Researchers in Tennessee are looking at the feasibility of no-tilling switchgrass, a warm-season perennial that can grow up to 7 feet in height, as raw material for biofuels and an alternative to corn-based ethanol.

No-tillers already minimize fuel expenses by not pulling tillage equipment over their fields. But, given the exploding cost of fuel, it can’t hurt to note that we can save even more by ensuring that we’re operating our equipment as efficiently as possible throughout the growing season. Here’s a checklist to help ensure thoroughness in further reducing your costs.

Faster payoffs have accelerated the adoption of electronic tools like lightbars, yield monitors and automatic steering.

Pipes can be mounted on the front edge of a planter to act as a lean bar to knock down corn stalks and reduce the amount of residue catching on planter components, says Paul Jasa, an agricul-tural engineer for the University of Nebraska.

The May issue on No-Till Farmer offered a look at the basic characteristics of adjuvants to help you make more informed purchase decisions. Another good source is the pocket-sized 8th Edition of the Compendium of Herbicide Adjuvants, released in January by Bryan Young, a weed scientist at Southern Illinois University.It is available for $3.Visit www.siu.edu for an order form.