As farm sizes continue to increase, the size, working width and overall weight of farm equipment continues to grow proportionally. Some of the heaviest farm equipment has axle loads exceeding 20 tons.

The rapid rise in the cost of seed and fertilizer in the past year served as a wake-up call for no-tillers, reminding them that controlling input costs is often the difference between being profitable or not.

With a wet spring like many Midwestern producers experienced this year, additional importance is placed on spraying equipment. The window of opportunity to complete this all-important task in a timely manner becomes an enormous challenge.

No-tilling corn and soybeans presents many challenges to producers across the country, especially within continuous corn and other high-residue environments.

Under the no-till conditions outlined above and with this style of seeding unit, my thought is not to try to chop or cut the residue. In my opinion, standing residue leads to more effective cutting with disc seeders that are used under low-moisture conditions.

Research from around the world clearly documents that yield losses occur as a result of equipment passes through the field. Yield reductions occur from either direct damage to the standing crop or from the compacting of the soil, or both.

The healthy futures prices for crop commodities probably has you chomping at the bit to get into the field and begin no-tilling your crops.