Requiring fewer trips across the field and using much less horsepower, no-till may be among the easiest way for farmers to meet the new federal fine-particle air standards.

With some midwestern no-tillers facing concerns with cold and wet soils, building fall strips may be a good way to dry out and warm up these problem soils before no-tilling in the spring.

When Harvey Brink explains how no-till has helped trim labor and equipment costs, he maintains that it saves driving across 11,500 acres per year in his operation.

Since soil organic matter is extremely important for no-till success, it's definitely to your benefit to leave all of your crop residue in the field. Not only does higher soil organic matter encourage a slow-release source of nutrients, but it will also improve the structure of your soils.

When Roger Hilliard started no-tilling 15 years ago, he did it out of necessity.

A recent study by Virginia Polytechnic University educators sheds some light on the true cost of no-till weed control. Besides looking at herbicide costs, the study took a close look at the role that manure application rates have in determining weed-control costs.

Saskatchewan farmers recognize the value of leaving direct seeded crop stubble standing, since it traps more snow than cut or chopped stubble. It’s especially important in western Canada where as much as one-third of the annual precipitation can come from winter snows, says Saskatchewan Soil Conservation Association agrologist Tim Nerbas.

When it comes to recognizing the biggest breakthroughs in no-till, Keith Kemp says it has been an increase in soil organic matter, new hybrids and varieties, improved herbicides, decreased production costs and the use of several valuable seeding accessories.