Nutrient management

Yetter Manufacturing to Acquire Martin Industries

By Noah Newman and Mike Lessiter posted on February 5, 2026 | Posted in Seeding Practices

Western-Illinois based Yetter Manufacturing and Kentucky-based Martin Industries announced to dealers this week Yetter’s intent to acquire Martin, with a deal expected to close this quarter.

Biologicals Blog

Welcome to Ag Biologicals Insights!

By Noah Newman posted on January 7, 2026 | Posted in Ag Biologicals

Welcome to the very first edition of Ag Biologicals Insights, a bi-monthly newsletter from the No-Till Farmer editorial team! This is your one-stop shop for timely, relevant resources and information to learn about the research, product development and practical use of ag biological products. To kick things off, I want to share something that caught my attention during a recent interview with biologicals expert Pam Marrone. “By 2040, the biologicals market will be as big as the chemicals market. But that said…about 50% of farmers still don’t know anything about biologicals,” Marrone said. There’s so much to learn about these emerging products. That sums up the motivation behind our launch of this newsletter.

Improving Soil Quality with Cover Crops

Davenport, Iowa’s, Robb Ewoldt implements innovative conservation practices to boost his bottom line while improving the environment.

By Noah Newman posted on September 16, 2025 | Posted in Soil Health

Rob Ewoldt’s cover crop journey began in 1996. He planted cereal rye at first, “strictly for selfish reasons, to make cheap feed for cows,” he says. A drought year in 2005 changed his perspective.

Press Release

USDA Publishes Interim Rule on Technical Guidelines for Climate-Smart Agriculture Crops Used as Biofuel Feedstocks

Guidelines will facilitate the recognition of climate-smart agriculture within clean transportation fuel programs, creating new market opportunities for biofuel feedstock producers while enhancing climate benefits.

January 17, 2025 | Posted in Economics, Soil Health

Source: USDA

On Jan. 15, 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the publication of an interim rule on Technical Guidelines for Climate-Smart Agriculture Crops Used as Biofuel Feedstocks.

Fall Cover Cropping Leads to Long-Term Nutrient Release into Soil

By Marc Zienkiewicz posted on August 25, 2024 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Soil Health

Source: Seed World

One of the cornerstones of regenerative agriculture is to have plants growing in the soil for as many days of the year as possible. While today’s agronomic practices are predominately based on using annual cash crops, it is an opportunity to get cover cropping into the management fold.

Clemson Study Finds Interseeded Cover Crops Do Not Compete with Cash Crops

September 25, 2023 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Soil Health

Source: Clemson News

A team of Clemson University researchers has found certain cover crops do not compete with cash crops for nutrients and water when grown in upstate South Carolina’s sandy loam soils.

Minn. Extension: Applying Manure in Late Summer/Early Fall? Try Cover Crops

September 9, 2022 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Soil Health

Source: University of Minnesota Extension

Thinking about applying manure soon on fields where short-season crops like sweet corn or peas have already come off or will be harvested in the coming weeks? Consider planting a cover crop to hold the nutrients in place. Here are four potential options and some tips for combining a cover crop with a manure application.

Minnesota Study: Cover Crops, Less Aggressive Tillage Reduce Wind Erosion

April 28, 2022 | Posted in Soil Health

Source: University of Minnesota

Two ongoing studies are measuring how much soil is being blown across different fields, and how much nutrients lost with wind erosion might cost farmers. Overall, preliminary data indicates that management makes a difference: leaving residue on a field or planting cover crops, and less aggressive tillage, can slow down soil movement.

[Podcast] Wisconsin No-Tiller Tom Burlingham Discusses Impact of Cover Crops

April 6, 2022 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Soil Health, Termination

For this episode of the Cover Crop Strategies podcast, brought to you by La Crosse Seed, contributing editor Martha Mintz talks with Wisconsin no-tiller Tom Burlingham about that discovery, and the overall impact cover crops are having on his farm. He tells us what’s working, and what key adjustments to make when something’s not.

Motivation & Challenges in Adopting Soil Health Practices

February 28, 2022 | Posted in Economics

Source: University of Nebraska Extension

In 2019-20, Nebraska Healthy Soils Task Force (HSTF) conducted a survey to learn about producers' motivation and challenges in cover crop (CC), nutrient and other soil health management practices across the state. A total of 275 people participated in the survey of which 64.0% (n=176) were producers, 4.7% (n = 13) were landowners, 10.9% (n = 30) were crop consultants, 16.4% (n = 45) were from the university, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and state agencies, and other attendees were 4.0% (n = 11). Read more in this article from University of Nebraska Extension.