spring tillage options
After a wet fall and spring, corn and “However, the overall recommenda- “Vertical tillage tools have the advan- tion in no-till fields. For soybeans,
soybean farmers must decide what field tion with spring strip tillage — tage of leaving more residue cover than a yields on sub-soiled plots were down
tillage operations are essential before and especially when it is close to the field cultivator or a disk, but less residue 24%, compared to a 13% yield drop
planting the 2009 crop. planting date — is for farmers to wait cover than an undisturbed no-till opera- under no-till.
“Where I think things are a little bit until soil conditions at the 4- to 5-inch tion,” Vyn said. “This operation is best “You may remember that previous
different in 2009 compared to a normal depth allow you to strip till without suited for fields that are poorly drained compaction research at the same site
spring is that there was less tillage done creating large clods of soil that may or have high clay content and therefore gave results more favorable to sub-soil-
last fall than what may have typically become excessively hard. Tillage depth dry more slowly in the spring.” ing, but there was a key difference. The
been the case, because the conditions last should also be limited to no more than Vyn said that whatever tillage opera- plots were compacted three years in a
fall were fairly wet,” said Tony Vyn, 5 inches.” tion is chosen, it’s of utmost importance row, but once annual sub-soiling began
Purdue University agronomist. “In this For farmers who completed primary to wait for dry enough soil conditions in 1991, there was no additional inten-
situation, farmers have a few alternatives tillage operations in the fall but feel a and to keep all operations shallow. tional compaction for 12 years,” said
to consider.” secondary operation is necessary this “If we continue to deal with wet Randall Reeder, Ohio State University
In Indiana, up to 70%% of soybeans spring, Vyn recommended keeping spring conditions, soil moisture will Extension agricultural engineer in a
and 30% of corn are no-till. tillage shallow and limiting the number increase very quickly with depth, which recent CORN Newsletter. “In that situa-
“The first option in the spring is to not of passes to one. means that deep tillage operations in tion, sub-soiling gave consistently high-
do any tillage at all,” Vyn said. “Based on “I think it’s critical that the depth of spring could cause smearing and com- er corn and soybean yields, compared
the experiences of the past 10 years in tillage be limited, but also the number paction,” he said. “The combination of to shallow chisel plowing. When the
Indiana, it’s fairly common for soybeans to of tillage passes be limited to one,” he smearing and compaction is always research practices were changed in 2002
be no-till seeded, typically into corn stover said. “Should two or three tillage opera- going to be more of an issue when the to include intentional compaction every
from last year. Some corn is also no-till tions be considered essential for leveling soil conditions are reasonably wet at the three years, and continuous no-till
seeded, typically into soybean stubble and fields or achieving weed control? It’s time of tillage, and when dry, warm con- replacing chisel plowing, the benefit of
sometimes into corn stubble.” our recommendation that the second, ditions persist after doing the operation.” deep tillage disappeared. The current
While no-till seeding may be the solu- and if absolutely necessary, the third According to results from a six-year research is much closer to what hap-
tion for some producers, others may operation be done as shallow as possi- compaction study at the OARDC pens on farms with heavy machinery.”
need to consider their options. One of ble. Generally speaking, there is no Northwest Agricultural Research Soil moisture plays a big role in
those options is strip tillage. inherent need to do spring tillage to Station near Hoytville, land in continu- compaction resulting from tillage.
“Strip tillage is essentially the distur- depths of any deeper than three inches.” ous no-till showed less effect from “The worst possible combination
bance of relatively narrow, 10-inch bands A final option for spring field prepa- intentional compaction than soil that would be tilling when the soil is wet and
in fields where corn will be seeded into 30- ration is vertical tillage — an operation was deep-tilled each fall. Corn/soy- having that followed by a hot, dry
inch rows,” Vyn said. “This option has in which producers use tools with bean rotation plots were compacted in spring,” Vyn said. “So a big part of
been increasing dramatically in Indiana — straight coulters, harrows and rolling the fall of 2002 and 2005 using a 600- tillage is trying to make sure you limit
and although strip tillage is normally most baskets in order to fluff up remaining bushel grain cart with a load of 20 tons soil damage and creation of any root-
effective if completed in the fall, spring surface crop residue with shallow soil per axle. Averaged over six years, corn restricting layers. That way, you give the
strip tillage can be a viable option after wet penetration, without actually inverting yields were reduced by 15% on sub- maximum potential for unimpeded root
falls like the one we had in 2008. the soil. soiled plots, as opposed to a 9% reduc- development after tillage and planting.”
Information about the soybean checkoff request for referendum
According to the Soybean Promotion and Research Program, an automatic producer review of the soybean checkoff program is required
every five years. This automatic review provision in the law requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture to conduct a request for referendum.
Each person who was a producer of soybeans in the United States and who provides documentation that they, or the producer entity they
represent, have paid an assessment on soybeans at least once from January 1, 2007, through December 31, 2008, would be eligible to
request a referendum. Only those producers who desire a referendum should participate. Participation is voluntary.
Producers who do not want a referendum need not take any action.
Producers who desire a referendum may request such by completing Form LS-51-1, available at the Farm Service Agency (FSA) office
in the county where FSA maintains and processes the producer’s administrative farm records. Producers who do not participate in FSA
programs may obtain a form at the county FSA office that serves the county where the producer owns or rents land. Form LS-51-1 may also
be obtained via the Internet at http://www.ams.usda.gov/lsmarketingprograms. Producers may obtain a form in person, by mail or by
facsimile from May 4, 2009, through May 29, 2009. Requests made in person or by facsimile must be received in the county FSA office by
May 29, 2009. Mail-in requests must be postmarked by May 29, 2009, and received in the county FSA office by June 5, 2009. Producers
also need to attach documentation such as a sales receipt to this form showing that the producer, corporation or other entity paid
assessments on soybeans during the period from January 1, 2007, through December 31, 2008. FSA will determine a producer’s eligibility
and notify all producers who are ineligible to participate in the request for referendum process.
For more information on request for referendum procedures, please contact your local FSA office or visit
www.ams.usda.gov/lsmarketingprograms.
Ohio’s Country Journal • May 2009 •Crops 19
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