The survey also broke down respondents by various demographics. College-educated consumers were the most likely to report they had heard of no-till farming at 23%. About 24% of surveyed male consumers said they were aware of no-till farming, as opposed to just 14% of women. 

A lot can change in 30 years. In the early 1990s, Perrysville, Ohio, brothers Steve and Carl Ayers were adopting no-till and cover crops on 700 acres of continuous corn on their 650-cow dairy operation, creating a standard for other growers in the area to emulate. 

Roy Pfaltzgraff III, Haxton, Colo., successfully farms where it’s “bone dry.” But with a combination of persistence and a willingness to try new things, the family operation is thriving despite the lack of moisture.