The future of Loran Steinlage's operation and the agriculture industry weighed on the No-Till Innovator throughout 2023. David Brandt, Steinlage’s mentor and close friend, died unexpectedly in May, leaving Steinlage with a mission to carry on Brandt’s vision to create a farmer-to-farmer learning center in southwestern Wisconsin.

Every Year I will get better at farming. I will keep what works. I will change what doesn’t work, gladly adopting new technologies or practices if they demonstrate a more efficient or successful path forward.

Years ago, the seed companies blasted a USDA researcher after I wrote a No-Till Farmer item stating that Bt corn could reduce butterfly populations.