Subtitled: ZERO TILL - TRIED AND FOUND WINNING

I want to take this opportunity to tell you about my experience with zero till because I believe that the system has very positive implications for the environment, for food production and for the individual farmer.

Initially I want to tell you about some of the practical aspects of zero till, which I have encountered over the last 18 years and next I want to give you my assessment of the system based on my experience.

The practical aspects of the system can be divided into four main problem areas. The problem areas for zero till are really the same as the ones encountered in conventional till, but the solutions may require different methods.

1. Germination

This used to be one of the major problems to overcome in order to achieve successful zero tillage crop reduction. Over the years I had tried single disc, double disc, and triple disc seed openers, but they all had the same inherent problem. They tended to push the straw and chaff into the seed slot, and as a result some of the seed was placed with poor seed topsoil contact. This hair-pinning problem was becoming worse over the years because the soil surface was becoming softer due to a gradual increase in organic matter. I purchased a hoe drill in 1984 and the problem was solved after a little experimenting with different shaped openers. The shape that works best for me is an opener, which I describe as a 3/4" wide bulldozer, with sides behind the blade to protect the seed until it reaches the bottom of the seed furrow. This particular shape lifts a narrow ribbon of soil out of the seed slot, and in doing so, carries straw with it and consequently the straw doesn't wrap around the shank of the opener nearly as much as it does with a spear type opener.

2. Weed Control

This also used to be a major problem for the zero till farmer. Back in the mid 80's, the major problem associated with weed control was an economic problem. Since that time, there has been a substantial decrease in the price of Glyphosate that has certainly alleviated the economic problem. The addition of good quality ammonium sulphate to the Glyphosate mixture also alleviated the economic problem by allowing the use of lower rates, while achieving the same level of control. I found that I could secure good control of some of my tough to kill weeds like foxtail barley and wild buckwheat by using .6 litres of Glyphosate per acre with 2% ammonium sulphate and 1/3 of 1% surfactant.

3. Straw and chaff spreading

I have dealt with this problem by using wide spread fins on the straw chopper to spread the straw over the full width of the swath, and by using a home made chaff spreader which spreads the chaff about 10-12 ft. In very heavy straw, combined under dull, tough conditions I have experienced trouble seeding the next spring because the straw was not chopped short enough. (Did not flow through my hoe drill.) This problem can be monitored by watching the field after it is combined. If the straw doesn't settle through the stubble in a couple of days, it is too long. If this happens I have raked the straw (only in patches) and put it through the combine again. If you anticipate this problem on a whole field, it might be wise to drop the straw and then chop it on a hot sunny day. Both of the above solutions are extra operations, but it can save a of grief the next spring.

4. Fertilizer placement

I have used many different methods to deal with this problem.

1. Band most of the fertilizer in the fall. (Some P with seed in spring.)
2. Apply all of the fertilizer down the spout (wheat only and a maximum of 50 lbs. N as ammonium nitrate).
3. Apply most or all of the fertilizer in a band between every seed row with the drill (either disc openers or dribble on surface.
4. Broadcast ammonium nitrate in the spring and apply phosphorus with the seed.

All of the above work and all have their advantages and disadvantages. What doesn't work is broadcasting urea. The losses under zero till conditions are unacceptable.

A method that looks promising, but as yet untried on my farm, is the spoked wheel applicator.

**My assessment of the zero till system after 18 years of experience:

It is the best system there is for a number of reasons:

1. It works.

2. It is moisture efficient.

3. It is cost effective.

4. The yields are equal to or better than conventional till.

5. It is sustainable.

6. It results in job satisfaction.

1. It works:

As outlined above, the four main problem areas can be dealt with successfully. Over the years I have been asked other questions such as: Q: Doesn't the soil get as hard as concrete? A: No, as the organic matter builds up, it actually gets softer. Q: Don't you have more insects? A: I have had no more of a problem than my neighbors. Q: Don't you have more of a disease problem? A: No, as in conventional tillage, an adequate rotation is the key component in alleviating, the disease problem

I do have somewhat of a problem with ground squirrels (13 striped gopher). Actually the problem is not with the ground squirrels, it's with the big ugly holes that Mr. Badger leaves when he digs them out. (It takes time to fill them in with a shovel.)

2. It is moisture efficient.

Zero till combined with tall stubble is an excellent way to catch and conserve the moisture that falls as snow. A quote from Gail Wicks, Professor of Agronomy at the University of Nebraska North Platte Station: "If we would have gotten ecofallow started sooner, there would be a lot fewer center pivots".

3. It is cost effective.

- The labour costs are lower

- Repair costs are lower.

- Machinery capital costs are lower

- On farm fuel use is reduced about 50%

- Chemical costs are coming down. (In 1983 I paid $25.00/litre for Roundup. Next year we expect to pay $11/litre or a reduction of 56%. In the last three years the price of diesel fuel has gone up by 50%. I expect these price trends for Roundup and diesel fuel to continue.)

4. The yields are equal to or better than conventional till.

5. Sustainability

This is where the bright lights of zero till really shine.

(a) Erosion control:

A one time study done in Coshocton, Ohio, showed a 99.8% reduction in erosion comparing zero till with conventional till. A four year study in Kentucky showed a 98.6% reduction. This erosion control is nothing short of fantastic. No other system of annual crop production comes close to this level of erosion control.

(b) Organic matter:

After 7 years in zero till, I compared the organic matter content in the top 4 inches. In conventional till, it was 5.6% while in zero till it was 6.6%. If the sample taken was deeper, I am sure the difference wouldn't be nearly as great, but it is safe to say that the trend is up with zero till.

(c) Fossil fuel:

As mentioned earlier zero till reduces fuel use by 50% compared to conventional till.

(d) Water Quality:

With the dramatic decrease in erosion, it also means a dramatic decrease in the amount of sediment that is carried into our rivers and lakes, and with the decrease in sediment load there is a corresponding decrease in the nutrient load that very often clings to soil particles.

(e) Air quality:

As with water quality, decreases in erosion translates directly into improvements in air quality. During severe dust storms. Pilots have reported finding dust clouds up to 10,000 ft. After a prairie dust-storm in 1985, citizens in Ottawa reported finding dust on railings etc. Some of this dust had traveled 2,000 miles.

(f) Wildlife:

Over the years, I have noticed a lot more ground nesting birds on my farm. Birds such as upland plovers, Killdeers and song sparrows. Needless to say Ducks Unlimited would not be supporting zero till if it were not for the beneficial effect on duck habitat

g) Earthworms:

Over the years there has been a significant increase in. the earthworm population. This augurs well for soil aeration and internal drainage.

(h) Climate

Zero has the potential to reduce the greenhouse effect by taking CO₂ out of the air and storing it in organic matter. A one percent increase in organic matter would take about 45,000 lbs. of CO₂ out of the air for each acre of increased organic matter. If course zero till also reduces the greenhouse effect by cutting down on the burning of fossil fuels.

(i) Farm-City relations:

Over the last few years farmers have literally survived by virtue of government payments. Without the support of our city cousins these payments would dry up. Anything that farmers can do to demonstrate that we are protecting the environment will go a long way in retaining the support of our urban friends. The current president of the Manitoba Consumer Association is well aware of environmental benefits of zero till and has spoken in support of policies that would assist zero till. These farm-city relations will become more important as the general population becomes more and more environmentally conscious. Stubble burning and allowing our soil to blow does not impress our city friends.

6. Job satisfaction

It's a pleasure to be involved in soil conservation because it is the one facet in agriculture where a person can get job satisfaction. You certainly can't get much job satisfaction from, the marketplace. The marketplace is saying get lost! The job satisfaction comes from conserving the soil.

Let me use this analogy. If Johnny Johnson, from down the road, takes a heart attack and dies just before harvest, all his neighbours come over and help the widow take the crop off. Why? They certainly don't do it for money, they do it because it is the decent thing to do. Preserving the nations topsoil for the benefit of future generations is like that. It is the decent thing to do.

In conclusion, I would suggest to you that zero till is the only way to grow. It is cost and yield effective, moisture efficient, consumer friendly, and best of all it reduces erosion by 99%.

What more can I say except this, zero till has been tried and found winning.