From a curiosity to a system that is now
the conventional farming method in
some areas of the U.S., conservation tillage
has come a long way. Every phase of its
growth has been marked by excitement
and by innovation that promises to reach
new heights with the advent of precision
farming.
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Will your children or grandchildren be able to
make a living on that land? |
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Why the excitement? With conservation
tillage, it's as basic as being able to
make a living from farming while caring
for the environment. It's the idea that, as a
producer, you're not alone but part of a
bigger team. Your team realizes the more
economic and environmental information
we share as individuals, companies,
organizations, universities, agencies, and
media the more society and our shared
planet benefit.
Your team is also acutely aware that
what works for one farmer may not work
for the neighbor. That's why conservation
tillage is not one system but many systems
adapted to make high-residue farming
provide as many of the economic and
environmental benefits as it can on a
particular site. More than anything, this
booklet is designed to convey those
benefits as viable goals and outline some
management techniques you may be able
to adapt to achieve them.
Real choice
In a very real way, conservation tillage
offers you, the producer, a choice that
grandpa never had. There was a time (and
most of us remember it) when there was
no choice. In order to grow a crop and
feed the world you had to till or plow that
field, and soil erosion would have to take
its toll.
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Today you can choose a system that will
allow you to grow crops while ensuring
the future of your production and soil
resource base. You not only improve the
environment on your farm, but you make a
personal contribution to soil and water
quality that allows everyone who lives
around you to enjoy the benefits of a
healthier watershed.
The future
It's estimated that the world's population
will nearly double (from 5.7 billion to more
than 10 billion) in the next 54 years, so
increased yields will be ever more critical.
Technology can make it happen, but only if
the soil resource has been sustained.
As more farmers take advantage of
precision farming tools like yield monitors,
variations in soils can be targeted and
addressed. Conservation tillage, coupled
with a precise and systematic process for
improving soil, will help ensure the farm
fields of today realize the production
levels required tomorrow.
The adoption of conservation tillage
systems in other countries is rapidly
increasing and competition in the crop
production arena will continue to intensify.
Will your farm be able to compete for a
piece of the global marketplace? Will your
children or grandchildren be able to make
a living on that land?
Your commitment to consider conservation
tillage and improve your soil resource
base can set the wheels in motion. We
hope this booklet equips you with the
basics to get a start and exercise the
choices that only you can make.
Here's to you and the future generations
that could benefit from your decisions.
Dan McCain and Dan Towery
Conservation Technology Information Center
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