Without a doubt, one of the biggest concerns among no-tillers is seed placement. With the many attachments and tools available to move residue, drop seed in the row or close the seed slot, all are designed to put seed in the best possible position to emerge with the potential to be a high-yielding machine.

Marion Calmer has a lot of experience modifying corn heads, particularly with his development of a 15-inch corn head. And the Lynn Center, Ill., no-tiller has a lot of experience modifying corn headers for improved performance.

The dead of winter is a good time to ponder, repair, modify or replace equipment that will be essential when spring arrives. So we’re offering a few thoughts on the subject from visitors to www.no-tillfarmer.com

Since herbicide-tolerant transgenic cotton varieties became widely available in 1997, the no-till cotton acreage has nearly doubled in the United States. A recent survey by the National Cotton Council indicates that no-till made up 29 percent of total cotton acres while reduced tillage made up 30 percent of all cotton acres in 2002.

No-Tillers were active this month solving problems dealing with plugging, burned fields and much more.