Most no-tillers won’t want to hear it, but some University of Nebraska research indicates an occasional limited tillage pass won’t seriously damage no-till’s favorable soil structure. But with herbicide costs increasing significantly this year, we’ve heard that a few no-tillers are thinking of using a light tillage pass as a weed control option.

CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA IS notoriously dry. The region only receives 18 inches of rain, on average, per year, compared to the U.S. average of 38 inches. Farming in such dry conditions is a challenge, to say the least.