Welcome! Please use the navigational links to explore our website.
PartsASAP LogoCompany Logo Auction Link (800) 853-2651

Shop Now

   Allis Chalmers Case Farmall IH Ford 8N,9N,2N Ford
   Ferguson John Deere Massey Ferguson Minn. Moline Oliver

Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

Need Your Opinion on No-Till

Welcome Guest, Log in or Register
Author 
Allan in NE

10-06-2004 10:10:40




Report to Moderator

Mornin' Guys,

Don't you think that No-Till farming is just about as low and a man can sink and still call himself an actual bone fide farmer?

I mean, why don't we just phone in the work, crawl in the tub with the wife, the bubble-bath and the wine?

Your thoughts?

Allan




[Log in to Reply]   [No Email]
Paul in Mich

10-07-2004 06:20:12




Report to Moderator
 Re: Need Your Opinion on No-Till in reply to Allan in NE, 10-06-2004 10:10:40  
Allan, We began No-tilling nearly 20 yrs ago. We did it primarily because we farm over 3500 acres with 1400 being MBS international airport property, of which 700 acres are inside the fence along the perimiter and along runways. MBS requires low growing crops and won"t allow tilling due to birds and seaguls. At first it was a disaster because the equipment hadn"t caught up with the theory of No-till. As planter technology improved, results also improved. wheat planting isn"t so critical, because it is planted in the fall, but beans and corn require warm ground. The first no-till systems did not properly disturb the ground thus warming it to the extent that seed would germinate properly. Culter depth and distance was found to be a critical factor. Now we are able to get on ground in the spring that we wouldn"t if we had to wait for ground to dry enough to spring plow or plowed ground to dry enough to till down. We are able to control weeds better, and while we farm everything from heavy to light ground, No-tilled ground we find holds moisture during the hot summer months when we in Michigan get very little rain fall. Obviously we make fewer trips across the field which saves fuel, and it required fewer tractors and less overall equipment, although no-till planters are much more expensive than conventional. Our yields are very much in line with those farms around us who till their ground, in fact on some of the marginal ground we are exceeding the yields of tilled marginal ground. Having said all this, my favorite job was always plowing and fitting ground. It was never boring, and I loved the smell of the fresh earth. That aspect is gone except for occasional disking of wheat stubble and evening the ground we cut up due to getting stuck or rutting in muddy conditions during harvest. We also quit growing sugar beets because they are not a no till crop, although some farmers do limited no till whereas they till only after the beet crop which rotates everyb 3 or 4 years. If I were farming 100 or 200 acres I wouldn"t do no till, but then I would be farming as a hobby and not expecting a living off 100 acres unless I was growing wacky weed or mushrooms.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Leland

10-06-2004 20:45:18




Report to Moderator
 Re: Need Your Opinion on No-Till in reply to Allan in NE, 10-06-2004 10:10:40  
Where I lived no till was hot then in the last 5 years it just died execpt some beans. yeilds dropped and soil was to tite and compacted.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Bill(Wis)

10-06-2004 16:57:24




Report to Moderator
 Re: Need Your Opinion on No-Till in reply to Allan in NE, 10-06-2004 10:10:40  
I no-tilled once. NE Wis. 40 acres. Heavy ground. Heavy stand of quack grass left by neighbor. I was afraid to till in all of the quack seeds and it also spreads wildly from it's own roots if you tear them apart. I applied roundup in mid-May when temps were warming, waited to make sure I was getting a good kill (I was), and then no-tilled in soybeans with a Great Plains no-till drill. 15" rows. Applied roundup again in late June. 40+ bpa harvested in Oct after it had snowed once. I thought that was pretty good considering the condition of the soil, etc. Under the same circumstances, I would do it again.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
jddriver

10-06-2004 13:48:32




Report to Moderator
 Re: Need Your Opinion on No-Till in reply to Allan in NE, 10-06-2004 10:10:40  
Allen here in nw mo.I amon the 15th year of no till.I have a good vertical root system down to about 34"with very little competition from nieghborring plants and my yeilds have gone progresivly upand erosion down.No till is not for the faint of heart as it is $$$$$$$$$ on planters.The biggest plus I see is moisture savings and saving dirt lnormally lost to wind and rain erosion.The chemical $$$$$$4 has gone up huge but NET income has gone up more.Always enjoy reading your post Steve

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
rustyfarmall

10-06-2004 13:06:31




Report to Moderator
 Re: Need Your Opinion on No-Till in reply to Allan in NE, 10-06-2004 10:10:40  
There's one thing that everybody missed. Where in the h**k are we gonna have our plow days if everybody goes to no-till?



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Allan in NE

10-06-2004 13:17:27




Report to Moderator
 Re: Need Your Opinion on No-Till in reply to rustyfarmall, 10-06-2004 13:06:31  
Over at NE Cowmans's place, 'course. :>)

Allan



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
rustyfarmall

10-06-2004 13:34:55




Report to Moderator
 Re: Need Your Opinion on No-Till in reply to Allan in NE, 10-06-2004 13:17:27  
Ya, but that's a long ways to drive a wore out old M.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Allan in NE

10-06-2004 14:47:24




Report to Moderator
 Re: Need Your Opinion on No-Till in reply to rustyfarmall, 10-06-2004 13:34:55  
Hmmmm, good point,

He probably wouldn't let me on his place anyhooo, 'cause I'm a elitist 'spinner plow snob'. :>)

Later



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
JMS/MN

10-06-2004 12:51:05




Report to Moderator
 Re: Need Your Opinion on No-Till in reply to Allan in NE, 10-06-2004 10:10:40  
I figure that there is a place for every tillage system. I figure that there is no one system in these supposedly United states, much less the world. Like where paul lives, here, no-till was tried and abandoned, because of cold spring soil issues. Some go with ridge till (successfully), while some still plow, while most of us use a disc chisel. It is a good comprimise- on corn ground we chop stalks, then d/c. Some still like to turn under the bulk of the residue with a plow, and have fewer problems with trash (ok- pc term is residue, but it still clogs a field cultivator). A lot of it is due to finances. Many farms could use one or more systems, but can't afford the multiplicity of equipment. And the govt guy who KNOWS what is 'right' should put the checkbook on the line, buy a farm, and do what he wants, like the rest of us did.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
paul

10-06-2004 12:16:13




Report to Moderator
 Re: Need Your Opinion on No-Till in reply to Allan in NE, 10-06-2004 10:10:40  
Wish I could do it, but soil too cold, too wet, too heavy to short a growing season here in my part of southern MN.

I'd have to wait until late June to plant if I did notill.....

--->Paul



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Joe Evans

10-06-2004 10:51:49




Report to Moderator
 Re: Need Your Opinion on No-Till in reply to Allan in NE, 10-06-2004 10:10:40  
My brother works for the local Soil Conservation Service. Up until last year or so they were promoting rotational--mixing no-till with moldboarding with moldboarding occurring every fourth year (I think).

Now they are totally off the moldboard gig. I wish I could recall the reasons specifically, but he mentioned some things about earthworm tunnel preservation and microbial action in the upper few inches of the soil.

I am of the opinion that you need to moldboard to some extent. If you do it every 4th or 5th year, that's a 75% to 80% reduction in moldboarding when it was done every year. That's not too shabby--quite a reduction.

I really think the main rub with the new soil politics is that moldboarding every now and again is OK, but it needs to be done properly with respect to preserving field waterways and run-off integrity. Seems Bro' has a 'thing' for this--he is always noting improper tillage and resultant erosion when we travel around together.

Hopefully he'll see this thread and give us some of that edukashun he got.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Allan in NE

10-06-2004 10:57:08




Report to Moderator
 Re: Need Your Opinion on No-Till in reply to Joe Evans, 10-06-2004 10:51:49  
Joe,

I think you have it. Plow down that alfalfa on a 5-year turn. Sounds perfect to me as well.

Allan



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
JT

10-06-2004 10:23:54




Report to Moderator
 Re: Need Your Opinion on No-Till in reply to Allan in NE, 10-06-2004 10:10:40  
My Dad tills his corn ground every year and no-tills beans. The man who farms it for him found a 20% increase by going to a rotational tilling and staying away from complete no-till. my .02. No till rpomotes compaction, so the water and chemicals cannot get where it do any good. Now, let me have it, the pot is stirring.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Allan in NE

10-06-2004 10:34:11




Report to Moderator
 Re: Need Your Opinion on No-Till in reply to JT, 10-06-2004 10:23:54  
JT,

Shhhhh ish, (i know, but let's not let them know) LOL!



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Indydirtfarmer

10-06-2004 10:15:04




Report to Moderator
 Re: Need Your Opinion on No-Till in reply to Allan in NE, 10-06-2004 10:10:40  
WHY NOT INDEED! That sounds MUCH more fun than planting corn..... .
Later on Allan....It's time to leave work, and go get in the combine....I have about 400 acres left of my NO-TILL corn to shell. Something incredably fun about actually making a PROFIT farming..... ...John



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Allan in NE

10-06-2004 10:18:52




Report to Moderator
 Re: Need Your Opinion on No-Till in reply to Indydirtfarmer, 10-06-2004 10:15:04  
What????? ???

I just posted that to get you going. Now, you're gonna run out and combine?

Shucks, thought I could have a little fun with ya this morning!

Allan



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Indydirtfarmer

10-06-2004 10:21:18




Report to Moderator
 Re: Need Your Opinion on No-Till in reply to Allan in NE, 10-06-2004 10:18:52  
1st thing that 27 years of marraige has taught me....No matter how hard you try to make me mad..... ....(YES Dear) John



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Bill Rolland

10-06-2004 10:59:23




Report to Moderator
 Re: Need Your Opinion on No-Till in reply to Indydirtfarmer, 10-06-2004 10:21:18  
Mmmm..wife...wine...bubble bath...mmmm...what were we talkin' about?



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Willy-N I Learned

10-06-2004 10:25:26




Report to Moderator
 Re: Need Your Opinion on No-Till in reply to Indydirtfarmer, 10-06-2004 10:21:18  
I learned you give them the pay check and say yes dear, works every time and once in a while she lets me blow some money on things I realy don't need but have to have. Mark H.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Bill(Wis)

10-06-2004 17:27:06




Report to Moderator
 Re: Need Your Opinion on No-Till in reply to Willy-N I Learned, 10-06-2004 10:25:26  
A recent study (probably paid for by the US Govt-read that us) pointed out that most successful marriages (successful, not necessarily happy) occur when the husband does exactly what his wife tells him to do. The study was to determine the best method of communicating with a spouse. It turned out there is only one way and it is definitely ONE WAY.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
[Options]  [Printer Friendly]  [Posting Help]  [Return to Forum]   [Log in to Reply]

Hop to:


TRACTOR PARTS TRACTOR MANUALS
We sell tractor parts!  We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]

Home  |  Forums


Copyright © 1997-2023 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy

TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters

Website Accessibility Policy