Conservation Tillage Surpasses Conventional Method

Jan. 13, 2005
Soil preparation methods in U.S. agriculture reached a watershed in 1997. Nationally, conservation tillage acres outstripped conventional acres for the first time ever last season, with 37.3% of the cropland planted in no-till, ridge till, and mulch ...

Soil preparation methods in U.S. agriculture reached a watershed in 1997. Nationally, conservation tillage acres outstripped conventional acres for the first time ever last season, with 37.3% of the cropland planted in no-till, ridge till, and mulch till systems, reports Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind. That compares with the 36.5% that was conventionally tilled or plowed. The annual national survey is conducted on a county-by-county basis by U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service and soil and water conservation districts, and is released by the Conservation Technology Information Center. Conservation tillage, which minimizes soil disturbance, typically leaves at least 30% of the field covered with residue from previous crops. That reduces erosion, strengthens earthworm populations, and cuts down on tractor trips across a field.

Popular Sponsored Recommendations

Gain a competitive edge with real-world lessons on private 5G networks

Nov. 16, 2023
The use of private networks in manufacturing applications is rapidly growing. In this paper, we present valuable insights and lessons learned from the field with the goal of enhancing...

Shifting Your Business from Products to Service-Based Business Models: Generating Predictable Revenues

Oct. 27, 2023
Executive summary on a recent IndustryWeek-hosted webinar sponsored by SAP

The Rise of Self-Service in Field Service

May 10, 2023
How Field Service Organizations Can Leverage Self-Service to Drive Results for Their Customers and Their Business.

Navigating Traceability for Manufacturing Excellence

July 23, 2023
Add Value, Reduce Costs, and Eliminate Risk.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of IndustryWeek, create an account today!