What are strip till and conservation tillage?
Strip till
Stip tillage is a relatively new form of conservation tillage initially developed by Progressive Farm Products. During the last 20 years, the techniques of no-till and in-row sub soiling have been combined to produce a valuable line of strip till equipment.
Strip till preserves all of the crop residue left from the previous year's harvest. Only a narrow strip of this residue is removed in which the seed is planted. Mounds are created in this narrow strip during fertilizer application in the fall, creating a warmer, drier seedbed.
"It fools the corn into thinking it was field cultivated," says Vern Williamson, director of marketing for Progressive Farm Products. "Our rule of thumb is to run [the knives] 6.5 in. deep at 6.5 mph to get good fracturing of the soil."
Conservation tillage
Conservation tillage is a strategy and farming technique for establishing crops in the previous crop's residues. These residues are intentionally left on the soil surface from the previous year. Effective conservation tillage will help battle soil erosion and has a number of other important benefits over regular conventional tillage.
Additional conservation tillage benefits include:
- Improved water conservation
- A reduction in soil erosion
- Reduced fuel consumption
- Added planting and harvesting flexibility
- Reduced labor requirements
- Improved soil tilth
Conservation tillage can also improve overall air quality by reducing air pollution caused by dust and diesel emissions. Unlike conventional tillage, only half as manay tractors are needed when cultivating a field through conservation tillage. As a result, savings are estimated between $40 and $75 per acre each year.
Click here to request free literature on conservation tillage with strip till equipment
Click here to contact Progressive Farm Products, Inc.
