1995 Annual Report for FS95-022
Demonstration of No-Tillage Grain Production for Soil and Moisture Conservation
Summary
In the early 1980s, the producer was using a rotation of wheat-fallow-wheat-grain sorghum in a conventional dryland tillage system. Because of declining farm profits he realized that farming sustainably was possible only if he made some significant changes to his operation.
At that time, little local research was available on utilizing and conserving water with no-till systems, so the producer experimented with his own system to boost yield and profitability through improved water utilization and conservation. By 1984, he had a workable system that could be used by other farmers. During the past 10 years, he has continued to fine-tune the system and help fellow producers adopt parts of it for their operations.
Objectives
1.) Demonstrate the effectiveness of dryland no-till management systems for water conservation.
2.) Instruct other farmers in the adoption of dryland no-till management systems to improve water conservation.
Results
This project is an ongoing field demonstration to show farmers that they can increase net profit with a no-till system that encourages water conservation. Past demonstrations have successfully shown other producers how to conserve water. With the increased importance of conservation compliance, no-till management will continue to be an important practice on both dryland and irrigated land.
Outreach
The producer conducts tours and workshops on his farm. He has done this annually since 1984, with about 300 people now attending. In 1995, he presented a no-till workshop and tour that featured information on residue management and moisture conservation. Included in the demonstrations were short seminars by extension personnel and university specialists, as well as presentations by other producers who have adopted this system.
Due to a severe drought and the loss of the local research and extension specialist, the annual workshop and tour was cancelled in 1996. The 1997 no-till workshop and tour, while attended by fewer farmers than in 1995, due partly to an admission charge to cover expenses that in the past came from the producer’s pocket, was another success in his series of field days.
December 1997.