Articles by Darrell Bruggink

Keeton Seed Firmer Gets Nod As Top Product Of 2009

No-Till Farmer readers speak up on the best no-till products for their no-till operations in 11 categories

By Darrell Bruggink posted on February 1, 2010 | Posted in Equipment, Crop Protection, Precision Agriculture

Without a doubt, one of the biggest concerns among no-tillers is seed placement. With the many attachments and tools available to move residue, drop seed in the row or close the seed slot, all are designed to put seed in the best possible position to emerge with the potential to be a high-yielding machine.

Liquid Manure, No-Till Don’t Need To Clash

Dragline system and two lightweight application rigs help Indiana no-tiller incorporate manure.

By Darrell Bruggink posted on January 1, 2010 | Posted in Nutrient Management

Liquid manure is a great source of nutrients, but application issues — mainly compaction and soil incorporation — have long been obstacles for no-tillers. Dave Beard thinks he’s found a system that no-tillers can work with.

Making The Move To 30-Inch No-Tilled Soybeans

Reducing planting rates by 30,000 seeds per acre without a yield loss is convincing Keith Reha to move away from 15-inch soybeans.

By Darrell Bruggink posted on December 1, 2009 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Equipment

Count Keith Reha in as one of the many no-tillers taking a hard look at their soybean seed expenses, and questioning the tools and even the row width they use with no-till soybeans.

No-Tiller Always Ready To Face Changing Conditions

Adjustments to seeding rates, downpressure and coulter depth within fields are necessary for Johnny Davis to no-till successfully in variable soil conditions.

By Darrell Bruggink posted on December 1, 2009 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Equipment

If there’s one thing farming has proven to Johnny Davis, it’s that there is nothing constant.

Settling On Spring Strip-Till

Iowa corn grower Jeff Reints has used full tillage, no-till, zone-tillage and fall strip-till, but he has settled on strips for raising corn.

By Darrell Bruggink posted on November 1, 2009 | Posted in Strip-Till Farming

Iowa corn grower Jeff Reints has used full tillage, no-till, zone-tillage and fall strip-till, but he has settled on spring strips for raising corn.

No-Till Fits With Grower’s Goals

With wheat in his rotation and the last-resort use of a rotary harrow, Bill Rohloff is leaving his farmland in better shape than he found it.

By Darrell Bruggink posted on September 1, 2009 | Posted in Equipment

When he was just a kid, there was a moment that likely shaped Bill Rohloff’s desire to no-till every acre possible.

Better Soils, Fertility Management Give Indiana No-Tiller Better Results

Gypsum, drainage and a wiser approach to fertility have improved soil biology and corn and soybean yields for Jack Maloney.

By Darrell Bruggink posted on August 1, 2009 | Posted in Nutrient Management, Soil Health

Jack Maloney used to be your typical farmer when it came to managing soil and fertility. He relied heavily on his local co-op for recommendations — after all, their agronomists had spent years in school studying science, chemistry and biology.

Just Get It Covered!

Jay and Rodney Arentz say it’s not so important what you use for cover crops, just that you use them.

By Darrell Bruggink posted on July 1, 2009 | Posted in Cover Crops, Residue Management

When it comes to identifying the cover crop strategy that Arentz Hay & Grain has utilized in the last decade, it’s really quite simple.

From 300 To 6,000 Acres

Efficiency of no-till helps Virginia farmers grow their acreage with minimal inputs.

By Darrell Bruggink posted on June 1, 2009 | Posted in Equipment

Some 25 years ago, the Hundley farm at Champlain, Va., was a modest operation at just 300 acres. Today, with the help of no-till, Jay and Robert Hundley have grown their acreage 20 times to a bustling corn, soybeans and small grains operation of 6,000 acres.

Cover Crop By Air

Northern Indiana no-tillers have found dropping annual ryegrass seed from helicopters into standing corn and soybeans a good way to establish a stand.

By Darrell Bruggink posted on May 1, 2009 | Posted in Cover Crops

More and more no-tillers are looking at taking advantage of the benefits of cover crops. But while the benefits are numerous, there are obstacles.

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