What Is No Till Farming

What is the definition of no till farming? Simply put, no till farming is the practice of planting crops without tilling the soil. Also known as “no till planting” and “zero tillage,” no till farming first became popular in the United States after World War II.

Conventional Tilling
Tilling the soil, also known as tillage, is the conventional way of preparing the soil for planting by digging, stirring, and turning it over. Typically, the soil is turned over with an implement to a depth of several inches or more, which usually requires two or more passes over the field. Tilling kills unwanted plants and buries mulch, leaving behind a barren soil. Conventional tilling is more time-consuming and can even lower the quality of the soil, causing soil compaction, and leading to soil erosion.

No Till Farming
No till planting makes sense because there are less steps involved, thus your productivity is higher. The soil does not have to be tilled. Instead, the seeds are planted through the remains of previous crops by planters or drills that cut a V-slot (seed furrow), place the seeds, and close the furrow.

This no till stand of corn is nearly perfect.

Benefits Of No Till Farming
Some of the benefits of no till farming include:

• lower fuel and labor costs
• higher crop yields
• less soil erosion
• fewer passes across the field
• less evaporation of soil moisture
• increased water going into the soil (increased infiltration)
• more fertile soils
• more resilient soils
• higher soil quality and productivity

Most planters and drills on the market today were not designed specifically for no till farming. And even the ones that were (such as the John Deere series 50, 60, and 90 drills), could use improving.

At Exapta, we design and manufacture add-ons, attachments, parts, and equipment to make no till seeding easier, more efficient, and more profitable.

Check out our catalog of no till equipment parts – you can view, download a PDF, or we’ll be happy to mail you a catalog.
For more information on zero tillage farming, you can read our no till farming facts.  If you would like to learn how we can help you improve your crop yields with no till farming, please call (800) 417-8020, or e-mail info@notillagriculture.com.

Note: Exapta is located in McPherson, Kansas, USA. We ship no till products, parts, and equipment throughout the U.S., Canada, and the world.