Why are you a No Tiller?

Richard III

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
CW5 Cheshire
I suppose one of the main reasons I started No Till actually was to avoid spending half of September sat on a tractor and plough. Even worse though, is then having to sit on a 3m power harrow drill either stirring clods or making putty, at the breakneck speed of 3 mph. Don't miss such experiences at all.
 
I'm not a no-tiller. I have to remind folks that stop in and ask questions, that using a no-till drill does not make me a no-tiller, just a person that uses a no-till drill. I am a conservation minded person, or dare I say a direct driller.

Why? I think on going education about soil health. Projected political pressures. And I think to some extent the overwhelming desire on a personal level, to try something new and see how far I can take it.

I watched this video last night. Though it did not repulse me, I did hear myself saying that I'm sure glad I dont do that any more.
 

martian

DD Moderator
BASE UK Member
Location
N Herts
I'm not a no-tiller. I have to remind folks that stop in and ask questions, that using a no-till drill does not make me a no-tiller, just a person that uses a no-till drill. I am a conservation minded person, or dare I say a direct driller.

Why? I think on going education about soil health. Projected political pressures. And I think to some extent the overwhelming desire on a personal level, to try something new and see how far I can take it.

I watched this video last night. Though it did not repulse me, I did hear myself saying that I'm sure glad I dont do that any more.
You guys are tough. I got a minute into the video, before bailing out. Might have to have a little lie down.
 

kneedeep

Member
Location
S W Lancashire
Cos I'm surrounded by 'proper ' farmers,
Who have as much empathy with their biggest asset, as with a single parent mother living in a tower block, in the middle of Liverpool .
There's a generation of post war 'agricultural producers' who have made a lot if money exploiting hundreds of years of built up fertility, for very short term gain.
They're now failing, some faster than others.

( Plus I like being different )
 
because I have seen and used all the different systems over the years and the minimum amount of cultivation done with the right timeing always produces the best margin

get the timeing wrong with any system produces a lower margin

the systems
plough and disc spring tyne and roll drill up to 13 passes when fuel 9p per litre
burn dd
burn incorporate ash drill roll
burn spring tyne 3 times then drill
plough power harrow drill
plough disc powerharrow drill
no till drill roll
plough spin on seed spring tyne

all systems have had failed crops in at least one year and all have produced fields with the highest yields
 
I direct drill cos when a paddock is like this why would you bother working it

ImageUploadedByTFF1420528384.118338.jpg
 
I have a few reasons, one is as a business decision it made a tidy little business starting with not much, and only needing one tractor and and a drill.

Another is because I bought into all the benefits that organic matter is supposed to bring to the soil, and notill is the best way to improve or at least maintain om when growing crops .
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 116 38.3%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 116 38.3%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 42 13.9%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 6 2.0%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 5 1.7%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 18 5.9%

Expanded and improved Sustainable Farming Incentive offer for farmers published

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  • 1
Expanded Sustainable Farming Incentive offer from July will give the sector a clear path forward and boost farm business resilience.

From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and The Rt Hon Sir Mark Spencer MP Published21 May 2024

s300_Farmland_with_farmFarmland_with_farmhouse_and_grazing_cattle_in_the_UK_Farm_scene__diversification__grazing__rural__beef_GettyImages-165174232.jpg

Full details of the expanded and improved Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) offer available to farmers from July have been published by the...
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