No-Till Farming and Healthy Soils
 | Author:
Allison Kosto, Broadwater County Extension Agent
MSU Broadwater County Extension Agent |
No-Till Farming and Healthy Soils Allison Kosto, Broadwater County Extension Agent Most of us probably remember hearing about the famous Dust Bowl of the 1930s in history class. This misfortune has been called the worst manmade ecological disaster in American history. In the early 1900s, promises of cheap land throughout the Great Plains, a lucrative wheat market and advances in gas powered machinery brought farmers to work the heartland which had previously been home to American Indian tribes and roaming bison. By 1930, the Great Depression was well underway and wheat prices fell quickly. Rather than follow the government’s order to stop planting, desperate farmers put more land in production to minimize loses. To top it off, a major drought hit in 1932. As farmers began to abandon their fields, the winds began to pick up the dust from the open fields coating the area.
Even though the Dust Bowl was a dark time (no pun intended) in American history, it taught farmers a valuable lesson, the importance of soil conservation. Since that time research and practice continues to evolve to improve conservation practices and preserve our lands for future generations. Most importantly, we all play a role in soil conversation. Even homeowners in town play a role in soil conservation by maintaining their yard and garden to keep our precious topsoil in place, minimizing use of fertilizers and pesticides, and conserving water.
In 2015, through a generous donation, the county obtained a no-till drill that is available to lease to county residents. In 2022, the drill was traded for an updated, easier-to-use model. No-till farming is one practice that is used to minimize soil disturbance and improve soil health. By avoiding tillage, producers can conserve moisture, allow for more microbial activity and increase organic matter. It can greatly reduce or even eliminate soil erosion. The technique can also increase profits for farmers by requiring less labor and equipment, decrease fertilizer costs and possible higher yields. No-till drills can be used on a variety of cropland including small grains, legumes, hay or pasture grasses or cover crops.
The disadvantages of no-till technology include the reliance of herbicides for weed control, special planting equipment, soil compaction in the upper zone, and possible greater frequency of insect, disease and weed problems. Plant residues can also be a problem for some crops but, can be minimized through proper management.
Another practice that is commonly used to improve soil health is through cover crops. A cover crop is crop that is grown between or outside of the typical growing season for the purpose of covering the ground. In our area of Montana, cover crops are often planted after the harvest of an earlier season crop such as winter wheat. Cover crops can further improve soil health, reduce erosion, improve organic matter, prevent weed invasion and improve soil fertility. They can be used for livestock grazing or a forage crop. They can also be incorporated back into the soil as “green manure.”
The no-till drill is now available for spring planting. It is a Great Plans 1006 No-Till. It is 10 foot wide with 7.5-inch row spacing. It has a legume and small seed box and a grass seed agitator. The lessee must provide a 75 horsepower or higher tractor and transport the drill to and from the Fairgrounds. Lease agreement can be found at https://www.montana.edu/extension/broadwater. Contact MSU Extension in Broadwater County at 266-9242 or broadwater@montana.edu for more information or to reserve it. Drill use is limited to Broadwater County residents and a deposit and signed lease agreement is required to hold dates.
