Many farmers think that purchasing a direct seeding drill is the first step in the transition. They are wrong. First of all, you have to answer the question: why do I need no-till?
The first step should be setting the goal you want to achieve. And the more accurate your goal, the better.
In order to articulate an accurate goal, make an assessment of your issues.
Each farmer will have his or her own issues. They depend on your individual farming conditions.
Your issues may include lack of moisture, erosion, excessive moisture, erosion, lack of labor, deterioration of soil fertility, or low economic returns.
It is important to understand your issues because problem solving helps to see the first results of transition quicker.
When you determine which problems you want to solve, you'll find the goal of transition much easier. The following will be your first step: determine why you need no-till? Answering this question will provide a long-term goal, which you'll achieve step by step.
Do not start no-tilling if you don't have a goal. You will abandon it sooner or later. You will think up reasons why you don't have money or enthusiasm, but the real problem will be the absence of motivation to convert to no-till.
The goals may be different for everybody:
- to improve efficiency and competitiveness of your own business;
- to broaden the assortment of commodities being produced;
- to reduce risks and improve business resilience;
- to reduce inputs;
- to make the work easier;
- to have more free time;
- to protect and improve the soil, including for future generations;
- to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; get access to carbon credits;
- to solve specific problems relevant to your farm.
Of course, you can have other goals not mentioned here.
Here is a practical assignment:
- Analyze the problems requiring solutions and put them down in a list.
- Look at your list and think, which of the problems can be addressed through no-till. Mark them up.
- Ask yourself: why do I need no-till?
- Put down your goal(s) in capital letters on a piece of paper and hang it where it will be clearly seen: it should always be in front of your eyes.
Now when you're sure why you need no-till, it's time to take actions.
Sit down at the Learning Table
Study the subject matter.
Once your long-term goal becomes clear, start studying the subject matter. Study is not only about collection of information. What's important in any study process is application of new knowledge.
The anecdote told by Volodymyr Khorishko (AgroSoyuz, Dnipropetrovsk region), describes technological difficulties and gaining new knowledge:
You asked about disadvantages. One of the disadvantages of the technology is not actually a disadvantage; difficulties would be a better term here.
As this is a multifaceted system, you need to model all factors. To change factors in a certain sub-system, you need to re-model other sub-systems.
This is where the difficulty is. You need to start over and begin studying. You need to perceive some things differently, look at them in a different way.
How many of us are ready to study? How many of us are ready to obtain information in this way? Let me give you an example. Once we received land for construction of a building for livestock, we started looking into natural housing for cattle. I went to work as a herdsman for an American cattle farmer. I wanted to spy while working and call back home to manage the construction process. This is one thing.
Here's the second thing. We did a farm inspection tour on Sunday. We built a facility to raise horses. We hired a professional to train horses. I ask:
- Why doesn't the carousel work?
- He says: I need to train horses how to use it.
- Understood! Train them. I ask him on Monday:
- Why doesn't the carousel work?
- I need to train horses how to use it. I ask him on Tuesday:
- Why doesn't the carousel work?
- Didn't we tell you: we need to train horses how to use it. I say:
- Understood! Now I understand. You will show them one answer. You'll take a manual on how to behave in a carousel and you'll read it to them.
You see! This is his approach to training. Training is not informing. Training is about trying; your skills are here at your farm. Nobody has ever learned anything by just listening. We must learn in action. This is where the difficulties are. Difficulties are not a disadvantage.
No-Till Farmer's "Getting Started With No-Till Farming" is brought to you courtesy of Calmer Corn Heads.
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