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Beyond the Rows is a Monsanto Company blog focused on one of the world’s most important industries, agriculture. Monsanto employees write about Monsanto’s business, the agriculture industry, and the farmer.avatar Monsantoco Posts

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Tag Archives: No-till

The Future of Food

As a Brit living in the United States, I have immensely enjoyed all the attention my former stomping grounds have been receiving lately due to the Royal Wedding. Watching my future king walk down the aisle, and having my American friends and family celebrate with me, was incredible and exciting.

So when His Royal Highness (HRH) the Duke of Cambridge’s father, otherwise known as HRH The Prince of Wales or Prince Charles and my immediate future king, visited the U.S recently to speak on food and agriculture at the Future of Food conference in Washington D.C., I paid attention.… Full Article »

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Originally published
May 31, 2011 by Mark Sutherland

Purdue Study Finds Benefit to No-Till Farming

Researchers at Purdue University reported last month the results of a study on no-till farming and crop rotation – that using these practices in farm fields can significantly reduce field emissions of nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas.

Specifically, no-till farming – leaving crop residue on the soil and not using a tractor to turn it up – reduce nitrous oxide emissions by more than 57 percent over chisel plowing, the most common tillage practice.

Long known for benefits to water quality and soil conservation, the study suggests that there is a significant air quality benefit as well, according to Tony … Full Article »

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Originally published
January 10, 2011 by Glynn Young

Roundup-Resistant "Superweeds" In the News


There was a story today in the New York Times (“Farmers Cope with Roundup-Resistant Weeds”) about glyphosate-resistant weeds, or as the headline states – Roundup-resistant weeds. (Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Roundup. Its success has made the two interchangeable similar to the case of facial tissue and the brand name Kleenex).

This is the second story in recent weeks about “superweeds,” as the mainstream media has sensationally dubbed the weed resistance issue.

Overall the NYT story talks about the positive contributions of biotechnology on weed control—increase in no-till, the switch from alternative herbicides to Roundup, reduced … Full Article »

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Originally published
May 4, 2010 by Mica Veihman

Flooded Field

Farmers Manage Risks during Flooding

Every nine out of 10 years, Iowa farmer Dave Sieck expects the Missouri River to stay in its banks near his farmland in Glenwood, Iowa, about 15 miles south of Council Bluffs. But lately, it’s been a rough run. This is the third year in a run some Sieck and Midwest farmers are facing the threat of flooding.

“It’s a never-ending battle, especially on the bigger rivers,” he said. “We plan on losing a crop once or twice every 10 years.”

Heavy snow totals in the fall and winter and a quick rise in temperatures this spring are leading … Full Article »

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Originally published
March 22, 2010 by Nick Weber

Roundup Ready technology contains in-plant tolerance to Roundup® agricultural herbicides, allowing growers to spray Roundup agricultural herbicides to kill the weeds without harming the crop.

Many factors lead to better weed control for farmers

If there’s one thing I’ve learned by talking with farmers, it’s that they have a great sense and appreciation of their farm’s history. And as a result, they have an even greater sense of how the present state of farming is better than it used to be.

Marvin Borg and Jeffrey Larson are two examples of that. Mention “weeds” and they both have stories that would make suburbanites happy that all they have to tend to is Saturday yard work.

“When I was young growing up on the farm, prior to herbicides, we used to walk the fields and pull … Full Article »

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Originally published
March 3, 2010 by Nick Weber

Farmers: Environmentalists That Are Making a Difference

I spend time each day looking through online farm publications. I have a list that I follow, ranging from news aggregators to the web versions of farm magazines, and I’m usually looking for so-called “hard news.”

Recently, I was looking at Indiana Prairie Farmer, and I almost passed this headline by: Five Farm Families Receive Conservation Awards. But I clicked on the link, and found a story about five farm families being honored by the Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts. The names were listed, and then I wondered, were any of them our customers? And if … Full Article »

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Originally published
February 11, 2010 by Glynn Young