Monsanto has received full U.S. regulatory clearance for the first biotech corn designed to control corn rootworm. The company announced in late February that both the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has cleared YieldGard Rootworm for use in corn hybrids for resistance to this insect. Licensing the technology to other seed companies means a number of corn hybrids containing this technology will be available for no-tilling this spring.

As the name suggests, a new pre-plant or pre-emergent herbicide named Keystone will help no-till corn growers do a better job of controlling grasses and broadleaf weeds next year.

Additional uses for several older products may let you do a better job of controlling insects in your no-tilled corn this summer. Here's what company reps had to say about getting more effective insect control in no-tilled corn at this year's National No-Tillage Conference.