May 2021

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Frankly Speaking

‘Planting Green’ Picks Up Speed

By Frank Lessiter posted on March 29, 2021 | Posted in Cover Crops

Instead of terminating a cover crop prior to no-tilling corn, soybeans or another crop, more growers are planting through a still growing green cover crop. Seeding a cash crop into a growing green cover crop that may range in height from just a few inches to over 6 feet tall allows both crops to grow longer in the spring.
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Hitting Pay Dirt by Boosting Soil Biology

South Dakota growers implement regenerative principles on every acre to improve soil health, reduce inputs and gain control of livestock feeding options.

By Julia Gerlach posted on March 29, 2021 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Cover Crops, Soil Health

In the pursuit of higher soil organic matter levels in their soils, Barry and Eli Little, a father-and-son team farming in Castlewood, S.D., are aggressively adopting regenerative practices.
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What I've Learned from No-Tilling

Carbon is King — and Rising Fast — with Constant Cropping

Josh Lloyd grows crops year-round to capture carbon and build topsoil that will return yields despite lower inputs.

By Martha Mintz posted on March 30, 2021 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Cover Crops, Nutrient Management, Soil Health

Everyone makes a big deal out of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), but to me, carbon is the key to a profitable and sustainable farm.
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7 Strategies for Reducing Slug and Vole Problems

No-tillers can battle these two pests with scouting, sound planting practices, strategic cover crop management, the right field equipment and some help from predators.

By Laura Barrera posted on March 30, 2021 | Posted in Cover Crops, Crop Protection

While there are many benefits to long-term no-till and cover cropping, unfortunately, it is also a very stable environment for slugs and voles.

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Going From Bull-Headed to Bullish on No-Till

After years of conventional farming, this Randolph, Wis., grower has transitioned his 2,500-acre operation to no-till, cover crops and planting green. And he’s having a blast.

By Julia Gerlach posted on March 31, 2021 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Cover Crops, Crop Protection, Nutrient Management

Change can be difficult, especially if you’re bull-headed. Just ask Dale Macheel, who says he tends to be stubborn, just like most farmers. But it can also be fun, he says, a mindset he’s embraced while adopting conservation practices on his 2,500-acre cash grain operation in Randolph, Wis.

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Wide-Row Corn Study in South Dakota Yields Variable Results for No-Tillers

Sixty-inch corn rows with cover crops didn’t produce the hoped-for yield production, but offered no-tillers a chance to diversify corn management and get covers into the mix.

By John Dobberstein posted on March 31, 2021 | Posted in Seeding & Planting

No-tillers across the Corn Belt have been experimenting with wider corn rows to diversify their corn management and add cover crop options to their operation, including grazing of covers as an added income and soil health option.

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Cover Crops Can Boost Beneficial Insects

An expert on pest management programs from the University of Nebraska explores how cover crops can be successfully integrated to help control pests in cropping systems.

By Sarah Hill posted on April 1, 2021 | Posted in Cover Crops, Crop Protection

Your farm's integrated pest management program (IPM) might include a variety of pest control tactics. Cover crops can be a valuable addition to an IPM as a sustainable, long-term practice, according to Justin McMechan.

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Featured Articles

Featured Articles

Hitting Pay Dirt by Boosting Soil Biology

South Dakota growers implement regenerative principles on every acre to improve soil health, reduce inputs and gain control of livestock feeding options.

By Julia Gerlach posted on March 29, 2021 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Cover Crops, Soil Health

In the pursuit of higher soil organic matter levels in their soils, Barry and Eli Little, a father-and-son team farming in Castlewood, S.D., are aggressively adopting regenerative practices.
Read More

What I've Learned from No-Tilling

Carbon is King — and Rising Fast — with Constant Cropping

Josh Lloyd grows crops year-round to capture carbon and build topsoil that will return yields despite lower inputs.

By Martha Mintz posted on March 30, 2021 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Cover Crops, Nutrient Management, Soil Health

Everyone makes a big deal out of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), but to me, carbon is the key to a profitable and sustainable farm.
Read More
Digital Edition

Digital Edition

For Digital Subscribers: Access Your Digital Flipbook of the May 2021 Issue

April 8, 2021

Now view magazine-like digital flipbooks on your desktop and tablet. Starting with 2015 issues, included for FREE with your Digital or Premium subscription, view the magazine on your laptop, tablet, and mobile device.

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