When three Ohio State University educators spoke about soil properties and structure at last winter’s National No-Tillage Conference, they asked attendees to help them take a closer look at the many changes occurring with less tillage.

High Snowfall totals and colder-than-typical temperatures have historically meant hotter- and drier-than-normal summers, which has fueled speculation among some weather prognosticators that the Midwest could see severe drought conditions.

Researchers from 13 USDA Agricultural Research Service locations, state universities and the U.S. Department of Energy are finishing the second season of field studies in a 5-year project to determine where, when and how much stover can be harvested for ethanol use without harming the soil.