More and more farmers are utilizing no-till conservation methods when planting their crops. Mark Kessenich who farms in Sioux and Plymouth counties in northwest Iowa has been using the technology for years. He says this year, due to the lack of rain and snow and the strong winds, soil conditions were often extremely dry. He believes by leaving the soil undisturbed, he was able to retain what little moisture there was.
Kessenich is done with his corn planting and was planting soybeans during the weekend. He says because of the lack of moisture, he decided to go deeper with his planted seed. Kessenich is using a new planter this year.
Like many farmers, Kessenich uses Global Positioning Systems or GPS technology when planting and harvesting his crops. A monitor inside his tractor cab shows him many aspects of the field, such as where he may need to plant heavier in lighter soils, plus the need for additional fertilizer. With the assistance of auto-steer equipped on his tractor, Kessenich admits to watching his monitor more than looking over the field. He says the GPS technology has been beneficial to his farming operation.
Kessenich says since commercial fertilizer prices have skyrocketed, he has incorporated more livestock manure as part of his fertilizer needs. He says on his ground he has been able to yield around 240 bushels of corn and 70 bushels per acre with soybeans.
