As No-Till Farmer readers know, editor Frank Lessiter visited the Palouse region in the Pacific Northwest in early August during the 2010 small grain harvest. He observed that many Palouse (southeastern Washington, mid-central Idaho and northeastern Oregon) no-tillers and direct-seeders perform some residue handling after harvest.

My first experience with no-tilling resulted from bad weather and fortunate networking with innovators who set the pace away from tillage.

After harvest is over, there are several things no-tillers should evaluate in their fields to fine-tune their management practices for next year.

Other crops make more money than wheat for Palco, Kan., no-tiller Mike McClellan, but its residue increases the yields and profitability of the other crops in the 5-year rotation.