As no-tillers, researchers and chemical companies scramble to control increasingly tough herbicide-resistant weeds, University of Missouri extension weed specialist Kevin Bradley says the current science of weed control will likely soon need to be broadened.

Research into accurately estimating total biomass of standing cover crops from a moving tractor may eventually spawn new ways for no-tillers to save money on planting rates and herbicide use in row crops.

Darrick Rains owns a chisel plow, disc and field cultivator to support his cow-calf operation in north-central Oklahoma, but he says his 40-foot no-till drill is what made it possible to double the number of animal units he markets each year for a handsome economic advantage.

Cover crops are widely credited for their ability to reduce soil erosion and nutrient losses in farm fields, and Iowa growers seem to agree increasingly at significant levels.

While the USDA estimates only about 10% of U.S. cropland is being managed with cover crops for various soil health and weed suppression reasons, recent research across the Corn Belt shows over-wintering cereal crop covers can significantly reduce weed biomass.

The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) continues to cause consternation from those who worry about “robots taking over” to lawmakers in Congress who grapple with what, if any, regulation is needed for the technology.

Until recently, once the EPA issued a registration for various crop protection products, growers and product manufacturers seemed to be on solid ground when they read and followed application rules and regulations published on the official label.

As with any new practice, many growers considering a switch to strip-till for corn and soybeans may question what the eventual payoff will be.