No-Till Farmer Podcast

Lessiter Media president and CEO Mike Lessiter caught up recently with Cambridge, Ill., no-tiller and Ag Solutions Network co-founder Monte Bottens, who shares why the USDA’s announced $700 million commitment to regenerative ag is a big deal for the no-till and soil health movement. Bottens also explains why he’s excited for the upcoming National No-Tillage Conference and the new "Ted-style” talks he’s participating in, as well as cutting-edge technology for killing weeds and planting non-GMO seeds.

In this No-Till Farmer Podcast, brought to you by Yetter Farm Equipment, Senior Editor John Dobberstein shares some of the exciting educational sessions and networking opportunities growers will have at their fingertips at the 2026 National No-Till Conference, Jan. 6-9, in St. Louis.

As time has marched on, the future of Conservation Agriculture rests with the tribal knowledge of those who’ve made the transition work – and who is willing to share it.

On this episode of Conservation Ag Update, brought to you by Bio-Till Cover Crops, Cambridge, Ill., no-tiller Monte Bottens explains why the USDA’s recently announced $700 million commitment to regenerative ag is a big deal for the no-till and soil health movement.

On this episode of Conservation Ag Update, brought to you by Bio Till Cover Crops, Austin, Minn., no-tiller and Leopold Conservation Award recipient Tom Cotter shares the building blocks of his no-till system. Hickory, N.C., no-tiller Russell Hedrick reveals results from his on-farm biologicals trials and also details the program he uses to test new products.

On this episode of Conservation Ag Update, brought to you by Bio Till Cover Crops, we head inside Jimmy and Andy Gray’s Leopold Conservation Award-winning operation in Stony Point, N.C. Jon Stevens takes us along for the ride as he harvests a no-tilled corn-on-corn field in the challenging soils of Rock Creek, Minn.

On this episode of the No-Till Farmer podcast, brought to you by Yetter Farm Equipment, technology editor Noah Newman sits down with young farmers James Hepp and Joel Reddick for a discussion about their strip-till and no-till systems, and the challenges they face as young farmers.

On this episode of Conservation Ag Update, brought to you by Bio Till Cover Crops, No-Till Innovator Marion Calmer checks in from Alpha, Ill., with 7 tips for a better harvest. Plus, we pay a visit to Tony Peirick’s farm in Watertown, Wis., for a conversation about planting green and whether you need to overhaul your equipment to make the practice work.

Soybean yields can be stubbornly stagnant for some farmers, but Bryan Severs has found a way to break through the yield barrier. The Potomac, Ill., grower, who no-tills non-GMO soybeans and strip-tills corn across 5,000 acres, shares his program for raising high-yielding soybeans as his farm shoots for 75 bushels an acre in every field, every year.

Halloween Sales to Suburbanites Worth Making by No-Till Farmer

In today’s episode of the podcast, brought to you by Yetter Farm Equipment, editor John Dobberstein spoke with Ray Weil, an internationally renowned soil scientist at the University of Maryland and former speaker at the National No-Tillage Conference.

On this episode of Conservation Ag Update, brought to you by Bio Till Cover Crops, Univ. of Illinois analysts dive into new data from the Precision Conservation Management program, comparing the economic differences between no-till, strip-till and other tillage systems.

On this episode of Conservation Ag Update, brought to you by Bio Till Cover Crops, West Union, Iowa, No-Till Innovator Loran Steinlage shares what he’s learned from farmers in Ukraine. 2025 Conservation Ag Operator Fellow Michael Thompson checks in from his farm in Almena, Kan., with a look at his planter setup and unique approach to starter fertilizer applications.

In this podcast, brought to you by Yetter Farm Equipment, we’ll finish up the road trip with a visit to New Park, Pennsylvania grower Paul McPherson at Maple Lawn Farms.

On this episode of Conservation Ag Update, brought to you by Yetter Farm Equipment, we head inside the Watershed Protection Committee of Racine County’s annual field day in Rochester, Wis., for a look at the latest takeaways from their no-till vs. conventional research plots. A ‘slake test’ reveals eye-opening differences between no-till and conventional soils, and independent research agronomist Jim Stute shares his big economic takeaway from the test plots.

In today’s episode, come along on the road with me as I travel across parts of Maryland and Pennsylvania to visit 3 different farmers who are working with cover crops and no-till in unique ways. Our first stop in part 1 of this journey took us to Jim Hershey’s farm in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. Last week, we met Cecil County, Maryland farmer Bryan Racine, who is relatively new to the no-till and cover crop movement, but is learning and innovating at a rapid pace. Let’s pick up where we left off with Bryan and head out into the field to see what he has been working on this year.

On this episode of Conservation Ag Update, brought to you by Yetter Farm Equipment, we go inside the 2025 Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Ill. Our first stop takes us to the Syngenta tent, where a roots demonstration showcases the impact of a brand-new solution for nematode defense. Technology editor Noah Newman catches up with Warrensburg, Ill., no-tiller Dave Brown for an update on the 2025 growing season and some of his top takeaways from the show.

In this podcast, brought to you by Yetter Farm Equipment,let’s hop in the car and head to Cecil County, Maryland to visit Bryan Racine, who is relatively new to the no-till and cover crop movement, but is learning and innovating at a rapid pace.

On this episode of Conservation Ag Update, brought to you by Yetter Farm Equipment, Mike Starkey shares something new he’s trying on his Brownsburg, Ind., farm to slash inputs. In southeastern Wisconsin, no-tiller Ross Bishop explains how farmers are dealing with historic rainfall, including a “1,000 year” flooding event.

In today’s episode of the podcast, brought to you by Yetter Farm Equipment, come along on the road with Cover Crop Strategies Associate Editor, Mackane Vogel, as he travels to parts of Maryland and Pennsylvania to visit 3 different farmers who are working with cover crops in unique ways.

On this episode of Conservation Ag Update, brought to you by Yetter Farm Equipment, we head inside the Pennsylvania No-Till Alliance's 20th anniversary field day in Elizabethown, Pa. Lisa Blazure of the Stroud Water Research Center and Sjoerd Duiker, Penn State no-till and cover crop researcher, dig deep into a soil pit to show the true impact and value of living roots and nightcrawlers.

On this episode of the No-Till Farmer Podcast, come along on the road with No-Till Farmer Associate Editor Mackane Vogel as he travels across parts of Maryland and Pennsylvania to visit 3 different farmers who are working with cover crops in unique ways.

On this episode of Conservation Ag Update, brought to you by Yetter Farm Equipment, Ohio State Univ. retired ag engineer and No-Till Innovator Randall Reeder discusses the true cost of erosion, and why no-till and cover crops would help cut down on dust storms.

In this No-Till Famer podcast, brought to you by Yetter Farm Equipment, Tidal Grow AgriScience’s President and Chief Commercial Officer, Norm Davy, discusses the purpose behind this new alliance and what farmers could expect to see as formulators get on board.

On this episode of Conservation Ag Update, brought to you by Yetter Farm Equipment, Alpha, Ill., No-Till Innovator Marion Calmer discusses his top goals when it comes to managing heavy residue at harvest time.

In this No-Till Farmer Podcast, brought to you by NewFields Ag, the No-Till Innovator unpacks the eye-opening results and explains how drainage over time dramatically impacts no-till yields, cover crop growth, water quality and more.

On this episode of Conservation Ag Update, brought to you by Yetter, Michael Thompson, No-Till Farmer’s 2025 Conservation Ag Operator Fellow, shares how he’s alleviating compaction with an AerWay unit in Almena, Kan. Plus, no-tillers exchange ideas and strategies for fighting slugs in soybean fields.

No-Till Innovator and 2-time NNTC Presenter of the Year Rick Clark saves an estimated $2 million on inputs per year on his Williamsport, Ind., farm through adoption of regenerative farming practices.

On this episode of Conservation Ag Update, brought to you by Yetter Farm Equipment, the team pays a visit to No-Till Innovator Jim Leverich for a look at some of his new equipment in Sparta, Wis. In the Cover Crop Connection, associate editor Mackane Vogel gets an up-close look at No-Till Innovator Jim Hershey’s new cover crop plot in Elizabethown, Pa.

In this episode of the No-Till Farmer podcast, brought to you by NewFields Ag, we’ll hear a panel discussion about the state of soil conservation from the most recent Conservation in Action Tour in Sioux Falls, S.D. hosted by the Conservation Technology Information Center.

On this episode of Conservation Ag Update, brought to you by Yetter, we’re headed inside CTIC’s Conservation in Action Tour in Sioux Falls, S.D., where a pair of conservation ag legends were inducted into the CTIC Hall of Fame. Dwayne Beck, Dakota Lakes Farm Research Manager, and Jay Brandt, son of the late no-till legend David Brandt, explain how they’re continuing to blaze the trail for conservation ag.

A “green and growing crop” is often perceived as a visual validation of a healthy no-till system. But subsurface investigation is wise to truly understand the biological stability of your soils for long-term success, says Brad Forkner. In the latest edition of the No-Till Farmer podcast, brought to you by NewFields Ag, the seasoned agronomist will explain how to decipher soil biology and soil moisture profiles and utilize the information to determine when to quit on a crop or when to pump it up with biologicals, plant growth regulators, nitrogen and much more.

On this episode of Conservation Ag Update, brought to you by Yetter Farm Equipment, Arion, Iowa, no-tiller Kelly Garrett discusses the importance of balancing the soil during planting seasons. Plus, Kyle Hawkins explains how changing his planting date allowed the Bogard, Mo. no-tiller to win the Golden Harvest “Go for the Gold Challenge” with a 103-bushel soybean yield.

In the latest edition of the No-Till Farmer podcast, brought to you by NewFields Ag, Associate Editor Mackane Vogel talks with John Cussans, a weed biology and weed management specialist with the ADAS — provider of agricultural and environmental consultancy, policy advice, and research and development — based in the U.K. Cussans addresses multiple confirmed cases of glyphosate resistance in the U.K. and how these cases differ and relate to confirmed cases of glyphosate resistance in the U.S., as well as what role cover crops might play in cases of glyphosate resistance.

On this episode of Conservation Ag Update, brought to you by Yetter Farm Equipment, longtime no-tiller Ross Bishop shares some of the keys to achieving even corn emergence with no-till. Plus, Chuck Gruenberger from John Deere dealer Riesterer & Schnell explains why fields without cover crops are like rebellious teenagers!

In the latest edition of the No-Till Farmer Podcast, brought to you by NewFieldsAg, Jill Clapperton, a world-renowned soil biologist and rhizosphere ecologist, helps farmers better understand what lives — and must thrive — below the soil surface to regenerate and maintain healthy soil structure. The No-Till Innovator, No-Till Living Legend and 2-time National No-Tillage Conference Presenter of the Year breaks down the characteristics of healthy soil and goes over the crucial steps to creating and sustaining productive soils for improved no-till operations.

On this episode of Conservation Ag Update, brought to you by Yetter Farm Equipment, No-Till Innovator Rick Clark gives a presentation at the Regenerative Agriculture Summit in Chicago, Ill., explaining how cover crops are saving him hundreds of dollars on inputs per acre.

In this episode of the No-Till Farmer podcast, brought to you by Yetter Farm Equipment, Elizabeth Burns-Thompson, executive director of the Modern Ag Alliance (founded by Bayer), details the organization’s work to protect the availability of crop protection tools such as glyphosate. She also highlights state and federal legislation that has been introduced that could limit or end the litany of legal claims, and she predicts what effects a ban on glyphosate would have on farmers and conservation efforts.

On this episode of Conservation Ag Update, brought to you by Sound Agriculture, planter expert Clay Scott gives no-tillers 5 action items to tackle before taking the field this spring. The Precision Planting field support specialist also explains why he tells farmers to plant no more than 10 acres on the first day of planting season.

At the Colorado Convention Center, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins speaks with No-Till Farmer and all the ag media at the Commodity Classic about cost-cutting and refocusing happening at the USDA to better serve farmers, the U.S. ag trade deficit, the future of conservation programs and more.

On this episode of Conservation Ag Update, brought to you by Sound Agriculture, we head inside Commodity Classic 2025. USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins promises a standing-room-only crowd rapid action and support from her agency to help get the industry on its feet this year.

The number of incentive programs hitting the market to reward sustainable agricultural practices is increasing – but figuring out the how’s and the why’s of all the programs can be a daunting task. Federal incentives to lower greenhouse gas emissions could result in a windfall for no-tillers raising low-carbon corn.

On this episode of Conservation Ag Update, brought to you by Sound Agriculture, we head inside the first-ever Conversations about Conservation workshop for landowners at No-Till Innovator Mike Starkey’s farm in Brownsburg, Ind.

In this episode of the No-Till Farmer podcast, visionary farmer Michael Horsch explains how he and his family buck cultural norms on conservation practices to farm 55,000 acres in Germany and the Czech Republic.

On this episode of Conservation Ag Update, brought to you by Sound Agriculture, 4 Leopold Conservation Award recipients — Russell Hedrick, Richard Lyons, Colleen Kershaw and Wendy Mariko Johnson highlight some of the unique conservation practices on their farms.

On this episode of Conservation Ag Update, brought to you by Sound Agriculture, No-Till Innovators Allen Berry, Barry Fisher, Ray McCormick and Loran Steinlage share 4 tips for the upcoming growing season.

On this episode of Conservation Ag Update, brought to you by Sound Agriculture, young no-tillers James Hepp of Rockwell City, Iowa and Joel Reddick of Bardwell, Ky., share their opinions on what it will take for the next generation of farmers to carry the conservation torch.

In this podcast, brought to you by Yetter Farm Equipment, world renowned no-till expert and former Dakota Lakes Research Farm manager Dwayne Beck shares essential lessons learned from the early days of no-till. Description: In the second episode of this 2-part No-Till Farmer podcast, world renowned no-till expert and former Dakota Lakes Research Farm manager Dwayne Beck shares another round of essential lessons learned from the early days of no-till that can help growers turn their modern-day operation into one that is sustainable and profitable. Beck discusses the benefits of livestock integration, proper crop rotation and residue retention in regenerative no-till systems. He also covers the potential for perennial crops to further improve soil health.

In part 1 of this 2-part No-Till Farmer podcast, world renowned no-till expert and former Dakota Lakes Research Farm manager Dwayne Beck shares essential lessons learned from the early days of no-till that can help growers turn their modern-day operation into one that is sustainable and profitable. Beck focuses in this episode on the need to farm with nature instead of against it, including the need to keep residue in fields and promote ecological diversity on farms to improve resilience.

In this episode of the No-Till Farmer podcast, brought to you by Yetter Farm Equipment, we're joined by AgroLiquid CEO Nick Bancroft and Monty'd Plant Food Co. CEO Jeff Sangalli who share more insights about the integration of their two companies, new opportunities for joint technology advancement between the companies and how the companies will continue to be “farmer first” in their market approach going forward.