TAKING THE FLOOR. Every attendee has a chance to address the speakers and ask questions as they seek solutions to their own no-till challenges.

NNTC Insights...

No-Tilling Corn Into a Living Cover Crop

Frank Martin shared his ideas on getting into his fields extra early by looking at the possibility of no-tilling corn into living cover crops. The Hallsville, Mo., grower will burn down the cover crop 2-4 weeks after planting.

Admitting that the plan is untried and ambitious, Martin says his list of potential advantages — for making better use of available moisture and extending the growing season — outweigh his list of potential disadvantages.

Green Bridge is an Unknown Yield Thief

Root diseases may have more of an impact on yields than you think, says Jim Cook, a retired Washington State University soil scientist. The cause may be the so-called green bridge dilemma where pathogens live on the roots of growing volunteer crops and weeds between the harvest of one crop and planting the next crop. As the new crop emerges, pathogens move to these roots, weakening the crop and reducing yields.

With green bridge being a serious concern in the Pacific Northwest, the remedy for no-tillers is to establish a…