The North Central Research Center has been into No-till (Zerotill) farming and research for 14 years. Areas we have worked in include the following areas:

1. Foundation Seed-Increase 14 years

2. Continuous HRS Wheat Research 14 years

3. Fallow/Recrop Seedbed Preparation 5 years

4. Cropping Systems Research 5 years

5. Variety Trials Grown Under No-Till 11 years

These areas will be continued and are conducted in cooperation with other agencies in the.state. My talk will be concerned with the production of Foundation seed.

The foundation seed increase activities are important to this Center in a number of ways: First, it supplies seed of new variety releases to farmers in North Central North Dakota and maintains pure seed supplies of older varieties common to the area. Second, it supplies an important source of operating funds for the Center, which amounts to about 50% of the total funds, and third, it has been used to evaluate different farming practices such as no-till along with various new herbicides. The seed increase fields are always soil sampled and fertilizer applied to optimistic yield goal levels. Also, herbicides used were not used at the most economical levels, but rather for the best possible weed control level or control of volunteer grain. We are always very concerned about maintaining seed purity, so often varieties are grown on the same field for more than one year. As you might guess, yields may be reduced because of higher disease levels.

No till started at a level of 15% of our total seeded acres in 1978 and increased to 84% in 1991. During this 14 year period, we have had no till acres every year with an increase in acres through the years. Each year we grow from 10 to 12 separate crops and increase 20 to 24 separate varieties. In 1991, no till was used on 10 crops and 19 separate varieties.

Our planting equipment has involved two grain drills, for the first 11 year we used a 12' Haybuster 1206 with 6" spaced, double disc openers and for the past 3 years a 15' John Deere 752 with 7 inch spaced, single disc openers. Both drills have worked well, but with the 752 we have better penetration, less crop residue problems and deeper seed placement. Also with this drill, we can seed 15" and 30" spaced rows which fit manufactured cultivators and harvesting row crop equipment. Our unit applies fertilizer with the seed.

Nitrogen fertilizer under No till as been applied either of two ways: first, nitrogen was often fall applied with a NH₃ fertilizer applicator with narrow shanks spaced 16" apart or in the spring with a spreader using Urea before planting. We found that with the NH₃ applicator there was soil disturbance, but still most of the stubble was standing and the soil opening was healed over by spring to the point it was difficult to see where it had been tilled. Phosphate fertilizer was applied with the seed in the same manner as John Deere regular double disc grain drill.

Weeds were controlled using various herbicides including Roundup as the starting point. We most often applied the Roundup in the spring before or after seeding. Perennial weeds were spot treated in the fall using Banvel or Landmaster BW and in the summer using Banvel. Poast was used on flax ground to control volunteer grain so that in the f ollowing year we could change to another variety and avoid contamination. Annual or biennial weed problems under No till have been Flixweed (tansy mustard) , wild barley, f oxtail (pigeon grass), Kochia (Mexican Firebush) , Russian thistle and wild oats. Perennial weeds have been Field bindweed (Creeping Jenny) and Canada thistle. Our equipment for spraying at the present time is a 60' pull type with a wind guard and electronic rate controls. It is a must to have good herbicide equipment. Weed control is a major concern and costly farming practice.

The harvest involving residue management is another major concern which can affect your next years crop. This is especially true if there is a lot of residue from a good crop. Our rotary combine is equipped with a straw chopper and chaff spreader. This generally has been adequate unless there is a problem with bunching caused by stopping often. We use an 18' swather or cut straight with a 20' header on the combine. With these widths, we usually get good spreading of the straw and chaff. Our major residue problem has been with flax straw. If the crop is good then we do bale the straw.

Through the years, the No till yields have varied from a low of 621 lbs/A in 1980 to a high of 2311 lbs/A in 1986. The poorest years were 1980, 87, 88 and 89. The best years were 1978, 82, 86 and 91. In comparison, the years with the least precipitation were1980, 81, 88 and 89. The years with the most precipitation were1978, 83, 85 and 87.

There have been two fields on the Center which have been continuously farmed since 1978. Field Y, a 22 acre field, has had the No till practice used each year. Field JD has been conventional tilled on 10 of the 14 years. No till has been used the past four years. When comparing the pounds of production per acre from each of these two fields - Field Y has averaged 1648lbs/A with an average return of $73.71/A using today's prices. Field JD has produced 1717 lbs/A at a return of $80.90/A. However, this doesn't tell the entire story because the two fields are in different sections and the rotations were not the same. The crops grown were predominately flax, barley and durum. The crops which have been grown the most under No till have been durum, HRS wheat, HRW wheat, flax and barley. When comparing yields of HRS wheat to other crops in like years, we found that HRW wheat yields were considerably better, durum was slightly better, barley better and flax less. There were no questions that fall seeded crops benefited greatly from No till. When comparing conventional till to No till in like years for different crops, it showed that HRS wheat did the poorest. Flax, barley, aid durum yields were quite close. However, one field was compared to several in some cases. As we have gained experience with No till the yield difference between No till and Conventional till have been less erratic. No till was the most economical in the drier years especially in the years 1987, 88 and 89. This past season we grew No till corn and soybeans for the first time. Our yields were very good by standards for this area of the state. However, both crops got a big boost from above average rainfall in August.

In summary, No till has been an acceptable farming practice for seed increase, but has results in some additional herbicide expenses over conventional till. There has been saving in reduced fuel use, less man-hours and lower, equipment repairs. No cost estimates were made to quantify these differences. The major advantage would be reduced soil loss. With the advent of more selective herbicides, improved planting equipment, use of good rotations and the above tested advantages, I can see a continued increase in No till or reduced tillage systems. The question is not whether the crop can be grown No till, but that whether there are adequate cleared post emergence herbicides for control of weeds for that crop.