No-Till Farmer
Get full access NOW to the most comprehensive, powerful and easy-to-use online resource for no-tillage practices. Just one good idea will pay for your subscription hundreds of times over.
Advertise Follow Us
Planting Season Challenges No-Tiller’s Planter, Patience
2023 Conservation Ag Operator Fellow persists through planting problems using highly modified no-till planter & trademark flexible thinking
The 2023 planting season had No-Till Farmer Conservation Ag Operator Fellow Loran Steinlage considering retiring from the day-to-day of farming
“Where I’m at right now, I’m hoping I can find the right partner or person to take over,” says the West Union, Iowa, no-tiller. “I enjoy being out here, but my body’s telling me it’s time to change.”
Steinlage’s Precision Planting 20/20 SeedSense planter system malfunctioned while planting corn in early May, forcing him to stop and get out of the tractor 50 times in one day — a tough ask for someone who had three surgeries over the past winter. While he says he’ll always have a hand in farming, Steinlage is considering the next chapter of his career and the next generation of his farm.
Takeaways
- Paying attention to the details on the planter is critical. Check for movement in the row unit, distribute weight evenly across the planter, and make modifications appropriate for your soil types and amount of residue.
- Keep plans flexible during planting season to ensure you’re planting in the best conditions and will be able to properly manage all of your acres throughout the season.
- Find ways to share your knowledge with other farmers, especially those who are not no-tilling, but don’t try to force or insult someone into change.
“I’m a fortunate guy,” Steinlage says. “My dad stepped out of the way so I could thrive, and that’s what I’m looking at trying to do. I’m never going to try to rule the…
Premium content is for our Digital-only and Premium subscribers. A Print-only subscription doesn't qualify. Please purchase/upgrade a subscription with the Digital product to get access to all No-Till Farmer content and archives online. Learn more about the different versions and what is included.
Top Articles
- No-Till Highlights: Dec. 26, 2024
- Video of the Week: “You Can’t Do It All at Once” with No-Till
- 2025 National Cover Crop Summit to Feature Wide Variety of Educators
- Ahead of the Curve: Mach Showcases Latest in Autonomy
- Sarah Noggle Receives Prestigious Ohio No-Till Council Educator of the Year Award
Current Issue
Innovators Honored for Blazing a Path for No-Till Adoption
Searching for a Silver Lining After a Tough Year of No-Tilling
When it Comes to Brand Loyalty, More Growers Are Willing to Switch Brands with Planter, Drill & Sprayer Buys — Three Slices of the Overall Farm Equipment Market Which Are Critical for No-Tillers
Must Read Free Eguides
Download these helpful knowledge building tools
- How No-Till Improves Your Land Value
- 5 Pillars for No-Till Farming Effectively, Efficiently
- Making the Precision Basics Even Better with Implement Guidance
- Focusing on Smarter, Sustainable Fertilizing Strategies
Videos
Ponds, Panels, Pollinators: No-Till Innovator Takes Conservation to Next Level
On this edition of Conservation Ag Update, brought to you by CultivAce, No-Till Farmer’s Conservation Ag Operator Fellow, Ray McCormick, showcases how he’s taking conservation ag to the next level in Vincennes, Ind., with ponds, solar panels, duck hunting and more.
Top Directory Listings
Needham Ag Technologies, LLC
Needham Ag understands the role of technology in making better use of limited resources within a specific environment by drawing on a wealth of global experience to overcome the challenges facing today's farmers, manufacturers and dealers.
Titan International, Inc
Titan offers a full line of wheels, tires and undercarriage products for a wide variety of off-the-road equipment.
The Andersons PureGrade
The Andersons grows enduring relationships through extraordinary service, a deep knowledge of the market, and a knack for finding new ways to add value as we have done for nearly 70 years.