No-till adoption by corn and soybean producers: An examination of tenure

Abstract

The widespread adoption of no-till can be explained by the range of on-farm benefits, including soil erosion control, soil moisture conservation, and reduced operating costs (e.g., labor, fuel, and tillage machinery). When used continuously as part of a suite of practices that minimize soil disturbance and maintain soil cover, there is evidence that no-till can help improve soil health. Therefore, there is continued interest in understanding the factors that affect no-till adoption, on a national scale, as they may contribute to improved conservation program design. This article uses logit analysis of field-level data from the Agricultural Resource Management Survey to identify factors that affect no-till adoption for corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) producers. Our results show effects of climate, farm size, irrigation use, crop rotation, and drainage (in corn fields) on no-till adoption that are generally consistent with the literature but do suggest some significant differences in determinants of no-till between corn and soybeans. Results also show that renters are more likely to use no-till in soybeans than in corn and that the estimated probability is much larger for share renters that for cash renters. The latter tenure effect differs from previous research and could have important implications for program design given there are more than twice as many cash renters as share renters in the United States.