How much tillage is enough?

When it comes to tillage, less is almost always more. For many situations, one pass in the fall and one or two more in the spring should be enough

by KEITH REID

As the days start to get longer, and bare soil appears from under a covering of snow, many farmers get itchy to head to the field with the tractor and cultivator. We almost seem to be hard-wired to enjoy the look, smell and feel of freshly turned soil, and I know that even some dedicated no-tillers need to fight the temptation each spring. Since most farmers still include tillage in their crop production package, the question for most is not whether to till, but how much?

Better Farming - March 2012