Frank Lessiter

Brookfield

Editor and Publisher, American Farriers Journal at Rural Lifestyle Dealer

Editor at Strip-Till Farmer

Chairman and Editorial Director at Precision Farming Dealer

Chairman and Editorial Director at No-Till Farmer

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Articles

What the Muddy 2025 Kentucky Derby, Toe Grabs & a Wedding Have in Common

1 week ago | americanfarriers.com | Frank Lessiter

The 2025 running of the Kentucky Derby that saw Sovereignty win on a muddy track brought up some thoughts on the use of toe grabs. Trained by Bill Mott and ridden by jockey Junior Alvarado, the shoeing was done by JT Bayes, a third-generation racetrack farrier who works with his dad Jim Bayes. About a week before the race, Bayes nailed Kerckhaert Tradition series shoes on all four feet, with the hind shoes having 2 mm toe grabs.
"In the Weeds" Glyphosate News Roundup: May 6, 2025

1 week ago | no-tillfarmer.com | Frank Lessiter

Farmers’ Favorite Weedkiller Nears Its End, Bayer WarnsBy Patrick Thomas, The Wall Street JournalPublished April 14, 2025Roundup’s time may be up. Pharmaceutical and agriculture conglomerate Bayer said it could stop producing the world’s most popular weedkiller, unless it gets court protection against lawsuits blaming the herbicide for causing cancer.
The Anatomy of One Company’s Vendetta vs. the International Hoof-Care Summit

2 weeks ago | americanfarriers.com | Frank Lessiter

In its 44 years of existence, our family-owned Lessiter Media company has always tried to take the high road when dealing with unpleasant, ugly or unfair matters. But when a situation goes too far, we aren’t afraid to defend ourselves, nor set the record straight (click here to read Frankly Speaking & Setting it Straight).
Planting Green Benefits Being Recognized

2 weeks ago | no-tillfarmer.com | Frank Lessiter

The many benefits of no-tillers planting green are starting to be recognized much more by folks as shown in two recent developments that promoted the concept through unique corn and soybean yield contests. Planting Green SoybeansTom Novak of Highland, Wis., topped the new planting green soybean category in the state’s 2024 yield contest. His contest plot averaged 85.22 bushels per acre, seeded at a rate of 140,000 seeds per acre on April 24 in 7½-inch rows with a John Deere 1590 drill.
CTIC’s 'Conservation in Action Tour’ a Worthwhile Investment in Knowledge Capital

1 month ago | precisionfarmingdealer.com | Mike Lessiter |Frank Lessiter

While my dad, Frank Lessiter (No-Till Farmer founding editor) -- who was part of the Conservation Technology Information Center’s (CTIC) founding meeting 43 years ago -- has attended numerous “Conservation in Action Tour” in his career, I attended my first a few years ago. And I quickly realized that our company, and our new nonprofit group, the Conservation Ag Foundation, ought to be supporting the organization.
Good or Bad Time to Start No-Tilling?

2 months ago | no-tillfarmer.com | Frank Lessiter

For growers still using intensive tillage and facing less income and more costs, the question is when the best time is to shift to no-till. A major worry is the fear of a yield drag and its impact on income. While many growers have not experienced a yield drag when shifting to no-till, others find it takes a few years before yields and profits are comparable with former tillage practices.
The Strip-Till Farmer Origin Story

Feb 1, 2025 | striptillfarmer.com | Frank Lessiter

Editor's note: the following is an excerpt from "From Maverick to Mainstream: A History of No-Till Farming." I don't recall when we wrote our first No-Till Farmer article on strip-tilling, but it was soon after Cliff Roberts first used this no-till spin-off on his Kentland, Ind., farm in 1987.
A Trip Down Strip-Till Memory Lane: Pioneers, Breakthroughs & More

Jan 29, 2025 | striptillfarmer.com | Frank Lessiter

Editor's note: This article is an excerpt from Frank Lessiter's book, "From Maverick to Mainstream: A History of No-Till Farming." While growers were moving toward no-tilled soybeans in a big way during the 1990s, no-tilled corn acres remained somewhat flat. Many farmers feared problems when they tried to no-till corn into cold, wet ground covered with residue. As a result, strip-till, which is a modified form of zone tillage, soon emerged as a compromise.
Long-Term No-Tillers Deserve a Fair Shake

Jan 21, 2025 | no-tillfarmer.com | Frank Lessiter

Whether it’s due to government policies or carbon credit incentives, veteran no-tillers are getting the short end of the stick. With most carbon credit companies refusing to accept veteran no-tillers in their programs, you can see why I think the current rules are unfair.
Yes, He's a Regenerative Agriculture Skeptic

Jan 16, 2025 | no-tillfarmer.com | Frank Lessiter

Reading one of the items in a recent issue of the Upstream Ag Insights newsletter produced by Shane Thomas, I was intrigued by what he had to say about regenerative agriculture. As a result, I felt his viewpoints were worth sharing with you. I especially liked his concept that regenerative agriculture is more of a mentality than a process. Thomas says he is asked all the time about regenerative agriculture Is it good. Is it bad? Is it valid?