With a lifetime of experience on the farm, Rod Pierce has seen many changes in agriculture over the years. Getting his start in 1973, he has expanded his rural Boone County operation to grow more than 1,600 acres of corn and soybeans. Early in his career, Rod, along with many farmers, used moldboard plows to prepare their soil for planting. Over his many years of farming, he has discovered alternatives to the plow that result in less soil movement and improved soil health. In addition to no-till on some of his acres, Rod also utilizes vertical tillage to redistribute residue and reduce soil disturbance. One of Rod’s recent improvements to his operation was an in-row fertilizer unit on his planter. His hope is to apply nutrients directly where they’re needed to reduce losses.
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