Since soil creatures definitely have a positive impact on soil quality, no-tillers normally do all they can to manage their soils in ways to protect and nurture these valuable creatures.

When Roger Hilliard started no-tilling 15 years ago, he did it out of necessity.

In the late 1940s and early 1950s, many farmers in south-central Nebraska began drilling irrigation wells as they began flood irrigating row crops in furrows.

A simple question about using starter fertilizers set off a long string of postings recently on the No-Till Farmer Web site. No-tillers also were inquiring about problems with fertilizer pumps and one person wanted to find out if he should buy a weight transfer system. If you are looking for a place to share your thoughts, ideas or philosophies, please visit www.no-tillfarmer.com.

With all of the agronomic benefits that earthworms deliver, readers frequently ask the No-Till Farmer editors whether they should consider seeding fields with more earthworms, especially nightcrawlers.

As a no-tiller, Ralph Alshouse recognizes the importance of nurturing the living organisms found in the soil to produce high-yielding crops. An intensive study of many of the soil conditions found in no-till has helped him fully understand what is occurring with the soils in his Corydon, Iowa, no-till corn and soybean operation.

No-tiller Jerry Crew may be outspoken and not always tactful, but he always means to be respectful when he steps onto his no-till soapbox.