Articles by Darrell Bruggink

Crop Diversity In Wheat Country

Taking a long-term view helped this Oklahoma no-tiller see the value of crop rotations, as well as double crops and cover crops.

By Darrell Bruggink posted on December 1, 2008 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Cover Crops

Southwest Oklahoma is considered wheat country, but one no-tiller is working to change that perception.

Making The Move To Continuous No-Till Corn

By Darrell Bruggink posted on December 1, 2008 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Equipment, Crop Protection

When it comes to farming, Daniel Davidson gets to see it from two perspectives.

Illinois No-Tiller Rewarded For His Patience

While others gave up, Bob Kannall made no-till work on his 2,100-acre farm.

By Darrell Bruggink posted on November 1, 2008 | Posted in Equipment

More than 25 years ago, Bob Kannall bought his first no-till corn planter.

Latest No-Till Tools Draw Attention At Farm Progress Show

John Deere nutrient applicator, Dawn GFX row cleaners among highlights

By Darrell Bruggink posted on November 1, 2008 | Posted in Equipment, Nutrient Management

No-tillers descended upon central Iowa at the end of August to see the latest equipment and production tools during the annual Farm Progress Show. Here’s just a glimpse at some of the new products or technologies seen and talked about during the 3-day event.

Twin-Row Corn Provides Boost

Modified John Deere planter allows no-tillers to plant rows 8 inches apart on 30-inch spacings.

By Darrell Bruggink posted on October 1, 2008 | Posted in Seeding & Planting

Making the transition to no-till was a big step for Lapp Brothers Farms in making their soils more productive. But to get even more yield and tonnage out of corn silage meant taking a narrower view.

Cereal Rye Before Soybeans Helps Balance Moisture

Southern Illinois no-tiller successfully drills soybeans into cereal rye standing more than 5 feet tall.’

By Darrell Bruggink posted on October 1, 2008 | Posted in Cover Crops, Equipment

It may seem improbable and even Terry Dahmer admits his neighbors have thought it a bit unusual, but each spring you’ll find the Marion, Ill., no-tiller pulling a soybean drill through fields of cereal rye about 5 feet tall.

Build Organic Matter With Diverse Cropping Rotations

Continuous no-till, along with winter wheat, field peas, proso millet and a CANULA cover crop, raised organic-matter levels and led to better water infiltration for this Nebraska no-tiller.

By Darrell Bruggink posted on October 1, 2008 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Cover Crops

Randy Rink used to have the typical Midwestern crop operation. He rotated corn and soybeans. With this 2-year rotation, Rink would disc corn stalks once in the fall, and plant soybeans in the spring. The next year, he would no-till corn into soybean residue.

No-Till Cover Crop Holds Broadcast Hog Manure In Place

No-tiller Jeff Frey finds broadcasting manure into a wheat cover provides even distribution of nutrients without the concern of runoff.

By Darrell Bruggink posted on September 1, 2008 | Posted in Nutrient Management

As a hog producer, Jeff Frey has a valuable asset with fertilizer prices rising rapidly. Yet, the Willow Street, Pa., no-tiller knows applying and managing hog manure in a no-till system has its challenges.

Owning Your Own Sprayer Never Looked So Good

Being precise with chemical applications dramatically cuts input costs, while being timelier with pesticides protects yield potential.

By Darrell Bruggink posted on August 1, 2008 | Posted in Equipment, Crop Protection

Timing is everything, especially when it comes to controlling weeds, insects and diseases. Spray delays of even a day or two, in some instances, can cause substantial erosion in yield potential.

Fall Sprays Make No-Till Work Better

Shane Reinneck says keeping fields free of henbit, marestail and winter annuals helps him plant earlier and start clean in the spring.

By Darrell Bruggink posted on August 1, 2008 | Posted in Equipment, Crop Protection

As much as Shane Reinneck values residue, the Freeburg, Ill., no-tiller knows residue slows the warming of his soils, forcing him to be a little more patient than conventional-till neighbors when it comes to planting.

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