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 First launched in 2017, the NRCS project is mirrored after the
national cancer awareness No Shave November campaign that
encourages people not to shave during the entire month. The NRCS
campaign encourages farmers to keep tillage equipment in their
machine sheds this fall and keep the crop stubble on their
fields. In the past two years, the campaign has reached more
than 1 million people.
“No-till farming is a cornerstone soil health conservation
practice, which also promotes water quality while saving farmers
time and money,” said Illinois NRCS State Conservationist Ivan
Dozier. “The most basic principle of soil health is ‘do not
disturb.’ This campaign is a fun way to remind farmers about the
important relationship between tillage and soil health.”
Improving soil health increases soil biological activity, which
provides erosion control, nutrient benefits, and can simulate
non-destructive and natural underground tillage.
“No-till is a different management tool because timeliness is
very important for planting and weed control. I really like it,
though. I like knowing that there is biological activity going
on below the ground. You dig down six inches and the earthworms
are there. The worms are my tillage tool,” said Illinois No-Till
Farmer and President of the Association of Soil and Water
Conservation Districts Steve Stierwalt, Sadorus, Illinois.
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NRCS’ Illinois State Soil Scientist Ron Collman
enjoys the campaign as a way to celebrate and prioritize soil
resources. “Earthworms can be an incredible part of ag operations.
But they need to be fed. And fed well. Bare and exposed soil without
residue and vegetation doesn’t provide what earthworms need. Stop
the fall tillage and feed the earthworms. Let them work the soil,”
Collman explains.
For more information about soil health and the No-Till November
campaign, visit www.il.nrcs.usda.gov . You can also learn more on
NRCS’ Soil Health webpage.
[Paige Buck
Public Affairs Officer
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service] |
