Opportunities in the Zero Tillage System

By Ron Bell

I would like to thank Kendall and the board for asking me to speak here today… but I won’t. I really thought it was time to bring forward new faces. However, they assured me, it was me they wanted to hear. I finally agreed, but you are not going to hear my words today you will hear the words of Jim McCutcheon, Gordon McPhee, Robert Stevenson, John Bennett, Garth Butcher, George Wady, Gregg Fotheringham, and Kendall Heise. There are 119 years of no till experience in that group. I interviewed each of them by telephone and some of them also sent me additional information and for this I thank them. Bob McNabb also provided me with material. Again, thanks!

I asked them the following questions:

1) How many years have you been in Zero Tillage?

2) What do you believe are the greatest opportunities afforded to you by no till? What benefits or advantages do you have or will you have?

3) What has been your greatest challenge to date?

4) How did you deal with it?

5) Do you see specific problems developing on your farm?

6) How might you deal with it?

7) Do you see your system changing in the future? If so, in what way?

The responses I received were in some cases what would be expected; however each of them also contributed interesting thoughts that were new or fresh. It didn’t surprise me that these guys had great ideas to add, since they have always been the leaders in our field.

Among the topics covered, carbon sequestering was mentioned by almost everyone and I feel I should give some additional background. Kendall Heise kindly provided me with the following information.

 

CO2 Facts

The pool of knowledge from the best science available today indicates:

    1. Greenhouse gases are accumulating
    2. Greenhouse gases are most likely causing global warming
    3. Increased CO2 levels improve plant growth but the effect of global warming on agriculture is uncertain at this point
    4. The Kyoto agreement will not stop global warming but it will slow the rate of increase
    5. Agriculture contributes approximately 10% of Canada’s greenhouse gases

The "Kyoto" agreement was agreed to in principle by countries attending the international climate change summit in Kyoto, Japan. The U.S. has not yet signed the deal but it is very likely that they will. This agreement has more teeth than previous ones, as penalties for non-compliance will be in the form of trade sanctions. Canada’s commitment was to reduce CO2 emission to 6% below 1990 levels for the 2008 to 2012 period. This is about 20-25% below the "business as usual" levels for this period. Canada is to develop an implementation strategy by the fall of 1999. Soils are not presently written into the text of the agreement as a carbon sink (storage mechanism). However world opinion is shifting toward the inclusion of soils as a sink for the final agreement. (Plants utilize CO2 to grow, carbon becomes part of the plant tissue, and when plants die they are broken down by soil microorganisms to form soil organic matter that is rich in carbon.)

Good soil conservation farming practices such as No Till remove CO2 from the atmosphere. Conservative estimates of potential Carbon sequestration over a 10-year period of No Till farming are 1.5 to 3.0 tonnes of carbon per hectare

Carbon sequestration on No Till agricultural lands could account for 8 to 16% of Canada’s commitment to reduce CO2 emissions.

Some estimate that with No Till we can get about halfway back to native organic matter levels in 20 years in the black soil zone.

The carbon storage potential of soils is quite significant; in fact the pool of carbon in the soil is larger than the pool in the atmosphere plus the pool in the vegetation.

The following is a summary of the responses I received. I have tried to be as faithful as possible to what was actually said.

Jim McCutcheon - 25 years No Till

Benefits:

In the beginning

    1. Wild oats – definitely worse in tillage
    2. Erosion control – erosion can be devastating, you pay for it for a long time
    3. Reduced tractor hours

Note: Jim says, " It’s not much of a thrill to sit on a tractor."

In the future

    1. Micro climate for future crops (wind)
    2. Global warming… Zero Till will provide better moisture management in dryer climate
    3. Carbon sequestering

Challenges:

    1. Excess moisture in wet years
    2. Flax yields tending downwards (Is it disease, nutrient, rotation?)

Dealing with challenges:

    1. Completed drainage using GPS survey- now seeding as early as anyone
    2. Did a complete soil test- there may be a correlation between poor flax yields and higher calcium levels

Problems in future:

Don’t see problems particular to no till

Changes in future:

No major changes except the ones everyone faces like resistance. This would probably result in rotational changes.

Conclusions: While the challenges we face do not seem to be limited to the no till farmer, the opportunities in the future appear to be in no till.

Gordon McPhee - 22 years No Till

Benefits:

Have changed over time.

    1. More acres, same equipment
    2. Fewer hours on tractor – more hours on combine
    3. Soil tilth, internal drainage, no worry about wind or water erosion.
    4. Consistent yield across the field
    5. Used to say his yields were equal or better than conventional neighbours, but now says his are consistently better

In the future:
    1. Carbon sequestering

Note: Gordon says "Although agriculture has been a net emitter of carbon dioxide, under the Kyoto agreement it may be possible for no till to receive credits for storing or sequestering carbon. If it is recognized there will be a great advantage to be in no till."

Challenges:

    1. Initially weed control- Quack, thistles, foxtail barley under control
    2. Openers
    3. Fall banding
    4. Drainage

Note: Gordon says "In dealing with these challenges I have pushed my yields above average."

Problems in the future:

    1. Provincial drainage policy??
    2. Buffer zones enforced??
    3. Dealing with resistance (Roundup?)
    4. Dealing with Crop Protection Products delicensed (US may lose 70% of their insecticides

Dealing with problems:

Will have to find a way by balancing the benefits and risks

Changes in future?:

We will continue to make refinements, as we better understand fertility. Variable rate?

Conclusions:

1) A zero tiller by definition must be a good manager. Sometimes our ability to deal with challenges gives us the greatest advantage over our neighbours.

2) Because zero till practices store carbon instead of emit, we may be able to generate income because of our system

 

Robert Stevenson – 14 years in No Till

 

Opportunities:

    1. Erosion control
    2. Moisture management and soil quality improvements have taken risk out of production of crops

Note: Robert says " Dad farmed to produce food and so do I. I think most farmers have that same approach and that creates a clash of philosophy today in farming… the Monsanto’s of the world think only of profit. Most of us are more conscious of ensuring the viability of farming in the future."

Challenges:

1) Weeds, weeds, weeds … always will be

Dealing with challenges:

    1. Management… (Rotations, forages, competition etc.)

Problems in future:

    1. Weeds
    2. Counting too much on Roundup

Dealing with problems:

    1. Must change from chemical solutions to others
    2. Develop a new system with new strategies
    3. Need affordable genetic crops ( winter )

Note: Robert says " So many solutions coming from agri-business are biased and unreasonably expensive. The stunning changes will come from farmers."

Changes in future:

1)There will be changes.

Note: Robert says, " I fear I am running out of ideas. The young farmers will have the solutions."

Conclusions: Farmers because we care about the land, will ultimately be the ones who discover the next new system of farming.

John Bennett – 12 years in No Till

Opportunities:

Initially:

    1. Moisture efficiencies… more snow, less evaporation
    2. Soil aggregation and improved infiltration… (this was unexpected)

In the future:

1) Carbon will dominate farming practices

Note: John says "There is a latent philosophical bent to most farmers, but this is the first time that society collectively will put a value on soil quality."

Challenges:

1) Finding the perfect rotation.

Note: John says "This will be ongoing. Rotation is the fundamental key."

Dealing with challenges:

    1. Keep experimenting
    2. Knock the unknowns out

Note: John says "We’re in an unusual business, most businessmen guard their secrets, we give the stuff away. Sharing ideas is sharing risks. Why should everyone have to make the same mistakes."

Problems in future:

1)Lack of public research for the benefit of farmers

2)Private research seems to be moving the risk back to farmers

Dealing with problems:

Note: John says "Farmers are aware of erosion and the benefits of zero till, now with the carbon issue the general public sees the benefits and can relate to them on a global level. This may lever more public research in zero tillage. Global warming is another issue that may help the public to attach to zero tillage."

Changes in future:

"Absolutely, everything changes, but I have no idea how it will unravel.

Conclusions: It may be acknowledged by society that zero tillage benefits the Earth and more public resources may be made available to continue improving the system.

 

Garth Butcher – 20 years in No Till

Opportunities:

    1. Increased yields through higher moisture levels
    2. Guaranteed good seed bed

Note: Garth says "The higher moisture levels sometimes mean the difference between drought stress and healthy growth."

Challenges:

1) Weed control

Dealing with challenges:

1) Monitor and manage

Problems in future:

    1. What affect will global warming have on my farm?
    2. Does my system need to be modified because of soil characteristic changes under no till? (frost damage in canola)

Dealing with problems:

1) Monitor and manage

Changes in future:

    1. Yes, not necessarily significant

Conclusions: Zero tillage gives us an edge that may mean the difference between success and crop loss.

George Wady – 10 years of No Till

Opportunities:

In the present

    1. Increased profitability
    2. Agronomic reasons… increased moisture retention, improved infiltration, and better soil structure

In the future

1) Carbon sequestering

Challenges:

1) Herbicide resistance

Dealing with challenges:

1) Rotational management (crop and weed control)

Problems in future:

    1. Out-crossing of transgenetic canola
    2. Other herbicide resistance

Dealing with problems:

1) Management … change weed control strategies

Changes in future:

    1. don’t foresee drastic changes

Conclusions: Resistance continues to be a major problem, especially with the issue of the out-crossing of transgenetic canola. Rotational management will be even more critical.

Gregg Fotheringham – 10 years in No Till

Opportunities:

    1. Better seed bed
    2. Better moisture management

Note: Gregg says "Because zero tillers management activities are more intense they are further advanced in knowing the system of crop and herbicide rotations."

Challenges:

    1. How to handle perennials, especially thistles
    2. Changing weed dynamics

Dealing with challenges:

1) Management… crop rotation and herbicide rotation

Problems in future:

1) How to handle wet soils in spring

Note: Gregg says "No till in the muck is no fun"

Dealing with problems:

Changes in future:

    1. More intense rotations (legume/oilseed/ cereal). We will need to step up the management somewhat.

Conclusions: Zero tillers have opportunities because of their management practices.

Kendall Heise – 6 years of No Till

Opportunities:

In the present

    1. Less manpower
    2. More money in pocket
    3. Contribution to soil quality
    4. Contribution to wildlife habitat

In the future
    1. Value to carbon storage

Note: Kendall says "The increased level of management, not zero tillage, leads to improvements."

Challenges:

1) Weeds

Dealing with challenges:

Note: Kendall says "My challenges have been minor because the early adapters dealt with the big challenges in zero till"

Problems in future:

    1. Weed resistance
    2. Diseases… because of shortening the rotation for economic reasons
    3. Release of nitrous oxide in water logged and cool soil… (N2O is a greenhouse gas)

Dealing with problems:

    1. You have to be vigilant when crop scouting
    2. You have to be willing and able to change
    3. May have to go away from fall-banding

Changes in future:

Definitely there will be changes

Conclusions: Sometimes our ability to manage gives us more of an advantage than the zero tillage does.

In summarizing, most of these zero till experts believed that the better zero till farmers are generally better managers, therefore are more likely to succeed under less favorable conditions. As well, the Zero Till soil is more forgiving with less evaporation, more moisture and air retention with better internal drainage.

Most everyone mentioned carbon sequestering as an opportunity in the future. It remains to be seen if government will recognize zero tillage as a tool to reduce CO2 emissions.

Gordon McPhee provided me with a document from "A Workshop On Carbon Sequestration In Soils" held in St. Michaels, Maryland from Dec 3-5, 1998. I view it as a good sign that one of the presenters, Dr. Norman Rosenberg, of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, says, "Certainly there are technologies out there now to sequester more carbon. Many of our producers are already implementing those technologies, most not for the purpose of lowering atmospheric carbon, but rather for the benefits they see as building up soil organic matter and achieving good productivity responses." The document goes on to say, "It appears likely that in the future industrial emitters of carbon dioxide will want to purchase "credits" from farmers for sequestering carbon in their soils and/or that governments will provide incentives to farmers to encourage such activities."

It would certainly seem as though we will be hearing more and more about global warming and carbon sequestering in the months to come. I believe this issue may bring about the greatest change in agriculture since mechanization and it would certainly seem that zero till farmers are once again "in the right place at the right time."

In conclusion, as Robert Stevenson says, "Zero Till will change a lot but I’m not sure what it will look like or who will change it. In the mean time it’s the best place to park the farming system until another better one comes along."