Are you thinking about switching to no-till and have some questions you need answered before taking the leap? Maybe you‘ve been planting no-till soybeans for years and are thinking about adapting this practice to corn. Adopting no-till requires understanding how it affects drainage, soil structure, organic matter, weed control, and the application of pesticides and chemical fertilizers, all of which influence both yields and environmental impacts.
No-till is known for its ability to control erosion, conserve soil moisture, minimize fuel and labor costs, and build soil structure and health. Done properly, no-till systems can meet or exceed conventional tilled crop yields while reducing fuel and equipment costs. Farmers can see how no-till can work within their operation by attending the Ohio No-Till Summer Field Day, August 31 on the Jan Layman Farm, 15238 Township Road 119, Kenton. Registration will begin at 8:00 am with no-till machinery and exhibitors followed by the program starting at 8:45 am.
Several sessions at this August 31st field day will address the use of cover crops in no-till systems. Equipment demonstrations include Aqua-Till, which uses ultra-high-pressure water jets to cut into the soil for planting, and a John Deere 2510H dry fertilizer injector. On-site registration is $60 and includes lunch. A complete agenda is available at ohionotillcouncil.com/2016/06/29/hardin-county-event/. This event is being sponsored by the Ohio No-Till Council, the Ohio Soybean Council, the Ohio Corn Marketing Program, the Soil and Water Conservation Society, OSU Extension, OARDC, NRCS-USDA, the Hardin Soil and Water Conservation District, and Ohio’s Country Journal.