When the board of the Pennsylvania No-Tillage Alliance spotted $25,000 in available grant funds to promote adoption of no-till, they swung into action. And they quickly upped the available dollars by partnering with farm equipment dealers and lenders to offer a comprehensive package to make no-till equipment more affordable and no-till more certain.

As a result, a number of Pennsylvania growers are receiving up to a $1,000 cash grant that can be used to purchase a new no-till drill or planter. On top of that savings, participating dealers are offering equipment discounts, while lending institutions are providing special financing packages to fund the balance of the purchase.

The first round of equipment grants were announced this year on March 15 and on April 13.

Equipment Is Essential.

“The board is made up entirely of practicing no-till producers, and they know that it takes the proper equipment to be successful in no-tilling, says Jeff McClellan, coordinator of the Alliance in University Park, Pa. “Sometimes, equipment is the hurdle, even though there is a strong interest in the state to move toward no-till.”

He says the idea was to partner with no-till equipment dealers that are skilled and knowledgeable about equipment and know how to set it up in the field. Then team them up with ag lenders to form a strong partnership to help farmers get the equipment it takes to be successful.

Six dealers signed up immediately and more have since joined. With the group offering grant dollars, dealers offering…