Frank Lessiter

A Terrific National No-Tillage Conference Program — Offering Many, Many Profit-Building Reasons on Why You Need to Attend

Expect an energetic 4 days of non-stop learning in Louisville from leading no-tillers, agronomists, researchers & suppliers who will be sharing their most valuable ideas to help you get the most out of your 2025 no-till cropping program.

By Frank Lessiter posted on December 18, 2024 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Soil Health

A longtime attendee at the National No-Tillage Conference (NNTC) recently told me our 2025 lineup of topics and speakers is among the very best in the entire 33-year history of this event.

Frankly Speaking

Hey AGCO, Don’t Forget North America

By Frank Lessiter posted on December 8, 2024 | Posted in Investing in Regenerative Ag

While AGCO seemingly has good intentions when it comes to promoting conservation practices, it also looks like they have little interest in promoting numerous soil-saving concepts in North America.

Among Farmers With Dairy, How Well Do the Cows Adapt to Daylight Saving Time?

By Frank Lessiter posted on November 18, 2024

Whether it is “spring ahead” or “fall back” time, the schedules of farmers are somewhat impacted by the twice-a-year shifting of the clock. And for farmers spending time in the milking parlor, there’s a question on how cow behavior and milk production is affected.

Cover Crops Held Soil in Place During Massive Western Canada Floods

By Frank Lessiter posted on December 3, 2021 | Posted in Soil Health

Source: Canada's National Observer

When an unprecedented storm sent floodwaters rushing across Travis Forstbauer’s fields, the Chilliwack, British Columbia, farmer was concerned that he would lose the precious fertile soil that his livelihood depends on. Instead, the western Canadian grower was pleasantly surprised that his land had suffered minimal damage, thanks to his cover crops.

Cover Crops Required in New York Town

By Frank Lessiter posted on November 19, 2019 | Posted in Seeding Practices

New legislation addresses last winter's dust storms that led to wind erosion and health concerns among New York residents living in eastern Long Island.

From the Desk of Frank Lessiter

Covers Keep Weeds in Check

By Frank Lessiter posted on April 25, 2019

When growers talk about the benefits of cover crops, the talk normally centers around erosion control, keeping nutrients in the field, improving soil quality and trimming fertilizer purchases. But effective weed control is another benefit.

Frank Comments

The New $867 Billion Farm Bill Includes Benefits for No-Tilling, Strip-Tilling, Terminating Cover Crops, Improving Soil Health and Sequestering More Carbon

By Frank Lessiter posted on January 11, 2019 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Economics, Termination

While much has been written on the economic aspects of the 2018 Farm Bill, the legislation included a number of items of special interest to no-tillers. Probably the most important one is new language specifically defining the rules for cover crop termination.

Frank Comments

If Lawmakers Were to Say ‘Yes,’ Your History with No-Till, Cover Crops and Rotations Could Slice Insurance Costs by $4.50 Per Acre

By Frank Lessiter posted on July 24, 2018 | Posted in Soil Health, Economics

Passage of a unique concept that got Congressional consideration during the writing of the 2018 Farm Bill could put more dollars in the pockets of no-tillers. It’s an idea that farmers who use no-till, cover crops and conservation-minded crop rotations to protect the soil should be rewarded with an equivalent of auto insurance’s “good driver discount” when it comes to paying crop insurance premiums.

Frank Comments

Same Old Conservation Ideas, Just New Words to Describe Them

By Frank Lessiter posted on April 14, 2018 | Posted in Soil Health

While there’s increasing emphasis on “sustainable agriculture” and “soil health,” these four buzzwords tend to ruffle the feathers of veteran no-tillers and others like myself who have followed the no-till movement for nearly a half century. It’s because we recognize that earlier generations of no-tillers were the original true innovators behind these “not-so-new” concepts that go back to the 1960s.

Plowing CRP Ground is Like Building a House, Setting it on Fire to Collect the Insurance, Then Not Having Anywhere to Stay when Colder Weather Arrives

By Frank Lessiter posted on January 13, 2018 | Posted in Soil Health

The dramatic statement highlighted in this column’s headline was among comments received from over 150 no-tillers who answered a recent No-Till Farmer email survey dealing with bringing Crop Reserve Program (CRP) ground back into cash crop production.

Articles by Frank Lessiter

A Terrific National No-Tillage Conference Program — Offering Many, Many Profit-Building Reasons on Why You Need to Attend

Hey AGCO, Don’t Forget North America

Among Farmers With Dairy, How Well Do the Cows Adapt to Daylight Saving Time?

Cover Crops Held Soil in Place During Massive Western Canada Floods

Cover Crops Required in New York Town

Covers Keep Weeds in Check

The New $867 Billion Farm Bill Includes Benefits for No-Tilling, Strip-Tilling, Terminating Cover Crops, Improving Soil Health and Sequestering More Carbon

If Lawmakers Were to Say ‘Yes,’ Your History with No-Till, Cover Crops and Rotations Could Slice Insurance Costs by $4.50 Per Acre

Same Old Conservation Ideas, Just New Words to Describe Them

Plowing CRP Ground is Like Building a House, Setting it on Fire to Collect the Insurance, Then Not Having Anywhere to Stay when Colder Weather Arrives

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