Plenty of valuable ideas that you can use to make no-till even more profitable in your operation came out of presentations by eight veteran growers at last winter’s Northwest Direct Seed Intensive Cropping Conference in Pasco, Wash. These farmers rely on no-till to turn available moisture into higher, more profitable yields.

1. Watch Seeding Methods. Pay close attention to seeding rates, depth and uniformity. “Yields are often cut back because the seed was placed too deep or at too low of a rate to allow for proper stooling,” says John Aeschliman of Colfax, Wash. “Get the seed planted in the dirt! It doesn’t do well if it is planted in the residue, especially in lower rainfall areas.”

2. Change Seeding Depth. When Dale and Gary Galbreath first started direct seeding, they placed seed at the same depth as when seeding conventionally.

Then the Ritzville, Wash., brothers found no-tilling at a shallower depth offsets the colder ground temperature. This gives quicker emergence and helps get the crop established earlier.

3. More Bio-Tech. Nathan and Steve Riggers, no-tillers at Nezperce, Idaho, believe introduction of herbicide-resistant wheat, barley, peas and lentils would definitely accelerate the conversion to direct seeding in the Northwest.

4. Narrow Down Rows. The Gal­breath brothers narrowed the row widths on their drill from 10 to 7 1/2 inches. This lets them use higher plant populations and provides better weed competition. Narrower rows are particularly valuable with spring-seeded wheat.

5. Spread Straw And Chaff. Dale Galbreath believes this is not…