Articles by Martha Ostendorf

Soil Amendments May Be Missing Piece Of The Production Puzzle

Soil amendments work in harmony with other inputs to increase water infiltration, correct compaction and maximize crop production.

By Martha Ostendorf posted on August 1, 2009 | Posted in Nutrient Management, Soil Health

If only farming were as easy as poking a seed in the ground in the spring and harvesting a bumper crop in the fall. The more we learn about farming, however, the more we realize what a science it actually is - and a complex one at that!

Undercover With Cover Crops

Cover crops work from top to root tip to bring physical, chemical and biological benefits to a productive no-till system.

By Martha Ostendorf posted on August 1, 2009 | Posted in Cover Crops

When left to her own devices, Mother Nature makes sure there is something living and growing in the soil at all times.

Father And Daughter Make Great No-Till Team

She’s a crop scout, he has 40 years of no-till experience and together they win with non-GMO soybeans and reduced herbicide rates.

By Martha Ostendorf posted on August 1, 2009 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Residue Management

Every youth that has heard stories of their parents walking to school uphill both ways in waist-deep snow knows that things were more difficult in the past.

Harvest-Time Residue Management Hurdles And Solutions

Massive headers, tough stalks, increasing residue and other factors make having a plan for residue management at harvest essential.

By Martha Ostendorf posted on August 1, 2009 | Posted in Residue Management, Precision Agriculture

Progress is great, but with the good sometimes also comes the bad. Such is the case with residue.

Corn-On-Corn Works For Management-Minded No-Tillers

Be prepared to manage more residue, combat pest issues and put more thinking into corn-on-corn operations from fertility to harvest.

By Martha Ostendorf posted on August 1, 2009 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Residue Management

Making a few — or maybe more than a few — extra bucks by going corn-on-corn is a temptation many no-tillers are giving in to.

Measuring Cost To Reward Helps No-Till Profitability

Ohio no-tiller Dave Lotz finds some management decisions, like adding filter strips, reduce production but actually increase profits.

By Martha Ostendorf posted on July 1, 2009 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Residue Management

Identifying the holes where profits leak away is a talent Kenton, Ohio, no-tiller Dave Lotz has nearly perfected during almost 25 years of no-till trial and error.

Former CRP Acres Are Ideal For No-Till

With 10-plus years of undisturbed soil structure building under their belt, CRP acres are primed for no-till production.

By Martha Ostendorf posted on June 1, 2009 | Posted in Seeding & Planting

The only thing pulling a plow through former Conservation Reserve Program acres accomplishes is erasing more than a decade of benefits, say no-tillers who have transitioned from CRP to no-till crop production.

Practices And Products That Can Make Your Fertility Program Pay

Maximizing fertilizer efficiency and plant nutrient uptake ensures that an expensive input earns its keep in your no-till system.

By Martha Ostendorf posted on May 1, 2009 | Posted in Nutrient Management

The higher the cost of the input, the more important it becomes to maximize efficiencies and make sure that input pays dividends. High fertilizer prices paired with potential environmental impact makes managing nutrient inputs doubly important.

Diversify And Win With No-Till Wheat

Adding wheat to a corn-and-soybean rotation improves soil structure, spreads equipment use and protects income.

By Martha Ostendorf posted on May 1, 2009 | Posted in Seeding & Planting

Rotation is good. The earth's rotation keeps our feet flat on the ground. Rotating tires ensures even wear. And rotating wheat with your no-till corn and soybeans can lead to good things, too

8 Precision Practices That Pay To The Max

High-tech tools make management techniques possible that keep crop production at Rulon Enterprises efficient and cost-effective.

By Martha Ostendorf posted on May 1, 2009 | Posted in Precision Agriculture

Remember the simple days when high-tech in the field meant having a tractor with air conditioning and a radio? Today, cabs are positively teeming with technology.

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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.

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