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.

Long time conservationist Jim Gulliford — a top official with the Environmental Protection Agency from 2001 to 2008 — is the new executive director of the Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS).

With concerns continuing to develop over glyphosate weed resistance in no-tilled crops, weed scientists keep suggesting that growers start using LibertyLink and Clearfield traits that offer alter- native herbicide modes of action.

Back in 1962, Harry Young Jr., began experimenting with no-till on 7/t0s acre on his Herndon, Ky., farm. It led him to eventually no-till 1,800 acres of crops each year from only 1,200 acres with doublecropping. Teaming up with University of Kentucky agronomist Shirley Phillips, Young quickly demonstrated the many benefits of no-till.

A broad spectrum herbicide that effectively controls grasses such as foxtails, johnsongrass and shattercane in no-tilled corn was introduced just in time for the 2003 growing season by Bayer CropScience. Featuring recent U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approval, the herbicide will control broadleaf weeds such as cocklebur, lambsquarters, morningglory, ragweed, sunflower and velvetleaf.

In a precedent-setting case, a panel of federal Ninth Court of Appeals judges recently ruled that certain tillage practices may fall under the jurisdiction of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers.