Park the Plow: No-Till Drills a Better Option for Soil Health

There’s something about the smell and feel of a freshly plowed field that tugs at the heartstrings of farmers. But unfortunately, that fresh-tilled dirt smell that is so loved is actually the smell of carbon being released from the soil.

While tilling the soil is a practice as old as agriculture itself, research now shows there are better options when it comes to protecting and preserving soil health. Practices like no-till, minimum till and strip-till are alternatives to conventional plowing that actually help protect soil health.

“Especially in hilly terrain like we see in Ashland County, using a no-till drill instead of a traditional plow can make a huge different in the health and long-term productivity of your soil,” said Erica White, Ashland Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) technician and Jerome Fork watershed coordinator.  “No-till management reduced the risk of erosion, increases water infiltration, builds organic matter, and increases the amount of carbon available in your soil—all of which are important when it comes to managing soil health.

That’s why Ashland SWCD has a long-standing tradition of having no-till drills available for rent to area farmers. The district currently rents two drills, both 2018 John Deere models in a10-foot width and a 15-foot width. Both drills rent for just $12 per acre with a minimum charge of $100 for the 10-foot drill and $200 for the 15-foot drill.

“If farmers haven’t tried no-till before, we want to provide them that opportunity without the risk of making a big initial investment in equipment,” White said. “No-till offers a lot of benefits to the farmer and their long-term soil health, and we love working with farmers to help them figure out how no-till management can work in their operation.”

Drill rental is managed by Ashland SWCD administrative assistant Maxine Swaisgood. Swaisgood can be reached by phone at 419-281-7645 and can make arrangements with local farmers to schedule drill rental and contract signing on a time schedule that works for them during the busy spring planting season.

For additional information on Ashland SWCD’s equipment rental program, visit the Ashland SWCD website at www.AshlandSWCD.com or the district’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AshlandSWCD

Ashland SWCD was named the 2020 Soil and Water Conservation District of the Year by the Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts.