While many Corn Belt no-tillers have suspected it for years, it took researchers at North Dakota State University to demonstrate how continuously no-tilled soils require less nitrogen.

In midsummer, retired Ohio State University ag engineer Randall Reeder met with a group of Western Australian no-till farmers that were looking at U.S. agriculture. While touring Dave Brandt’s no-till corn, soybean and cover-crop operation at Carroll, Ohio, and viewing neighboring fields that were still being tilled, there were questions on why more American growers don’t no-till.

John Baker believes many no-tillers are too complacent about what they think they’re achieving. The proponent of minimal soil disturbance when seeding maintains some no-tillers think they’re doing a good job of sequestering carbon.