DSC_0333-copy.jpg

Technology, Onfarm Research Pay Off For No-Tillers

Precision planting methods, fungicides and a diverse herbicide rotation help boost the bottom line for Wisconsin growers Josh Trautman and Nick Viney.

Having worked as crop advisors right out of college, Nick Viney and Josh Trautman know that doing the little things right — whether it’s planting, fertilization or onfarm testing — is a key to unlocking yield potential.

So their agronomic background has served them well as they no-till a majority of 1,700 acres of corn and soybeans at Badgerland Grain Farms near Evansville, Wis.

In 2010, in a perfect growing season, they saw 106-bushel soybeans in some areas of their farm, and corn yields averaged 215 bushels per acre.

They started no-tilling when they began farming in 2006, and as they grow their operation they plan to convert even more acres to no-till.

“The best thing you can do to protect the soil is to not touch it,” says Trautman.

No-Till Works Everywhere

Viney and Trautman say they’ve been unable to find a region of the U.S. where no-till doesn’t work when the practice is done properly.

They once thought tillage helped dry the soil, but don’t subscribe to that theory any longer.

“Last year, we changed the planting direction in one field, so we had to lightly work it so it wouldn’t be as rough,” says Trautman. “Because it was tilled, we thought we could get into it sooner. But when we compared it with a nearby no-till field, the tilled soil hadn’t dried any faster.”

Most of their cropland is rented, so the first year they farmed ground for a landlord they completed extensive soil tests and GPS-mapped…

To view the content, please subscribe or login.
 Premium content is for our Digital-only and Premium subscribers. A Print-only subscription doesn't qualify. Please purchase/upgrade a subscription with the Digital product to get access to all No-Till Farmer content and archives online. Learn more about the different versions and what is included.

Top Articles

Current Issue

Cover_CTG_1124.jpg

No-Till Farmer

Get full access NOW to the most comprehensive, powerful and easy-to-use online resource for no-tillage practices. Just one good idea will pay for your subscription hundreds of times over.

Subscribe Now

View More

Must Read Free Eguides

Download these helpful knowledge building tools

View More
Top Directory Listings