Residue management at planting is paramount to no-till success. Moving residue away from planter openers and gauge wheels ensures the planter can place seed in a way that maximizes stand uniformity.

Over the years since my dad started no-tilling in 1978, we’ve had a lot to learn — and not much of a growing season to learn it in. On our extreme northern farm that is less than 30 miles south of the Canadian border, we’re lucky to get 90 to 110 frost-free days, creating a situation not unlike Siberia (our average January temperature is minus 5 degrees Fahrenheit). This year we even had snow on May 11.

At some point no-tillers who own drills are going to need to upgrade to a new one. This month's Farmer's Forum message board was chock full of information concerning many of the major manufacturers of no-till drills. Also being hotly debated were the use of seed tube splitters.