-Till Operation with ‘High Tech’ & ‘Low Tech’ Methods

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

In this video, 2026 Strip-Till Innovator Robert Boyle shows how he uses both “high tech” and “low tech” methods to manage his mixed fleet, inputs and data in his Coolidge, Ariz., strip-till operation.

Higher Diesel Prices, Higher Custom Rates

lessitef@lesspub.com — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Earlier this year, 205 custom operators and farm managers in Iowa responded to the annual Iowa farm custom rate survey that is coordinated by Iowa State University ag economists.

[Video] Action-Packed Strip-Till Field: Corn, Triticale, Cover Crops, Twins Rows & Autonomy

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0400

2026 Strip-Till Innovator Robert Boyle gives us the rundown on one of his more complex strip-tilled fields in Coolidge, Ariz. Boyle harvested triticale, oats, peas, vetch, clovers and kale for silage in mid-February, then strip-tilled corn into it.

White, Purple, Yellow, Silver, Green: Explaining the Many Colors of Early Season Corn

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

This article highlights several of the most common color differences observed in young corn plants, explains the underlying causes behind these symptoms, and discusses their potential implications for early-season corn growth and development.

Breaking Down the Double Crop Options After Wheat

Sat, 30 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Double-cropping after wheat harvest can be a high-risk venture for grain crops. The remaining growing season is relatively short. Hot and/or dry conditions in July and August may cause problems with germination, emergence, seed set, or grain fill.

Cover Crops, Strip-Till Spark Desert Soil Revival

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Fri, 29 May 2026 08:00:00 -0400

On this episode of Conservation Ag Update, brought to you by Titan International, we pay a visit to Strip-Till Innovator Robert Boyle’s farm in Coolidge, Ariz., for an up-close look at how he’s transforming his soils with cover crops and diverse rotations.

Strip-Till & Cover Crops Bring Soil Back to Life in Dry Country

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Thu, 28 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

“For the first shovel out of the ground to find an earthworm, that’s just unheard of in Arizona,” Robert Boyle says. Managing editor Noah Newman shares more observations from his visit with the Strip-Till Innovator in Coolidge, Ariz.

MASCHIO GASPARDO Opens Its First Full Line Store in North America

Wed, 27 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The Group’s fifth Full Line Store worldwide opened on May 22, 2026, in partnership with Roc-Pit Equipment LLC. Located in the heart of the American Corn Belt, the new dealership brings the full MASCHIO GASPARDO range to North American farmers.

Video of the Week: Quintuple Biopass 2.0

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Thu, 21 May 2026 01:00:00 -0400

We're headed back to Iowa now for our Video of the Week. Zack Smith fills us in on his latest experiment with his custom-built twin-row planter.

Young Farmer Saves Soil, Crushes Weeds with Strip-Till & Rye

Tue, 19 May 2026 01:00:00 -0400

Over in Mt. Sterling, Ill., young farmer Wade Yingling and his dad, Bruce, are capturing success with strip-till and cover crops, with a little vertical tillage mixed in as well.

Growers Use Drones to Improve Early-Season Scouting, Decision-Making

Fri, 15 May 2026 11:00:00 -0400

UAV-based early-season scouting offers a practical, scalable way to assess soil variability, plant stand count, and early germination. However, the effectiveness of drone-based scouting also depends on image resolution.

Farmers Slash Inputs by $170 Per Acre with No-Till & ‘Neighborly Grazing’

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Fri, 15 May 2026 01:00:00 -0400

On this episode of Conservation Ag Update, brought to you by Titan International, Latimer, Iowa no-tillers Landon and Anne Plagge describe the soil health practices that propelled them to the 2025 Leopold Conservation Award, including a unique cover crop grazing system.

How Do Full-Season Cover Crops Affect Insect Populations?

Wed, 13 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

A 2025 study in eastern Nebraska found higher insect abundance and diversity in cover crop areas compared to adjacent seed corn, including both beneficial species and potential pests.

Assessing Frost Concerns After Early Planting

Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The frost warnings issued May 5 in parts of Minnesota were not a welcome development. What does this mean for crops that were planted early and are emerging or have emerged?

Corteva's Seed & Genetics Spinoff to be Branded as Vylor

Tue, 05 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

With more than 4,000 germplasm patents and more than 2,000 biotechnology patents, Vylor's innovation engine will be anchored in the industry's most elite germplasm and transformative biotechnology, the company says.

Plant During Soil-Warming Windows to Maximize Yield Potential

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Minimum air temperature and frost forecasts are often used as a reference for starting to plant, rather than soil temperature at the seed-planting depth.

Strip-Till 101: Tips & Tricks from the Great Plains

Sat, 25 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

This article from Oklahoma State Extension explores how farmers are implementing and benefiting from strip-till in the region.

Herbicides: Don't Let the Planter Outpace the Sprayer

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

One thing to be aware of this spring is not to have the planter outpace the spraying operation so the crop and weeds get too far ahead. Here are some considerations for both corn and soybean fields from PennState Extension weed scientist Dwight Lingenfelter.

Beck's Hybrids Acquires Soybean Processing Facility

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The facility includes approximately 150,000 square feet of warehouse space and an additional 5,000 square feet of office space.

‘Most Innovative Folks You’ll Find’ Gathering at 2026 Strip-Till Conference

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

“The networking is one of the things I love most about the Strip-Till Conference,” says Zack Smith, who strip-tills in Lake Mills, Iowa. “The farmers attending this conference are some of the most innovative folks you’re going to find."

Key Precision Takeaways from Auburn Cotton Planting Studies

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

These studies included evaluations of different planter types (seed meters), seeding configurations, seeding rates, and high-speed planting technology.

Relay Cropping, New No-Till Drill Among Early #Plant26 Highlights

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 01:00:00 -0400

On this episode of Conservation Ag Update, brought to you by Titan International, we share some #Plant26 highlights from across the U.S., including a young strip-tiller in Nebraska, a cutting-edge no-till drill in Pennsylvania and an innovative intercropping system in Indiana.

Kinze Product Innovation Day Set for June 2026

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -0400

The invitation-only event is designed to provide farmers with deeper access to Kinze equipment, expertise, and people. The event will replace Kinze Manufacturing’s exhibit at the annual National Farm Machinery Show.

No-Till, Strip-Till and Cover Crops Research Journal - April 2026

lessitef@lesspub.com — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 12:00:00 -0400

In this edition:

Conservation Agriculture: Helping to Return to Within Planetary Boundaries
Soil Structure Changes Under Reduced Tillage and Cover Cropping Enhance Carbon Mineralization in Mediterranean Croplands
Cover Cropping Increases the Abundance of Mycorrhizal and Endophytic Fungi Structures Associated with Ecosystem Functioning
Conservation Agriculture: A Review of Plant Residue use with Zero Tillage and Crop Rotation
Unlocking Climate Resilience by Exploring the Mitigation Potential of Improved Rotation with Cover Cropping

Strip-Till Family Builds Winning Formula for 300-Bushel Yields

nnewman@lessitermedia.com — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

“We’ve been doing high-yield plots for about 6 years now,” Mark Schleisman says. “Every year, we try something new and learn what we can do across all our acres. Some things work and some don’t.”

Fine-Tuning Your Planter for Strip-Till Field Conditions

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Experts say last-minute planter adjustments based on growing degree days & physical examination of in-furrow seed offers an opportunity to find free bushels.

Illinois Strip-Till Fertility Trial Evaluates 16 Corn Hybrids

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Sixteen commercial corn hybrids representing five seed brands were evaluated across ten tillage and fertility combinations.