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Perceptions on the use of no-till farming in production agriculture in the United States: an analysis of survey results

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Abstract

A number of economic and environmental benefits are associated with the use of no-till in production agriculture in the United States. There are lower labor, energy, and machinery costs associated with no-till farming relative to conventional tillage systems and other types of conservation tillage. Reduced erosion and runoff associated with no-till also lead to a number of environmental benefits, including a reduction in water quality impairment. The objective of this study is to assess farmers’ perception of their actual use of no-till. An analysis of the Agricultural Resource Management Study survey data for 1996 shows that for soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.), winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), spring wheat, and durum wheat, farmers’ perceptions are consistent with reality. In the case of corn (Zea mays L.), however, nearly 18% of corn farmers believe they are using no-till, while in actuality, only slightly more than 12% are using this tillage system. In order to properly associate the benefits of no-till with its use, it is important that farmers’ perception of what constitutes no-till and their actual use of no-till be consistent.

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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