No-tillers looking for a new tool to fight pests might look back at history again and see what a trap crop might do on a small area of their farm. You’ll never know for sure unless you experiment.

On this episode of Conservation Ag Update, brought to you by Martin-Till, no-tillers from across the world weigh in on the million-dollar question, “How do you control slugs?”

Summer has officially arrived and nutrient deficiencies and pests are now a problem in many fields.  Healthy plants have fewer problems with disease and insects, according to soil specialist Jim Hoorman, so optimum plant nutrition is important for keeping pests at bay and optimizing crop yields. 

Herbicides alone aren’t going to be enough to control weeds in the long run, says Jon Spreng, a no-tiller and crop consultant from Perrysville, Ohio. The current herbicide choices available on the market may last 10-30 years, but unless new active ingredients come along, the fourth-generation grower says he believes that weed resistance will only get worse.

Earlier this summer, many growers, suppliers and educators figured the lessons learned the hard way in 2017 and 2018 would dramatically reduce this year’s concerns about dicamba use on soybeans. Unfortunately, that hasn't proved to be the case.