A hotter atmosphere is causing rain to fall in harder bursts, pushing back planting seasons and drowning crops. At the same time as human-driven climate change is juicing precipitation, Corn Belt farming practices such as installing underground drainage tiles and leaving fields bare after harvest are changing how water moves across the landscape and into waterways.

If you no-till in the U.S. Corn Belt, you’re growing some of the most productive plants in the world. According to NASA and university scientists, the Midwest boasts more photosynthetic activity during the Northern Hemisphere’s growing season than any other spot on Earth.

There’s no doubt that much of the rapid increase in no-tilled acres over the past 20 years is due to the extensive use of glyphosate-resistant corn and soybeans. Yet, extensive reliance on this single herbicide mode of action may be holding back the future growth of no-till. Even more worrisome is the impact it could have on simply maintaining the no-till acres we already have.