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CTIC News Release

EXPECT NO-TILL SOYBEAN ACRES TO ALMOST DOUBLE BY 2002.

West Lafayette, IN— Soybeans planted in no-till conditions accounted for 32 percent of soybean acres in 1998, up from 29 percent in 1997. According to the 17^th National Crop Residue Management Survey report, increases in conservation tillage soybeans, wheat and cotton offset a decline in corn planted into conservation tillage conditions.

"To achieve agriculture’s national goal of 50 percent of cropland planted in conservation tillage conditions, we expect no-till to be used on approximately 60 percent of soybean acres by 2002. No-till accounted for 58% of the soybeans planted in Ohio and 55% of those planted in Indiana this year. It is expected that other Midwest states will follow this trend. We expect economics to drive the momentum behind the switch to no-till soybeans," reports," reports Dan Towery, Natural Resources Specialist, Conservation Technology Information Center.

"Soybeans are well-suited to no-till in almost every region of the country. They are very forgiving to a wide variety of weather conditions, planting dates, and soils. The bean seed germinates and emerges well even in tough spring conditions.," explains Towery.

"While drilled or narrow row beans shade out weeds to provide the best results, 30 inch rows also provide many of the benefits associated with no-till. The reduced labor and equipment costs together with the increased organic matter are difficult to beat."

No-till is one of three categories of conservation tillage. Other categories include ridge-till and mulch till planting conditions. Conservation tillage is defined as having more than 30 percent residue remaining after planting.

The 1998 survey collected data about tillage practices and crops planted on the more than 293 million acres of cropland in the United States. The survey is coordinated, compiled and reported by the Conservation Technology Information Center, a non-profit, national public-private partnership.