UK vs US - No Till

[snarling bee]

So in one sentence you say farming methods need to be adapted to suit your climate and soils, and in the next you are telling us what to do.

PS we keep all our straw, although some goes through the pig unit. But we also have 3x the straw that you do, so it can be a problem, and probably chopped in the damp so not so good. Do you have slugs?

 

[Brisel]

Here's some of the straw we need to deal with @Farmer Roy Not exactly the same as your situation even if the principles are the same.

 

[Dukes Fit]

The BIG difference between the UK attempt at zero till & how we do it, is we aim for maximum stubble retention & ground cover. Ground cover IS KING !!!!
You NEED to retain that straw . . .

This being because you have a much hotter and drier climate than we do here, so your straw retention is vital to your moisture.

We generally don’t have that problem here

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Litter maintains the water cycle, though.
Not only conserve moisture, also helps balance out the N that's applied to growing crops.

1 unit N burns 30 units of C, so if you apply 100 units/ha you need 3000kg/ha of residue to stand still - otherwise you compact your soil (even if your tractor is on tracks/tramlines)
If you apply 180 units, you need 5400kg/ha of residue just for "maintenance" of your soil's water cycle

No-tillers here are rapidly learning that drills with narrow spacings just aren't fit for purpose

 

[Bury the Trash]

Here's some of the straw we need to deal with @Farmer Roy Not exactly the same as your situation even if the principles are the same.
View attachment 876972

Slug heaven

 

[Bury the Trash]

you plough a field that's 5x5 miles lolllll

No disrespect mate but thatlooksmore like the moon than anywhere around here.

 

[Brisel]

Slug heaven

That, and a nightmare to pull a drill through!

 

[ollie989898]

I am convinced that long term the no-till solution will be stripper headers. Chopping a thick layer of material and leaving it on the deck isn't how nature does it.

 

[Brisel]

Nor is monocropping, but here we are.

 

[Pilatus]

Hi all,
I had a question from one of my friends and wanted to get a more educated answer than mine (only been in the industry a few years) Any help greatly appreciated.

In the US they do a lot of no-till farming compared to the UK. I wanted to know what the difference is here about the process or the soil and why you till so much and so deep here??

Thanks

May I suggest that you Google “Jim Halford Conserva Pak airseeder”. Jim invented one of the first zero till drills. You will learn the reasons why Jim invented his drill.
My good Canadian friend Keith Head is a personal friend of his and used to go to Australia as well as Canada and USA setting the Conserva Pak airseeders up for farmers.

 

[Bman]

In the northern corn growing states it seem they do similar tillage systems to us between corn and soya crops