With ag prices in the dumpster, it’s easy to become discouraged about what’s happening on America’s farms. But if you awoke in Indianapolis after a 5-year nap, you wouldn’t have known prices were down. That’s what we saw from 890 attendees from six countries at our 2019 National No-Tillage Conference in Indianapolis.

Over 4 days and hundreds of conversations, our No-Till Farmer staff didn’t hear a single word of “woe is me” or witnessed any group pity parties. Despite the free-fall in commodity pricing and growing concerns over ag tariffs, this group of no-tillers are among the most positive thinkers I’ve ever seen. Other farmers and suppliers say this attitude is unique — compared to the “gloom and doom” attitude that floods the thinking of growers at many farm shows.

Can-Do Attitude 

Focusing their efforts and attention on what’s in their control, these no-tillers were seeking new ways to boost yields and trim costs while protecting soil and the environment.

As data in the chart at the lower left demonstrates, no-tillers understand the huge dollar benefits available from shifting to less tillage. Dick Wittman, a veteran no-tiller and financial analyst from Lewiston, Idaho, explained how no-tillers earn a 19% higher return on equity vs. growers using intensive tillage. (Note: Share this data with lenders, landowners and suppliers who aren’t sold on no-till.)

I’ve been covering no-till for 47 years and the positive thinking from the hundreds of innovative no-tillers at our conference really made an impression after another tough…