It's commind up on 40 years since we produced the first issue of No-Till Farmer. The first issue that went out in November of 1972 featured reduced-tillage innovators who are still no-tilling today.

There have been many changes in both no-till practices, and in this publication over the past 4 decades. Not only are we producing more pages of no-till ideas for you each year, but we’ve added other valuable learning experiences, such as the 19th annual National No-Tillage Conference in Cincinnati in mid-January.

Looking Back

During 2011, we’ll be taking a look back at what’s happened over the past 40 years in each issue. To kick off this series, we’re running the most requested article in the history of this publication. “Fires Scorch No-Till Profits” appears on page 16 and is commonly requested by readers battling with a crop insurance company over the real value of lost no-till residue due to fire.

In future issues, we’ll continue to look back at hundreds of other gems that have graced the pages of No-Till Farmer over the past 4 decades. Next fall, we’ll be producing a special 40th-anniversary issue of Conservation Tillage Guide that will examine many of the most-important developments in no-till since 1972. We’ll look at how no-till has evolved and take a look at the future. In addition, we’ll report on a few of the not-so-important things that have happened over the years.

Crazy But True

A good case in point goes back to the beginning when…