Multi-site, multi-year study of humic products by USDA researchers Dan Olk and Dana Dinnes finds a clear financial benefit for corn and soybean farmers with applications of humic products.

A Montana State University researcher says no-till practices and a trend toward removal of fallowed acres may be contributing to cooling in the northern Plains that contradicts the so-called global warming trend.

Measuring soil respiration using freshly sampled soil can provide vital information regarding a soil's natural behavior, Woods End Laboratories says.

Samples taken last year by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency found verticillium stripe in six provinces, although yield losses aren't too serious yet, reports the Alberta Canola Producers Commission.

With decreasing soil pH a growing concern in the Palouse region of Washington, a simple way to check soil acidity is to use a soil pH meter to collect and accurately test a sample in the field in a matter of minutes, and at detailed levels, says Washington State University Extension.

Subsoiling is not justified in long-term no-till fields, as regular compaction can be managed with cover crops and flotation tires, says Penn State Extension.

Recently I spent some time driving east from Oklahoma to southeastern Missouri to visit some farmers in the Delta region for our magazine. I’ve heard of some soil erosion problems occurring in the Delta, which includes the Bootheel region of southeastern Missouri where corn, popcorn, cotton, soybeans and wheat are popular.

Recently I started off my 10 tips to successful no-till crop production with a discussion on crop rotations. I feel this is the most important consideration on your farm. Designing a crop rotation f will affect your bottom line, weed and disease cycles, and your farm’s performance well into the future. Take plenty of time each year and assess your rotation and improvements you can make in designing your rotation.

Canadian researchers outline some of the benefits no-tillers might see by adding pulse crops to rotations in the semi-arid areas of western Canada.