Talking Tillage at Agronomy on Ice

In this episode you’ll hear from four different farmers and one crop consultant about their individual perspectives and experience with tillage. To use tillage or go no-till is sometimes controversial and often treated as a form of identity. This discussion explores a more practical approach from people trying to reduce the harmful effects of tillage, but still keeping the necessary tools in their toolbox that their operation needs.

In order of appearance, you’ll hear from:

• Greg Amundson, farmer in Gilby, North Dakota

• Dr. Lee Briese, crop consultant with Centrol Inc.

• John Aamodt, farmer in Arvilla, North Dakota

• Matthew Krueger, farmer in East Grand Forks, Minnesota

• George Herman, farmer in Brinsmade, North Dakota

“One thing I've really struggled with lately is labels…You know we try a no-till, and that's our philosophy but I'm not afraid to run our vertical till out there if we have to.…I'm a conservation minded farmer…. I will do what I have to do to get a crop. You know, the labels be damned pretty much.” - Greg Amundson

Agronomy on Ice was a great place to capture different perspectives on soil health. Every one of these farmers and consultants in Lee’s case is finding the tillage practice that optimizes soil health and productivity for each individual field and each individual circumstance. It’s not helpful to apply labels or identities around these practices. Rather, producers should find the best approach for their situation with soil health in mind as a consideration for the overall system.

“That's what Greg's doing. He's doing something that doesn't fit the quote unquote no-till marker, but it's getting his soil health journey because now he's fixed that field, let it repair, rebuilt it again in that spot, which is a little frustrating, but it's better than leaving that wound wide open… I support diagnosing the challenge, finding the right solutions, putting them in the practice at the right timing, whatever they may be. That to me is more of a soil health thing.” -Dr. Lee Briese

This Week on Soil Sense:

• Listen in on a discussion of real world tillage experience with four farmers and a crop consultant as they navigate how to prioritize soil health in a practical approach to field management

• Explore the limitations created by labeling practices and operations as no-till or reduced tillage