Articles by Dan Crummett

Precision Irrigation and Grain Storage Boost Yields, ROI

Western Alabama’s Dee River Ranch sees positive return on its no-till investment with the adoption of technologically-advanced irrigation and grain storage systems.

By Dan Crummett posted on July 20, 2021 | Posted in Equipment, Precision Agriculture, Water Management

Precision irrigation and storage technology plays a big part in the economic sustainability of Dee River Ranch near Aliceville in western Alabama.

Heavy Rains Help No-Tiller Promote Practice to Vegetable Processor

Delaware row-crop and vegetable grower’s “all in” adoption of no-till, cover crops and planting green is making positive changes to his soil, his yields and his bottom line.

By Dan Crummett posted on May 25, 2021 | Posted in Cover Crops, Equipment, Nutrient Management, Soil Health

Jay Baxter, a fourth-generation farmer in Delaware, says a couple of well-timed torrential rains became ‘ah hah! moments’ that ultimately led him to switch all of his cash crop production to no-till with the use of cover crops.

Digging Into the Principles of Regenerative Ag

By Dan Crummett, Angela Lovell, Martha Mintz, and Loretta Sorensen posted on March 12, 2021 | Posted in Residue Management, Nutrient Management, Soil Health

Based on the principles of building healthy soil, regenerative ag aims to not only sustain farm productivity but to actually work with nature to regenerate the soil, increase biodiversity and enhance the farming ecosystem.

Achieving Picket-Fence Stands with Precise Seed Placement

Veteran grower Tom Cannon from Blackwell, Okla., shares tips on how his forensic-level approach to planting and seeding pave the way for success with no-tilling ‘green’ into covers on every acre.

By Dan Crummett posted on February 26, 2021 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Cover Crops

When avid hunter and outdoorsman Tom Cannon was in his mid-20s, he experimented with no-till and interseeded food plots to attract white-tailed deer and other game on his family’s ranch near the small town of Newkirk in north-central Oklahoma.

CROP PROTECTION ROUNDUP 2021

New Formulations Abound in 2021 Crop Protection Registrations

Combinations of familiar pesticides and enhanced formulations with new chemistry offer growers new tools for this year’s growing season.

By Dan Crummett posted on January 3, 2021 | Posted in Crop Protection

This list of new products was assembled by editors of No-Till Farmer, who remind growers to always check for their specific state regulations regarding the use of any crop protection products.

CROP PROTECTION ROUNDUP 2021

Erratic Armyworm Outbreaks Require Careful Scouting

Many entomologists say armyworms typically move from weedy grasses and small-grain cover crops to damage nearby corn.

By Dan Crummett posted on January 2, 2021 | Posted in Crop Protection

The so-called “true armyworm” is one of the more frustrating early-season pests no-till corn growers encounter periodically, particularly if they are planting into small-grain or other grassy cover crops, or in fields near sources of grassy weeds.

More than Round and Rubber: The Tires of Tomorrow

By Dan Crummett posted on October 30, 2020 | Posted in Equipment

Today’s agricultural tires resemble their predecessors in that they are still round and mainly made of rubber. Maintaining a tread and staying inflated may have been enough for years, but modern tire design parameters accounting for soil compaction, improved traction, tread wear, sidewall strength at super-low inflation rates and, increasingly, environmental concerns have permanently changed the way farm equipment engages the soil.

Tracking & Tapping Into Natural Nitrogen Cycle Cuts Inputs

Iowa no-tiller Mitchell Hora uses weekly soil samples and the Haney test throughout the season to monitor naturally-available nutrients in corn and soybeans. The extra effort has cut his nitrogen rate in half.

By Dan Crummett posted on October 19, 2020 | Posted in Cover Crops, Nutrient Management, Soil Health

Mitchell Hora spent the summer of 2014 scouting corn and soybean fields for E4 Crop Intelligence, and knew then he wanted to own his own consulting business.

Boosting Soil Biology by Farming Green on Green on Green

Young Illinois no-tiller overhauls conventional corn and soybean farm by planting and combining green while reducing nutrient applications and cutting pesticides for significant bottom-line payouts.

By Dan Crummett posted on July 24, 2020 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Cover Crops, Nutrient Management, Soil Health

During long hours in the cab planting soybeans primarily in tall cereal rye, Andrew Reuschel began taking a mental inventory of the active cover crops he was no-tilling into with his Kinze 2600 planter this year.

Managing Around Plant Disease Hotspots for 2020

Soilborne pathogens and fungal diseases are likely concerns for corn and soybean no-tillers this season, but pathologists say pay particular attention to soybean cyst nematodes, sudden death syndrome, tar spot and target spot.

By Dan Crummett posted on February 20, 2020 | Posted in Crop Protection

Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) and sudden death syndrome (SDS) are expected to plague U.S. no-till soybean producers again this year, especially if the local planting season is accompanied by cooler and wetter than average conditions.

Current Issue

No-Till Farmer

Get full access NOW to the most comprehensive, powerful and easy-to-use online resource for no-tillage practices. Just one good idea will pay for your subscription hundreds of times over.

Subscribe Now

5 Takeaways After 35 Years of No-Tilling

How Weeds Handle the Drought

5 Ways No-Till, Covers Hold Soil Moisture

Must Read Free Eguides

Download these helpful knowledge building tools

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.

Top Directory Listings

Needham Ag Technologies, LLC

Needham Ag understands the role of technology in making better use of limited resources within a specific environment by drawing on a wealth of global experience to overcome the challenges facing today's farmers, manufacturers and dealers.

Titan International, Inc

Titan offers a full line of wheels, tires and undercarriage products for a wide variety of off-the-road equipment.

The Andersons PureGrade

The Andersons grows enduring relationships through extraordinary service, a deep knowledge of the market, and a knack for finding new ways to add value as we have done for nearly 70 years.