Asian soybean rust is a foliar disease, notes Glen Hartman, a plant pathologist at the University of Illinois who is heavily involved in preparing the U.S. for its arrival, “and tillage per se should not interact with rust incidence or severity.”

Drastic changes in the regulation of agricultural biotechnology products might lie ahead for many no-tillers. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is considering an overhaul of the regulations to include consideration of the environmental impact of biotech crops. Since 1987, when the USDA began regulating biotech products, the regulations emphasized only biotech’s effect on human health.

Monsanto has received full U.S. regulatory clearance for the first biotech corn designed to control corn rootworm. The company announced in late February that both the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has cleared YieldGard Rootworm for use in corn hybrids for resistance to this insect. Licensing the technology to other seed companies means a number of corn hybrids containing this technology will be available for no-tilling this spring.

While it hasn’t yet generated much business, an unexpected source of funds for purchasing no-till drills and planters is available from the federal government. The only drawback is that these 0-percent interest loans, that can be at least partially paid back with U.S. Department of Agriculture cost-share dollars, must be obtained by a public or quasi-public agency rather than directly by farmers.

Finding the No-till information you need on the Internet can sometimes be a challenge. But beginning with a few solid farming resources can help you focus your quest for the right information.

A short term in the April, 2001, issue of No-Till Farmer on the double nozzle sprayer brought additional information in the form of a letter from Robin Taylor of Ohio State University and Spray Redux LLC, the company that is developing the sprayer, along with Jerry Doll, a University of Wisconsin weed scientist.

If no-tillers are anything like the general population, 75 percent of you are chronically dehydrated and the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger. Even mild dehydration can slow your metabolism by as much as 3 percent.