Tillage

Strip-till Improves Soybean Yield

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 16:39:00 +0000

Source: University of Illinois

Crop yield can be improved by ensuring adequate nutrient availability. But how should you place the fertilizer and what cropping system gives the best yields? Research conducted by University of Illinois Assistant Professor of Crop Sciences Fabián Fernández, Professor of Crop Sciences Emerson Nafziger and graduate student Bhupinder Farmaha looked at how tillage, and phosphorus and potassium placement and rates, affected the distribution of soybean roots and the levels of water and nutrients in the soil.

Think Different: New Knowledge Opens The Mind

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 20:36:00 +0000

My passion as a news and technology junkie has helped my agricultural journalism career immensely. And one fun component of that curiosity and passion is to ask farmers what's new in order to learn their passions.

Change Mindset, Change Tillage | Move to Strip-till Saves Fuel, Equipment, Time

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 15:39:00 +0000

Six years ago, brothers Tom and Jim Wagner, Primghar, IA, made a decision that changed their farming lives – and they’ve never looked back. The corn and soybean producers had shared equipment with a neighbor, using his tractor and ripper in exchange for planting his crops. When the neighbor opted for an off-farm job, he rented his land to the Wagners. He auctioned off his big tractors and tillage equipment and, as Tom and Jim weighed the possibility of taking on more land, they took a hard look at their own equipment situation.

Resistant Weeds Drive Tillage | A Rebound in Tilled Corn Acres May Spread

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:41:00 +0000

Herbicide-resistant marestail and waterhemp have caused Illinois grower Trent Funk to work the ground during his three-year rotation of soybeans, corn and wheat. Historically, weed control was a key reason for tillage, but that justification hasn’t existed for quite a while due to herbicide effectiveness, says University of Illinois professor of crop sciences Emerson Nafziger. However, it’s coming back, at least in some areas.

3 Tips for Prepping Compacted Ground for Planting

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:10:00 +0000

Source: Ohio State University Extension

Many corn and soybean growers harvested record crops last fall. However, they may be facing compaction issues because of saturated soils at harvest. Combines and grain carts caused deep ruts and severe compaction issues. So what can farmers do to break up that soil and smooth out rough fields?

Boost Profits with No-Till | Reducing Tillage Saves $25-30/Acre

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 16:29:00 +0000

Emerson Nafziger remembers pulling a three-bottom moldboard plow years ago. “When it takes that long to till each acre, it really is tillage,” says the University of Illinois Extension crop-production specialist.

Strip-till Improves Nutrient Uptake, Yield

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 03:15:00 +0000

Source: University of Illinois

The practice of deep-banding fertilizer is growing in popularity as more growers turn to strip-till. However, this method may be costing growers more than it is worth. A new University of Illinois (U of I) study revealed that strip-till was superior to no-till and increased yield in soybean. However, the results showed no difference in yield between fertilizer application methods.

Don't Overdo Tillage Following Wet Spring, Harvest

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 04:37:00 +0000

Source: Ohio State University Extension

The unusually wet conditions surrounding planting and harvest this year made quite an impact on soil conditions, prompting Randall Reeder, a recently retired Ohio State University Extension engineer, to warn farmers against "recreational tillage" between now and planting the 2012 crop.

More Bang for Your Buck with Bands | Where to Place Banded Fertilizer in Strip-Till Systems

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:06:00 +0000

By Barb Baylor Anderson

Eric Rund got oddball soil-test results a few years ago from a strip-till cornfield. Some of the nutrient levels were higher than the Pesotum, IL, farmer expected.

Now near the end of a four-year soil test variability study with University of IllinoisExtension Soil ScientistFabian Fernandez, Rund hopes they’re getting closer to answers from Rund's farm and others on how best to manage soil-test variability on band-applied fields.

Less Is More | No-tiller Collin Jensen Grows corn With Just Two Field Passes

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 20:21:00 +0000

Time is money for Collin Jensen, who has better things to do than fall tillage. He appreciates the reduced equipment cost and fuel needs of reduced tillage, but even more he values every ounce of soil that stays on his West Union, IA, hillsides.