Editor's note: Today’s no-tillers can choose from a variety of planters, drills and air seeders not only from shortline manufacturers, but the major equipment companies as well. That wasn’t always the case.

To help you understand the equipment frustrations faced by early-day no-tillers, this issue’s “Your No-Till History” page features two “Frankly Speaking” columns from 1975 and 1993. Even today, we still see a strong emphasis on marketing big horsepower tractors and intensive tillage tools.

— Frank Lessiter, No-Till Farmer Editor 

Are Machinery Companies Sold on No-Till? (September 1975)

HAVING SPENT the last 3 years working with no-tillers throughout the country doesn’t make me any expert on no-tillage. But it has led me to wonder about the role of equipment manufacturers as it relates to the future growth of no-tillage.

It seems to me that some farm machinery companies still are not convinced of the value of no-tillage. If they are, they certainly are soft-pedaling the concept in hopes of selling bigger horsepower tractors and wider tillage tools.

Granted, there is more profit in producing large horsepower tractors and larger tillage rigs than in no-tillage planters. And every company should be allowed to produce what they choose.

Plus, there is a good demand for bigger horsepower tractors and wider implements from farmers today. So you can’t blame the companies for concentrating on these products.

A Discouraging Word. But some farmers who want to try no-tillage are becoming discouraged by the lack of interest by farm machinery manufacturers and the fact that the supply of no-till planters has not met the farmer demand in the past 2 years.

One Iowa farmer could not find a no-till planter anywhere at dealerships within 50 miles of his farm. So, he decided to put a no-till planter together by buying various parts from different dealers. He got it built . . . but it took trips to dealerships in 3 states to get all the parts.

Frankly Speaking: A Non-Whitewashed 'First-Hand' Account of No-Till Farming's Rise Over 50-Plus Years

The only editor of No-Till Farmer since its first edition in 1972, Frank Lessiter is known as the “Johnny Appleseed of No-Tillage” for producing the only voice for growers to learn from one another about farming without the plow.

Like the farmers he wrote for, he and no-till were scoffed at by universities, equipment suppliers, machinery dealers and, of course, the local coffee shops where “ugly or lazy farming” gossip ran rampant. With personal passion, Lessiter persistently reported on no-till successes and new solutions to usher a major paradigm shift in ag.

Frankly Speaking is the first-of-its kind compilation of 683 of Lessiter’s personal columns and opinions – as they occurred in real-time. Lessiter’s front-row seat spans more than half a century, during which he witnessed no-till acres grow from 3.3 million acres to 110 million acres today, and set forth a global revolution in farming.

His brief and to-the-point essays — often lined with humor, rants and “shots across the bow” — include myriad glimpses into no-till farming’s storied history.

Visit no-tillfarmer.com/frankly to learn more about Frankly Speaking

Bigger and Bigger. One farm machinery manufacturer completely dropped its no-till planter because it did not fit marketing plans for big tractors and wider, larger tillage tools.

Another major farm machinery manufacturer has a no-till planter on the market, but does little to promote it. If a farmer really wants one, they have one. But they would prefer to sell him a big horsepower tractor and matching plow.

So, some attitudes are going to have to change if no-tillage is to grow rapidly in the future. For one thing, farmers are going to have to demand what they want in the way of no-till planters.

Should Machinery Firms Lead? (Mid-March 1993)

A RECENT ARTICLE from the Associated Press (AP) which appeared in a number of daily newspapers made for interesting reading for no-tillers and machinery manufacturers alike.

In the article, Washington, D.C., based USDA soil scientist Doral Kemper stated Deere & Co. jeopardized its market dominance by spurning no-till farming practices. This was the case despite no-till’s obvious advantages to farmers and the environment, he stated.

By ignoring the benefits of no-till, he said Deere actually discouraged “the greatest innovation in agriculture.”

“John Deere is famous for the plow...and they found it hard to give up a basic article of faith—that the plow is the best thing for the land. They didn’t want to give up a very profitable part of their business—big tractors and plows.”

Deere Says, “Not True.” AP writer Bill Vogrin went to Deere for their views on the issue.

Deere spokesman Robert Combs said the firm introduced a no-till planter in the late 1960s, but it was a flop and the firm pulled it from the market after a few years.

Deere tested more no-till equipment in the 1970s, but found farmers weren’t yet ready to convert to no-till in big numbers.

Combs said farmers know what they want and need and that machinery manufacturers like Deere don’t try to tell farmers what to do.

Kemper disagrees, believing no-till is the greatest innovation in agriculture to occur in this century—perhaps in all time.

Should Have “Bought Into” Trend. The move to no-till started 30 years ago and Kemper believes the slow growth was caused in part by Deere, which lobbied against federal rules that mandated a transition to conservation tillage.

Kemper believes Deere should have recognized the many advantages of no-till and the industry trend in that direction instead of dragging its feet.

In the article, Kemper added, “Deere didn’t recognize the opportunity of no-till until they faced a crisis situation and were looking at the danger of losing market.” He believes they forfeited all demand for specialized no-till equipment to shortline manufacturers for a number of years.

But that changed in 1988 when Deere came out with their 750 no-till drill, one of the hottest pieces of no-till machinery to ever hit the market. That helped the entire industry when Deere put its “green stamp” of approval on no-till.

Whether you agree or disagree with Kemper’s analysis of the no-till machinery situation, it sure makes for an interesting reading.

A History of No-Till. To read the other 681 “Frankly Speaking” columns I’ve written since 1973, check out the details below to get your own copy of this new 872-page book.

Travel along with me over the last 50-plus years as I shared my personal no-till frustrations, successes and optimism on a revolutionary idea many considered nothing more than a fad.

It’s been an amazing journey as I’ve watched no-till here in the U.S. grow from 3.3 acres in 1972 to nearly 110 million acres today — with much more to come.