I farm on the edge of the old lakebed region of northwestern Ohio. And while our land is flat (0% to 2% slope), we see a lot of variation that can affect nutrient management, erosion control and final yield.

When people ask why I was the first farmer in our area of southeastern Iowa to start no-tilling 28 years ago, I answer that it was bred into me to control soil erosion any way I can — including extensive use of terraces and grass waterways. I couldn’t bear to see all that soil running into streams and rivers. I knew I had to do something to keep that from happening.