58 Story Idea? Email Paul.Nolan@Farms.com Better Farming | September 2024 came much easier with advances in plow mounting systems. Most of the farm, except that area planted to winter wheat, was fallplowed, which exposed the soil to both wind and water erosion over the winter and early spring. The topsoil moved to lower ground and often directly into surface water streams like ditches, creeks, and rivers. The farms of my youth were often divided up into many smaller parcels by fences to contain different pastured livestock and to separate crops. Those pasturelands and fence rows tended to help prevent soil erosion. The good news Tillage practices have changed significantly in the last 20 years. Many crop producers now practise minimum tillage. Fall plowing is no longer common, as it was in my youth. Moldboard plowing has become redundant on many farms. Direct seeding into cover crop residue has become common practice if and when necessary to prevent exposed soil surfaces from occurring. New planting equipment allows most seeds to be planted directly into existing crop residue. This provides continuous crop cover all year long. Dust storms, as some of us remember in our youth, have become a thing of the past. Direct planting equipment is being used extensively on most soil types for many crops. Summary There have been positive changes over time – in land management practices, in conservation tillage, and in reforestation. These preventative practices will continue to minimize the soil erosion/movement that occurred in the past. BF BOURBONNAIS EQUIPMENT Sarsfield • 613-835-2623 G.J.’S HARVEST CENTRE INC. Burgessville • 519-424-9374 Milverton • 519-603-8374 HAWLEY’S GARAGE Belleville • 613-969-5525 J&H SALES & SERVICE Chesley • 519-363-3510 J&J EQUIPMENT REPAIR INC Powassan • 705-724-6565 M&P FARM EQUIPMENT Almonte • 613-253-4957 McCABE TRACTOR SALES Lindsay • 705-799-2868 PROFOTA’S FARM EQUIPMENT Chatham • 519-354-5100 YURKE SALES & SERVICE Comber • 519-687-2209 How it Works RALPH WINFIELD Ralph is a retired professional engineer, farmer and technical writer. He has a BSA, BASc, and an MSA in engineering from the University of Toronto. The book, Two Billion Trees and Counting: The legacy of Edmund Zavitz, by John Bacher. Aurora Bancroft photo
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