After a four-inch rain in May 2008, Ray Gaesser began to ponder other ways to protect his soil and crop residue.

Despite its benefits, maintaining continuous no-till has become increasingly challenging because of the lack of herbicide options for difficult-to-control and herbicide-resistant weeds, as well as issues with stratification of soil pH with increasing soil acidification near the surface.

In this month’s edition of Your No-Till History, we’re taking a look at 50 years of research data from the Belleville Research Center at Southern Illinois University, located in Belleville, Ill. The No-Till History series is made possible by Calmer Corn Heads.

Agriculture has a long history of bare soils, even contributing to the downfall of past civilizations.