No-TillFarmer.com's top performing content in 2024 brought together the latest industry news, inspiring farmer stories, no-till best practices, and innovative solutions that are shaping the future of agriculture.
This year, we featured video interviews with no-till innovators, pioneers, and experts like Jared Kenney, Jon Stevens, Dave McLaughlin, Steve Groff, and more. Our podcasts offered valuable insights, including a highlight episode with No-Till Living Legend Ray McCormick, who shared his real-time decision-making process behind "never-till" farming. Our webinars also saw impressive turnouts, covering key topics like soil health, the farm income outlook, and strategies to boost carbon revenue opportunities.
One standout moment was Frank Lessiter’s blog, "Tractors with Enough Horses to Pull a 114-Row No-Till Planter," which brought over 35,000 viewers back 40 years of history to reflect on the evolution of no-till farming. In case you missed it, go read the full #FranklySpeaking blog here.
Most Read Print Articles
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5 Takeaways After 35 Years of No-Tilling (December issue)
By: Les Henry
Driven by necessity, the mother of more than one invention in Saskatchewan, farmers developed groundbreaking zero-till innovations like the Conserva Pak and Seed Hawk, revolutionizing crop production with minimal soil disturbance and shaping global agricultural practices. -
5 Ways No-Till, Covers Hold Soil Moisture
By: Jennie Kramer
When opportunity knocks, Oklahoma no-tiller Jimmy Emmons answers. Despite facing challenging dryland conditions with only 20 inches of annual precipitation, Emmons uses no-till, cover crops, and planned grazing to maximize water efficiency and boost his farm's resilience against erratic weather patterns. -
Heavy-Duty No-Till Planter, Cover Crops Enable Planting After Flooding
By: Michaela Paukner
Ray McCormick, a No-Till Living Legend and Conservation Ag Operator Fellow, demonstrates the benefits of no-till and cover crops on his Indiana farm. After heavy flooding, his fields, enriched by cover crops, absorbed water while conventionally tilled fields saw runoff and erosion. McCormick's use of cover crops improves soil health, water infiltration, and nutrient availability, making his farm more resilient to climate challenges. Despite setbacks like flooding, McCormick advocates for patience in planting, focusing on long-term soil health and conservation practices to ensure sustainable farming. -
2022 US Census of Agriculture Reports Increase in No-Till Acres, Decrease in Conservation Tillage
By: Katie Pratt
The 2022 USDA Census shows a 17% increase in cover-cropped acres and a 1% rise in no-till acres since 2017. More farms are adopting no-till practices. -
No-Tillers Make Decisions Based on ROI, Not Yield
By: Martha Mintz
A multi-generational farm in Cedar Hill, Mo., has evolved its conservation practices, starting with no-till in the '80s and now incorporating cover crops and grazing to adapt to extreme weather.
Most Read Web Articles
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No-Till's Quiet Revolution in Saskatchewan
By: Les Henry
Driven by necessity, the mother of more than one invention in Saskatchewan, farmers developed groundbreaking zero-till innovations like the Conserva Pak and Seed Hawk, revolutionizing crop production with minimal soil disturbance and shaping global agricultural practices. -
Creating a No-Till Buffet for the Soil
By: Noah Newman
Paul Jasa discusses diverse rotations in no-till, Adam Friemoth compares tillage methods, John Ledermann shares his planting strategy, David Hula reflects on his record yield, and Jackson Stansell highlights nitrogen efficiency. Plus, a grower grazes 800 goats on cover crops. -
No-Till Innovator Envisions Multiple Cash Crops Planted Together, No Inputs as Future of Farming
By: Elise Koning
Already running a 100% organic no-till operation, Rick Clark continues exploring methods for more efficient, profitable farming. -
300-Bushel Corn Grower Shares No-Till Planting Tips
By: Noah Newman
The two new 2024 Kinze planter models feature the 5000 series row unit, designed to enhance planting precision and reduce daily maintenance time. -
Bucking No-Till Tradition with Compost, Continuous Cropping
By: John Dobberstein
Compost extract, crop rotation & spoon-fed nutrients are key to Franck Groeneweg’s efforts to boost soil livestock on the venerable former Wheat Montana farm.
Most Read Blogs
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Tractors with Enough Horses to Pull a 114-Row No-Till Planter
By: Frank Lessiter
An in-depth look at high-horsepower tractors and their potential in no-till farming. From John Deere’s 9RX series to massive air seeders, Frank covers the impressive capabilities of these machines in modern agriculture. -
No-Tilling Soybeans at Thanksgiving - 25 Years Ahead of Its Time?
By: Frank Lessiter
Iowa farmer David Savage's bold early no-till soybean planting, even around Thanksgiving and Christmas, was ridiculed 25 years ago but now has research backing. Beck’s studies confirm that fall-planted soybeans could work, thanks to innovations like seed coatings. Savage’s persistence is pushing the boundaries of no-till farming. -
Glyphosate Could Face Toughest Battle Yet
By: John Dobberstein
Glyphosate, crucial for weed control in no-till farming, faces scrutiny from critics like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. A potential ban could raise food prices, reduce farm incomes, and harm environmental efforts. A report warns of significant economic and environmental consequences if glyphosate use is restricted. -
Avoid a Cereal Rye Disaster with the Right Seeding Rate
By: Jerry Grigar
A farmer found 30 pounds per acre of cereal rye effective for moisture retention and weed control during drought, while higher seeding rates led to poor soybean yields. He recommended adjusting seeding rates and herbicide use for better results. -
Marion Calmer, Why Aren’t You Cover Cropping Instead of Plowing to Fix Vertical Stratification?
By: Michaela Paukner
Marion Calmer’s moldboard plowing experiment to address nutrient stratification in no-till fields raised debate. Some suggest cover crops as a solution, but others argue they may not fully fix the issue, highlighting that stratification may not be a major concern.
Most Listened to No-Till Farmer Podcasts
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Raising Nearly 300-Bushel No-Till Corn
No-tillers Dan and Abby Fohrman raised a no-till yield of 298.95 bushels in 2023, securing them a first-place win in the National Corn Growers Association’s Minnesota no-till non-irrigated category last year. -
Never Till, Planting Philosophies & More with No-Till Living Legend Ray McCormick
Ray McCormick talks about how he first got involved with restoring farmland into wetlands, seeding cover crops with the combine, his planting philosophies and more. -
Part 2: Respecting & Restoring the Land with No-Till Legend Ray McCormick
Ray McCormick takes us on a tour of some of the farm and wetland projects he’s completed around Vincennes. -
What I Learned From Dave Brandt: Memories, Life Lessons & Shattering Agricultural Norms
In this episode of the No-Till Farmer Influencers & Innovators Podcast, listen to the Dave Brandt Memorial lecture from this year’s 32nd Annual National No-Tillage Conference. -
Jeff Moyer’s Roller Crimper That Revolutionized No-Till Farming
Jeff Moyer tells the story of how he helped to create and popularize the first roller crimper, which would completely change the game for no-tillers, cover croppers and regenerative ag growers around the world.
Most Viewed Videos
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Banded Systems: 300 Bushels & Beyond with 2024 Strip-Till Innovator Chris Perkins
Strip-Till Farmer paid a visit to 2024 Strip-Till Innovator Award recipient Chris Perkins at his Banded Ag offices in Otwell, Ind. In this video, we go behind the scenes with Perkins, as he talks shop with fellow strip-tiller and Montag territory manager Harold Crawford. -
No-Tillage Conference Sparked Idea for Steve Groff's Roller Crimper
Steve Groff shares the story of how Franke Dijkstra and the 1995 National No-Tillage Conference sparked an idea that eventually led him to develop the first roller crimper in the U.S. -
Strip-Till Cheat Code: 2024 Strip-Till Innovator Showcases Strip-Till Rig
2024 Strip-Till Innovator Chris Perkins showcases the “cheat code” features of his Land Luvr strip-till bar, which he uses to apply dry and liquid fertilizer on the same pass. Fellow strip-tiller Harold Crawford, who also works as a territory manager for Montag, chimes in with a few questions about Perkins’ unique setup. -
Proving ‘It Won’t Work Here’ Wrong with No-Till & Cover Crops
“That’ll never work here, it can’t be done.” Mac Kincaid remembers hearing those words from neighbors and friends as he made the switch to no-till in the tough soils of Jasper, Mo. Kincaid, Soil Health U’s Young Regenerative Producer of the Year, will share lessons learned from his journey and data from on-farm trials to help other no-tillers elevate their system. -
Something “Everybody Should Have” on Their No Till Planter
In this 2025 National No-Tillage Conference session preview, Rockwell City, Iowa, no-tiller James Hepp checks in with a look at his highly modified Case IH 1200 pivot-fold no-till planter.
Most Viewed Conservation Ag Updates
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300-Bushel Corn Grower Shares No-Till Planting Tips
No-tiller Jared Kenney shares a key lesson learned from one of his biggest planting mistakes, and how it helped him break the 300-bushel barrier twice. Plus, “the father of biological agriculture,” Gary Zimmer shares his top 4 nutrients for a better crop. -
Cover Crops & Strip-Till Part of 200-Bushel Soybean Recipe
Strip-tiller and cover cropper Alex Harrell shares the main takeaway from his record-breaking 218-bushel soybean yield. Later in this episode, longtime agronomist and AGuru Machinery founder Bill Preller shares his no-till origin story during a special moment at the 2024 National Strip-Tillage Conference -
No-Till Living Legend’s Planter Minimizes Soil Disturbance
Southern Indiana no-tiller Ray McCormick shows off the unique features of his Horsch Maestro 2430 planter. Meanwhile, 40 miles east of McCormick, Strip-Till Innovator Award recipient Chris Perkins shows how chains on his planter deliver ROI in more ways than one. -
34-Year Study: How Does No-Till Stack Up to Other Systems?
Gregg Sanford, Wisconsin Integrated Cropping Systems Trial manager, reveals how no-till is stacking up to other major systems in year 34 of the trial. Later in the episode, Otwell, Ind., strip-tiller Chris Perkins explains the true value of crop residue, and in the Video of the Week, a young farmer from Cantril, Iowa, tests out his grandpa’s equipment. -
Remembering the Grandfather of No-Till
We honor the life and legacy of Bill Richards — the ‘Grandfather of No-Till’ — who passed away at the age of 93. Bill reflects on his no-till journey during one of his last recorded interviews, and No-Till Farmer editor Frank Lessiter shares some perspective on Bill’s impact on no-till in the U.S.
Highest Attended Webinars
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Your Soil Health Journey Starts with Microbes
In this webinar, Holganix President of Agriculture, David Stark Ph.D., discusses the role of soil microbes in building soil health. -
The Farm Income Outlook and Boosting Carbon Revenue Opportunities
An informative presentation on the farm income outlook for 2025 and the potential revenue that can be earned through the rapidly growing carbon industry. -
Digging into Crop Residue: The Role of Soil Microbes
An exclusive webinar where Holganix President of Agriculture, Dave Stark Ph.D. will discuss the role of soil microbes in breaking down crop residue and building soil health -
Can I Decay Crop Residue While Starting Fall Cover Crops?
At first thought, it may seem that crop residue decay could hamper seed germination and new crop growth. This webinar goes over how residue decay and new seedling germination are driven by biological activity in the soil. Both processes can be managed to profitably break down residue while starting fall-seeded cover crops. -
Turn Residue into Revenue with Meltdown
In this webinar, learn how to turn residue into revenue with Meltdown during our upcoming digital product demonstration with BW Fusion agronomist, Sean Nettleton.
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