Jefferson County Soil Builders to host "Shop Talk" on no-till farming and cover crops

No-till farming is the practice of planting without tilling fields in the spring and fall. The practice requires fewer resources — diesel fuel and tillage equipment — than so-called conventional tillage.

Cover crops — like winter rye grass — are crops sown in between the cash crops, usually soybeans or corn, which are used to retain water and soil on fields, and maintain living roots in the soil.

Used together, the practices can also potentially reduce other inputs, like expensive nitrogen-based fertilizers.

The Soil Builders meetings typically consist of those, like Jefferson County grower Dean Weichmann, who have already been involved in the process for decades.

The group hopes to convert more people to no-till from conventional farming, Weichmann said. The State of Wisconsin is offering a nitrogen-optimization pilot program this year, and Weichmann said he’s conducting on-field research to determine best practices.

“A lot of the watershed groups are probably going to apply for funds,” he said. “Some of us would like to see the research done, too.”

For example, Wiechmann has a three-field 27-plot test going on his son’s farm.

Although no-till farming and cover crops offer plenty of advantages, they also pose unique challenges, Novak said.

As a crop consultant, many of his growers have already implemented no-till farming, Novak said. The challenge is attracting growers currently involved in conventional farming to come to meetings and consider the difference.

He plans to speak primarily about the economics of no-till, particularly the reduction in diesel fuel and equipment costs. However, different weeds can show up when growers first make the transition, even if the means to contain them are the same, Novak said.

“This actually makes sense economically,” he said. “Look what it’s doing for the environment. It’s a completely different mindset versus just going out and saying ‘We’re going to rip in the fall and come through with a soil finisher in the spring.’”