Short communicationPerceptions on the use of no-till farming in production agriculture in the United States: an analysis of survey results
Introduction
No-till is an agricultural production practice where the soil is left undisturbed from harvest to seeding and from seeding to harvest. The only ‘tillage’ is the soil disturbance in a narrow slot created by coulters, disk or runner seed furrow openers, or hoe openers attached to a planter or drill. No-till planters must be able to cut residue and penetrate undisturbed soil. Weed control relies on herbicides applied preplant, pre-emerge or post-emerge. The type and timing of herbicide application depends on the weed pressures and climatic conditions. Strictly speaking, no-till does not allow operations that disturb the soil, other than the planting operation (Conservation Technology Information Center, 1997).
The objectives of this study are (1) to provide a brief overview of no-till farming systems in the US, and (2) to examine farmers’ perceptions of what constitutes no-till.
Section snippets
Potential benefits of no-till in U.S. agriculture
There are a number of significant economic and environmental benefits associated with the use of no-till in production agriculture in the US. The use of no-till may affect the cost of labor, fertilizers, pesticides, and machinery relative to conventional tillage (Zero Tillage Farmers Association, 1997). A reduction in the intensity and number of tillage operations lowers costs for labor and machinery, especially if the machinery is used optimally (Siemans and Doster, 1992).
The benefit from
Overview of the problem
It is clear that no-till has a number of economic and environmental benefits. This realization has been used to promote the adoption of no-till in the US (Zero Tillage Farmers Association, 1997). Between 1989 and 1997, the use of no-till has increased from 5.1 to 15.6% of total planted hectarage in production agriculture in the US (Conservation Technology Information Center, 1997).
One of the current problems with promoting the use of no-till is the disparity in farmers’ perception of precisely
Conclusion
A number of economic and environmental benefits are associated with the use of no-till in production agriculture in the US. There are lower labor, energy, and machinery costs associated with no-till farming relative to conventional tillage systems and other types of conservation tillage. The reduced erosion associated with no-till also leads to a number of environmental benefits, including a reduction in water quality impairment.
In order to encourage no-till and its benefits, it is important
Acknowledgements
The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the policies of the Federal Communications Commission or the views of other Federa Communications Commission staff members.
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