Three individuals and one organization are being recognized as the 20th Class of No-Till Innovators for leading the adoption and advancement of no-till at the 24th annual National No-Tillage Conference.

Sponsored by Syngenta and No-Till Farmer, the program honors growers, researchers, businesses and organizations for their ongoing commitment to, and contributions toward, advancing no-till management.

No-till acres have increased from 3.3 million in 1972 to 96 million as of 2012, according to the USDA’s 2012 Census of Agriculture, making up 25% of total farm acres. The census found another 27% of total U.S. crop acres fell under “conservation tillage.”

The four No-Till Innovators have made important contributions to this growth and were chosen based on dedication to the advancement of no-till farming, regardless of the type of crop grown and equipment, seed, seed treatment or crop protection products used.

The 2015 honorees are:

• David Brandt, Carroll, Ohio, no-tiller, Crop Production
• Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative, Indiana, Organization
• Lloyd Murdock, University of Kentucky, Research and Education
• Phil Needham, Kentucky, Business and Service

“At Syngenta, we aim to provide growers with products and methods to support biodiversity and increase efficiencies that improve yield and quality potential,” says Melissa Lord, customer event and tradeshow lead for Syngenta. “As leaders in no-till farming, this year’s…