When people ask why I was the first farmer in our area of southeastern Iowa to start no-tilling 28 years ago, I answer that it was bred into me to control soil erosion any way I can — including extensive use of terraces and grass waterways. I couldn’t bear to see all that soil running into streams and rivers. I knew I had to do something to keep that from happening.

It's easy to tell that no-tiller Jim Kinsella is passionate about soil carbon.

While you're certainly not about to lose the use of herbicides, you need to fully understand that any ban on agricultural chemicals would bring an end to all the benefits you’re getting from no-tilling.