Articles by Laura Barrera

Get Digging, No-Tillers!

By Laura Barrera posted on July 19, 2013 | Posted in Soil Health

Resource soil scientist and geologist Roger Windhorn says no-tillers should get their hands dirty to find out what’s really going on in their soils.

Double Up No-Till Benefits By Cover Cropping For Forage

Cover crops serve up more than just soil benefits. They can boost a no-tiller’s bottom line when used as feed for their livestock, experts say.

By Laura Barrera posted on July 1, 2013 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Cover Crops

Cover crops are usually touted for their contributions to soil health. But for no-tillers with livestock, covers can provide an immediate benefit to the bottom line by also serving as forage.

No-Till, Double-Cropping Become An Easy Fit For Salesman

With a crop rotation that increases profitability, feed-company salesman Jimmy Howard can still afford to no-till corn, soybeans and wheat on 450 acres outside of his full-time job.

By Laura Barrera posted on July 1, 2013 | Posted in Equipment

If it weren't for no-till, Jimmy Howard wouldn't be able to squeeze in a full-time sales career with farming.

Narrow-Row Corn Head Could Speed Up Harvest

Dissatisfied with his previous corn head’s snapping rollers, Ross Bishop built a 20-inch, eight-row corn head out of International parts in pursuit of a shorter harvest time.

By Laura Barrera posted on June 1, 2013 | Posted in Equipment, Residue Management

Dissatisfied with his previous corn head’s snapping rollers, Ross Bishop built a 20-inch, eight-row corn head out of International parts in pursuit of a shorter harvest time.

Double-Cropping Veterans Share Expertise On Wheat, Soybeans

With attention to details, double-cropping systems cover the soil, improve soil health, ward off pests and diseases and protect profits, say veteran no-tillers John and Alexander Young.

By Laura Barrera posted on June 1, 2013 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Crop Protection, Residue Management

The reasons for squeezing a 3-year crop rotation into 2 years otherwise known as double cropping are fourfold. John Young and his son Alexander can attest to them.

How Earthworms Build Better No-Till Soils, Yields

Earth’s natural tillers do everything from supplying free “manure” to increasing nitrogen to spreading microorganisms and more.

By Laura Barrera posted on May 1, 2013 | Posted in Soil Health

When a farmer switches to no-till, they will probably find they can apply 60 to 80 fewer pounds of nitrogen in their cornfields, but still get the same yields.

6 Secrets That Could Help Boost Soybean Yields

After the “7 Wonders Of The Corn-Yield World” challenged status-quo thinking about corn, researchers Fred Below and Jason Haegele are breaking new ground with the secret sauce for doubling soybean yields.

By Laura Barrera posted on May 1, 2013 | Posted in Crop Protection

Three years ago, Stark City, Mo., farmer Kip Cullers set the world record for soybean yields at 160 bushels an acre, nearly four times the average soybean field in the U.S.

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Sustainable Agriculture Summit Shines Light on No-Till, Strip Till & Cover Crops

During the Sustainable Agriculture Summit in Minneapolis, Minn., Carrie Vollmer-Sanders, the president of Field to Market who also farms in Northeast Indiana and Northwest Ohio, shared why it is important for no-tillers and strip-tillers to share their knowledge with other farmers.

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