How much tillage do producers need this spring?

The large amount of tillage done last fall, and the good soil conditions even where no fall tillage was done, raise questions of how much tillage is needed this spring. While many producers are doing spring tillage as usual, others are thinking that this may be the year to do less, said Emerson Nafziger, University of Illinois Extension agronomist. Nafziger said there are two fundamental reasons to do (or not do) tillage.

“First, we need to be able to place seed well, at uniform depth and with good seed-to-soil contact,” he said. “We may not need tillage to accomplish this. Where we do need tillage, we should create good conditions for the seed while keeping moist soil formed around the seed. Read more ...

This blog is written by Martin Little The Global Miller, published and supported by the GFMT Magazine and International Milling Directory from Perendale Publishers