No-till - Articles

Christian County farmers John and Alexander Young stand in front of the historical marker where Harry Young planted his first commercial crop of no-till corn

Kentucky Takes Center Stage on No-Till’s 60th Anniversary

October 21, 2021

In 2022, farmers across the United States will come to Louisville, Ky., to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Christian County farmer Harry Young’s first commercial no-till planting during the National No-Tillage Conference.

[Podcast] Covers Combined with No-Till are Effective at Carbon Sequestration

This week’s podcast, sponsored by GS3 Quality Seed, features Jay Norton, Professor and Extension Specialist in Ecosystem Science and Management, University of Wyoming. Norton will discuss what soil management practices remove carbon from the atmosphere to permanently store it as soil organic carbon, why soil organic carbon is critical for agriculture, how plants fix carbon in their roots and more.

September 14, 2021 | Posted in Economics

This week’s podcast, sponsored by GS3 Quality Seed, features Jay Norton, Professor and Extension Specialist in Ecosystem Science and Management, University of Wyoming. Norton will discuss what soil management practices remove carbon from the atmosphere to permanently store it as soil organic carbon, why soil organic carbon is critical for agriculture, how plants fix carbon in their roots and more.

[Video] Planting High-Carbon Cover Crops

September 1, 2021 | Posted in Soil Health

Dan Forgey, Cronin Farms, Gettysburg, SD, discusses why high- carbon cover crops create soil armor and increase soil structure.

Minnesota Grower Turns to Covers to Battle Erosion

July 26, 2021 | Posted in Seeding Practices

Source: Winona Post

The emergence of no-till and cover crop farming practices on farms like Sheldon Luehmann’s near Altura might mean that farmers might soon be able to turn their plowshares into something else entirely. Although young, Luehmann already is confident enough to begin experimenting with unconventional techniques. Read more in this article from the Winona Post (Winona, Minnesota).

Cover Crop Standpoint

‘Getting Paid’ to Help Offset Climate Change

The carbon market system is a Wild West right now, says no-tiller Trey Hill. But carbon-smart farming and balancing carbon-to-nitrogen ratios in your fields starts with cover crops.

By Trey Hill posted on July 26, 2021 | Posted in Soil Health

I think folks who are into the cover crop movement and no-till are really starting to think about sustainability a little differently.

Buffering the Soil with Long-Term Covers

Jeff Olson is protecting the soil and improving water infiltration with a mixed bag of application methods and plenty of patience.

By Libby Wawzenek posted on July 23, 2021 | Posted in Soil Health

Jeff Olson isn’t afraid to step outside his comfort zone. A 5th-generation corn and soybean farmer in Winfield, Iowa, Olson attributes part of his willingness to take risks and try new things to his years of experience.

Healthier Soils Promoted by Carbon Markets

July 12, 2021 | Posted in Soil Health

Source: Ohio's Country Journal

Farmers are decreasing their tillage intensity and are now considering ways to capture soil carbon for payment which may require they move to towards regenerative practices like no-till and cover crops. Tillage breaks up soil aggregates and loses carbon dioxide to the atmosphere within 5-10 minutes; while long-term no-till with cover crops starts the slow process of recovering lost carbon. Read more in this article from Ohio's Country Journal.

[Video] Farmers Share Why They Grow Covers

July 7, 2021 | Posted in Soil Health

In this video from Iowa Learning Farms, hear from growers about why they have chosen to use cover crops. Covers can be used in conjunction with no-till to combat soil erosion, reverse soil degradation, and more.

Solution for Soil Erosion

June 25, 2021 | Posted in Soil Health

Source: Lancaster Farming

The images coming out of the Upper Midwest and High Plains region of the U.S. this spring are reminiscent of the Dust Bowl of the 1930s. Relentless wind coupled with dry conditions have led to severe soil erosion, and the situation was made worse in areas lacking cover crops. Read more in this article from Lancaster Farming.

Producer Survey Shows Using No-Till 5+ Years Yields Higher Profits

June 14, 2021 | Posted in Economics

Source: Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan

A survey of producers in central and eastern South Dakota showed a majority of those who have used no-tillage and reduced tillage practices for five years or more have seen increases in profitability through decreased production costs and increases in cash crop yields. Read more in this article from the Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan.