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Producers serious about long-term
productivity and "leaving the land
better than they found it" will want to
consider conservation tillage. The economic
and environmental benefits of
farming with 30 percent or more crop
residue after planting (the definition of
conservation tillage) are simply too
numerous to ignore. That's why growing
numbers of U.S. farmers continue to adopt
systems like no-till, mulch-till, and strip-till.
Why this booklet?
This booklet is a tool to assist producers
who are interested in starting and maintaining
a successful high-residue crop
production system. Veteran conservation
tillage farmers may also pick up a few tips
or appreciate this booklet as a quick,
easy-to-read review.
Conservation tillage has come a long
way from the 1930s, when it was introduced
by way of a few stubble mulch
research plots in Nebraska. Despite
substantial increases in its use, millions of
acres of U.S. farmland and thousands of
producers could still benefit by choosing
and adopting a conservation tillage
system. You may be one of them.
Throughout this booklet you'll find
information that describes the basic
concepts and management techniques
involved. A list of available resources is
also included at the end.
At the very least, this booklet should
provide enough information to help you
ask questions specific to your farming
operation.
The psychological challenge
Anyone who has farmed for any length of
time is bound to feel more than a little
anxious about trying a new system.
That's natural.
Use that anxiety to your benefit by
seeking answers that address your concerns.
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Table 1.
Table shows average costs for pesticide and field
operations, by tillage system, over a 6-year period
(Farming for MAXimum Efficiency, MAX program).
Talk to your local cooperative
extension agent, Natural Resources
Conservation Service district conservationist
or a veteran conservation tillage farmer.
No matter who you contact, remember
that not all will have the level of expertise
you may seek. So keep looking.
Check to find out if there is a conservation
tillage club in your area. These
informal groups are a great way for
farmers to trade their experiences and help
identify what works and what doesn't.
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...And about that
herbicide mix:
The herbicide most often
used in the no-till mix that
is not used in intensive
tillage systems is a
burndown herbicide.
It is environmentally
friendly because it is only
active in the weed and is
neutralized upon contact
with the soil.
The burndown is most
often used to kill weeds
prior to planting instead
of tillage.
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Anxiety and herbicides
Commonly, farmers new to conservation
tillage are "anxious" about an assumed
increase in the use of pesticides. While it's
true that such systems often rely on a
different mix of herbicides (burndown
herbicides are often required) and less on
tillage to kill weeds, that doesn't necessarily
mean they rely on more or larger
amounts of herbicide than conventional or
intensive tillage systems.
Many successful conservation tillers
have shown that once their system becomes
established (usually in 3 to 5 years)
herbicide costs generally decrease and
become competitive with conventional
tillage. Even during the transition period,
producers usually more than offset additional
pesticide expenses by substantial
savings from fewer field operations (see
Table 1).
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