Articles by Frank Lessiter

International No-Till, Strip-Till and Cover Crops Research Journal - July 2025

Each month, the conservation ag group at Cornell University offers an analysis of the latest scientific papers dealing with conservation agriculture research from around the world. For this on-going web series, our editors will be selecting several research papers from the Cornell list that will be of special interest to North American no-tillers, strip-tillers and cover croppers.

In this edition:

  • Conservation Soil Tillage: Bridging Science and Farmer Expectations-An Overview from Southern to Northern Europe.
  • Comparison of bacterial communities of agricultural soils subjected to different types of tillage in the Valle del Mezquital, Mexico.
  • Soil Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Nitrogen Dynamics: Effects of Maize Straw Incorporation Under Contrasting Nitrogen Fertilization Levels

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International No-Till, Strip-Till and Cover Crops Research Journal – May 2025

Each month, the conservation ag group at Cornell University offers an analysis of the latest scientific papers dealing with conservation agriculture research from around the world. For this on-going web series, our editors will be selecting several research papers from the Cornell list that will be of special interest to North American no-tillers, strip-tillers and cover croppers.

In this edition:

  • Effects of Conservation Agriculture on Soil Nitrogen Oxide N2O Emissions and Crop Yield in Global Cereal Cropping Systems
  • Monitoring the Spatial Distribution of Cover Crops and Tillage Practices Using Machine Learning and Environmental Drivers across Eastern South Dakota
  • Potential Long-Term, Global Effects of Enhancing the Domestic Terrestrial Carbon Sink in the United States through No-Till and Cover Cropping
  • Global Synthesis of Cover Crop Impacts on Main Crop Yield
  • Development and Testing of a Precision Hoeing System for Re-compacted Ridge Tillage in Maize

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Yes, He's a Regenerative Agriculture Skeptic

When the principles of regenerative ag are broken down to their core components, Shane Thomas sees it as a bundling of practices with the aim of “regenerating” the soil (an outcome), including increasing organic matter (soil carbon) encouraging biological activity and mitigating soil erosion.
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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.

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.


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International No-Till, Strip-Till and Cover Crops Research Journal – November 2024

Each month, the conservation ag group at Cornell University offers an analysis of the latest scientific papers dealing with conservation agriculture research from around the world. For this on-going web series, our editors will be selecting several research papers from the Cornell list that will be of special interest to North American no-tillers, strip-tillers and cover croppers.

In this edition:

  • Further Adoption of Conservation Tillage Can Increase Maize Yields in the Western U.S. Corn Belt
  • A New Theory for Soil Health
  • Weed Communities after Decades of Mineral Fertilization and Tillage Treatments in a Corn–Soybean Rotation
  • Changes in Soil Microbial Parameters after Herbicide Application in Soils under Conventional Tillage and Non-Tillage

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International No-Till, Strip-Till and Cover Crops Research Journal – September 2024

Each month, the conservation ag group at Cornell University offers an analysis of the latest scientific papers dealing with conservation agriculture research from around the world. For this on-going web series, our editors will be selecting several research papers from the Cornell list that will be of special interest to North American no-tillers, strip-tillers and cover croppers.

In this edition:

  • Earthworms as Soil Health Indicators in No-Tillage Agroecosystems
  • No-Till Farming and Climate Change Mitigation: Lessons Learnt from Long-Term No-Till Experiments and Future Perspectives (Chapter 2)
  • The Impact of ‘T’-shaped Furrow Opener of No-Tillage Seeder on Straw and Soil Based on Discrete Element Method
  • Characterization of Soil Pores in Strip-Tilled and Conventionally-Tilled Soil Using X-ray Computed Tomography
  • Critical Review of the Impact of Cover Crops on Soil Properties
  • Understanding Farmers’ Adoption of Conservation Tillage in South Dakota: A Modified Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior

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Travis Forstbauer Cover Crop Flooding

Cover Crops Held Soil in Place During Massive Western Canada Floods

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.


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The National No-Tillage Conference returns January 12-15, 2027! Build and refine your no-till system with dozens of new ideas and connections at the 35th Annual National No-Tillage Conference in Indianapolis, Jan. 12-15, 2027. Experience an energizing 4-day agenda featuring inspiring general session speakers, expert-led No-Till Classrooms and collaborative No-Till Roundtables. Plus, Certified Crop Adviser credits will be offered.

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