The History and Advancement of No till Crop Production Technologies.

Over the 75 years of the Soil Erosion Service (SES), the Soil Conservation Service (SCS), and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) the use and advancement of no till crop production technology has had a profound positive impact on reducing erosion, sedimentation, and water quality.

The technology of no till crop production technology began with a few brave and innovative farmers and scientists back in the 1960’s.  The early no till researchers and innovators were faced with almost insurmountable hurdles to establish no till crops.  They were faced with very limited equipment to plant the crops and had very limited use of herbicides and other pesticides to control weeds, insects, and crop diseases normally controlled with tillage.  As time and innovation progressed, researchers, farmers, and equipment manufactures advanced the equipment to accommodate planting numerous crops using no till technology.  Likewise, the chemical and fertilizer industries advanced their technologies to support no till crop production.

The benefits of no till crop production range from reduced wind and water erosion rates, maintaining and improving soil organic matter, reduced sedimentation, improved water quality, reduced operating expense for producers, reduced on farm labor, and fuel/energy savings.  For the producers the specific benefits are site or farm specific.  However, one can certainly make the statement that no till crop production has had a very substantial positive impact on soil and water conservation not only in the United States, but the worldwide.

The purpose of this presentation is to review the early beginnings of no till technologies and how we have advanced to the state of the technology today.