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Article: Ray Ward on Soils (pdf)
From Vol. 2, Issue 1 of the Leading Edge.
(C) Copyright 2003. All rights reserved.
Available for purchase from No-Till On The Plains, Inc
(C) Copyright 2003. All rights reserved.
The No-till Incentive Program is designed not only to induce producers to try no-till farming, but also to give them the support they need for a long enough time to make them successful. The support provided will help producers make informed management decisions utilizing existing and new technologies while networking with other participants. The attractive incentive will help producers invest in needed equipment, make essential and economical weed control decisions, and provide for economic analyses of the no-till system as well as their existing system utilizing the MAX Program.
No-till implementation will have positive impacts on soil health, water quality, net farm income, and quality of life.
- Soil Health – Continuous no-till increases organic matter which improves infiltration, increases biological and microbial activity, and reduces compaction resulting in improved soil tilth.
- Water Quality – Increased surface cover and infiltration rates reduce runoff contaminants in surface waters.
- Net Farm Income - Reduced labor, fuel, and equipment needs to improve profitability.
- Quality of Life – No-tillers report having more quality time to spend with family and enjoy an environmental peace of mind.
Two informational/educational meetings annually since 1999 have included speakers representing the University of Nebraska – Lincoln Biological Systems Engineering and Extension, Nebraska Forest Service, USDA – Agricultural Research Service, LENRD, Dupont Ag Tech Center - Illinois, Ward Laboratories - Nebraska (Soil testing), and NRCS. The past presentation topics have included: fertilization and crop rotation in no-till systems, Soil Quality Test Kit demonstrations in the field, fertility, weed control, planter adjustments, insect and disease considerations, drought management, economics, carbon sequestration, MAX training, soil structure and compaction, equipment choices, and global change. Each fall meeting contained a field trip where demonstrations of infiltration rate increases and soil aggregate stability changes were documented. The annual newsletter has been provided to each participant to inform them of new technology and program updates.
No-Till Incentive Program guidelines are:
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Payment : $10 per acre annually up to 160 acres
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Eligibility: Any farm operator (no custom planting) may enroll a row crop field within the Lower Elkhorn NRD, which is predominantly Highly Erodible Land (HEL), or the portion a field that is HEL.
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Contract : Term of contract is five years. Early termination of the contract by the landowner will result in forfeiture of all payments. Tillage or cultivation by the landowner will result in termination of the contract with forfeiture of payments, or a one year extension of the contract with reduced or no payment the year of the violation.
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No-till system : No ground disturbing or crop residue disturbing operations between harvest and spring planting, no
cultivation, and a maximum of twenty-five (25%) of the row width can be disturbed in the planting operation.
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Requirements : 1. Attend two educational sessions per year, which will be developed by the NRD, NRCS, and Cooperative Extension Service.
2. Participate in the MAX program, a service of the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC).
