No tillers have many cover-crop options that can improve soil tilth, warm up temperatures at planting time, manage pest problems and much more, according to experts who spoke to about 100 no-tillers attending the Ohio No-Till Council’s field day earlier this fall.

I farm on the edge of the old lakebed region of northwestern Ohio. And while our land is flat (0% to 2% slope), we see a lot of variation that can affect nutrient management, erosion control and final yield.

When it comes to effectively managing soil temperatures or moisture next spring in your no-tilled fields, your residue management strategies need to be in place this fall.

Ask any no-tiller around the world what their biggest problem is and he’s likely to name moisture. Or at least put it among the top five concerns. If it's not the folks on the east coast worried about a drought, it's the folks in the Midwest concerned about drying out the field and being able to get out and plant on time.