Profitable Transition to No-till

 

Farmers and researchers often say it takes 3-5-7 years or longer to convert to no-till before the yields and profits are the same or return back to normal. When crop prices are low, that makes it harder to switch from conventional tillage to no-till crops. Soybeans and wheat are the easiest to convert, but for corn, the yield lag may be 10-20%, which makes the conversion unprofitable. However, some farmers and researchers are making the conversion without a yield lag. With less fuel, equipment, and labor needed; no-till farming practices become much more profitable than conventional crops. Also, the environmental benefits to building soil organic matter and keeping soil in place are added incentives. Since it is a risky to change and with decreased profit expected, any yield lag prevents most farmers from considering a transition. Even short-term yield losses and lower profit are hard to justify even if someone says your future rewards will be higher. That is why the conversion to no-till and cover crops has been so slow. However, some farmers are making a successful transition without experiencing a decline in profit. Here’s how they are doing that.

Too often, no-till farmers try to take short-cuts and completely reduce fertilizer inputs which generally results in lower yields during the transition period. In mature regenerative farming systems, farmers often can reduce fertilizer inputs, but that is because the microbes and the no-till biological system is working together very well. During a conversion to no-till, the system is not fully working yet, so farmers need to maintain and even improve their fertility before they can reduce some fertilizer or chemicals. To get the biological system jump started; incorporating cover crops, manure, and/or livestock helps improve no-till practices. If these practices are followed, soil health will improve quickly and yields, along with profit margins, will return quickly or even stay at previous levels.

The problem is that it does not apply to all crops. Some root crops, like carrots and potatoes, require the soil be tilled. Vegetable farmers should not use manure or animal byproducts for food safety reasons. For some farmers, livestock can only be present in the field for narrow windows of time far from the harvest window, which makes it impractical to include them in the farming operation overall. How can farmers speed up the adoption of regenerative agricultural practices to dramatically improve soil health and reduce inputs that may be detrimental to soil health, the environment, and even human health? The best way is to use data- and an experience-based approach to crop management during a transition period.

First, only reduce fertilizer when the data (soil tests, tissue tests, and crop scouting) show that less fertilizer is required. Often, farmers are over applying nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (N-P-K) and even lime (too much calcium) which then ties up micro-nutrients. Micro-nutrients are needed as catalysts to produce the enzymes which speed up biological activity, increasing yields and overall profit. Here is where the use of Glyphosate or Roundup causes a problem. One application of Glyphosate reduces microbial activity for 6 weeks, especially the microbes that make micronutrients plant available. Glyphosate chelates or ties up many micro-nutrients.

Second, reduce the use of pesticides (fungicides, miticides, herbicides, insecticides) only when plant data reveals that the crop has the nutritional balance to be resistant to pests. Healthy plants can resist most insects, fungal and bacterial diseases, and even weeds (faster canopy); but it takes time to get healthy soils that are improving plant nutrition. So, a measured approach, gradually decreasing some of these pesticides should be driven by the data. When plant nutrients are being used efficiently and in balance, expect good yields which then may lead to reduced reliance on pesticides and fertilizer. A yield reduction at any phase of growing reflects poor management. Using data-based information to transition to no-till reduces risk and farmers gain confidence in the no-till biological system. This then provides an economic motivation to begin transitioning more fields to no-till immediately, since both yields and profits are increasing. A gradual shift toward regenerative agriculture restores soil health and plants become more resistant to extreme weather events, pests, and disease. Growers can mitigate their risks and be confident that the system works. When excess fertilizer and pesticides are reduced, farmers are no longer dependent upon high crop prices to maintain profits, because they become a low-cost producer. This no-till, cover crops, and biological system creates economic prosperity with ecological stewardship. In this way, regenerative agriculture’s full potential can be unlocked. Adapted from an article by John Kempf.