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Articles Tagged with ''John Dobberstein''

No-Till And Strip-Till: The Best Of Both Worlds

Precision technology, cover crops and innovative equipment are helping Indiana no-tiller and strip-tiller Mike Shuter and sons get the most out of two different conservation-tillage systems.

By John Dobberstein and Jack Zemlicka posted on February 1, 2014 | Posted in Cover Crops, Nutrient Management, Precision Agriculture, Strip-Till Farming

The 1980s were difficult times for farmers, and it was no different for Mike Shuter and his family. Hoping to make due with less, they looked to no-till to reduce fuel, labor and expenses, with the hope of maintaining yields.

New Machines Do Your No-Till, Cover Crop Bidding

Whether it’s interseeders, highboys or even robots, manufacturers are taking innovative cover-crop seeding equipment, born in the shops of no-tillers and researchers, and bringing them to the marketplace.

By John Dobberstein posted on February 1, 2014 | Posted in Equipment, Precision Agriculture

In the near future, more no-tillers and strip-tillers than ever before will be able to purchase cutting-edge, cover-crop seeding machines that used to be reserved for field days, research farms and expert welders.

Frank Comments

New Zealand Ag Engineer Questions Whether Moldboard Plows And Other Intensive Tillage Tools Need to Start Carrying A Cigarette-Style Warning

By Frank Lessiter posted on February 1, 2014

John Baker maintains the consequences of plowing today are serious enough that tillage tools should come with warning labels that are similar to cigarettes.

Know The Source To Avoid Annual Ryegrass Issues

With supplies low, some companies are stretching annual ryegrass seed by mixing multiple varieties, possibly causing emergence and control problems for no-tillers.

By John Dobberstein posted on January 1, 2014 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Cover Crops

No-Tillers seeding annual ryegrass in their rotation should take extra care to identify the source and variety of the seed they’re purchasing or they could run into some unanticipated problems.

Valuable Tips For Continued Cover Crop Innovation

With the combinations and benefits constantly evolving, cover crops are showing more promise than ever to boost soil health and improve the bottom line for no-tillers.

By John Dobberstein posted on January 1, 2014 | Posted in Cover Crops, Soil Health

Whether it's boosting soil organic matter, improving water infiltration, reducing compaction or fixing nitrogen, it’s more clear than ever that cover crops are at the center of discussion when it comes to progressive no-tilling.

Ryegrass Seeded Early Into Corn May Be A Cool Climate Tool

Farmers in the province of Quebec seeding annual ryegrass into standing corn at the four- to nine-leaf stage find no yield drag with corn and a yield bump for soybeans.

By John Dobberstein posted on December 1, 2013 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Cover Crops

For growers in the province of Quebec, getting annual ryegrass seeded early enough to establish and provide cover-crop benefits is a challenge due to the short growing season.

Can You Use Vertical Tillage Without Destroying No-Till?

Four years of studies in Kansas show the practice won’t destroy no-tilled soils overnight, but won’t make no-till management issues completely disappear, either.

By John Dobberstein posted on December 1, 2013 | Posted in Residue Management, Soil Health

There's much debate in the no-till community about whether a quick, shallow pass with a vertical-tillage tool will ruin the benefits of no-tilled fields.

Isn't Vertical Tillage Still Tillage?

For a variety of reasons, many passionate no-tillers share why they feel these tools don’t have a place on their undisturbed soils.

By John Dobberstein posted on November 1, 2013

Many no-tillers contacted by Conservation Tillage Guide say they don’t believe vertical-tillage practices are — in most situations or all of them — necessary or beneficial.

New Rules May Open Door For Cover Crops

No-tillers who follow the NRCS’ new guidelines on termination dates can reap the benefits of covers without losing their crop insurance.

By John Dobberstein posted on November 1, 2013 | Posted in Cover Crops, Water Management

No-tillers who have avoided using cover crops in the past because of conflicts with insurance adjusters should find some new flexibility beginning this fall.

Climbing The Ladder To 300-Bushel No-Tilled Corn

Manure applications, in-furrow fertility treatments, ship-shape planters and 3 decades of 100% no-till are helping Pennsylvania no-tiller David Wolfskill reach record corn yields.

By John Dobberstein posted on November 1, 2013 | Posted in Seeding & Planting

A few years ago while planting double-crop soybeans, David Wolfskill got out of his tractor, walked into one of his adjacent cornfields and noticed the ground was completely bare.

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Farmer Sees 7% No-Till Corn Yield Bump with 20-Inch Rows

On this edition of Conservation Ag Update, brought to you by CultivAce, longtime no-tiller Jim Leverich explains why 20-inch corn rows are paying off big time on his Sparta, Wis., farm.

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