No-Till Question & Answer
What is no-till?
No-till is a method of farming where the soil is left undisturbed from
the harvest of one crop to the planting of another. Planting is accomplished
in a narrow seedbed, or slot, created by a coulter or disk opener.
Is this a new practice?
No. A few farmers started using no-till in the '60s and '70s, however
since 1989 no-till has become an increasingly popular farming practice.
Why does it look so messy?
People who are accustomed to seeing freshly plowed fields may think
of no-till as messy or ugly. This is because the new crop is planted
directly into the remains of the last crop. It isn't plowed or disked
under with conventional methods.
What are the benefits?
There are many benefits of no-till. First and foremost, are the environmental
benefits. No-till reduces soil erosion from wind and water runoff.
Wildlife benefits from crop residues that provide food and shelter.
Farmers benefit from reduced labor requirements, time savings, fuel
savings, reduced machinery wear and higher soil moisture.
And everyone reaps the benefits with cleaner water, reduced air pollution
and less ditch maintenance.
Are the yields the same?
Research findings indicate that in Tennessee, on average and under
the same growing conditions, no-till will produce the same or better
yields than a plowed field, or conventional tillage.
What has UT's role been in no-till?
The University of Tennessee has been a leader in no-till research.
The Milan Experiment Station has been a leader in this effort since
1981. The research conducted by the UT Agricultural Experiment Station
at Milan is known worldwide.
Do many Tennessee farmers use no-till?
YES! A recent survey shows Tennessee farmers are third in the nation
in the percentage of cropland planted in no-till. In 2006, Tennessee farmers
planted 67% of their land in no-till. And Tennessee is the leader
in no-till cotton. Farmers planted more than 420,000 acres in no-till
in 2006.
Where can you see no-till?
Every county in Tennessee has no-till fields; however, the best day
to see no-till and hear no-till discussed is at the Milan No-Till
Field Day, held bi-annually on the fourth Thursday of July at the Research and Education Center at Milan.
