EROSION

EROSION & NO-TILL DRILL

What is a “No-till Drill”

A no-till drill is a very heavy drill with a specialized disk set-up that cuts through plant residue, places the seed at the correct depth and then presses the soil back over the seed for good soil to seed contact. Advantages to planting no-till include erosion control, fuel and time savings. Previous crop residue left on the surface of the field protects soil from washing or blowing away. This is especially important on hilly fields subject to water erosion or on light sandy fields subject to wind erosion. Elimination of plowing and/or disking fields means fewer trips with the tractor across the field to be planted. Often this is best done well ahead of time. For example the fall prior to a spring planting of any kind since contact herbicides require plants to be green and growing in order to kill them. If you are seeding alfalfa in April, it’s just too early to get good control of quack grass because it isn’t growing much yet. Staff is available to evaluate any field you would like to plant no-till and can give you more options for the best weed control if asked to evaluate the field for a future planting. Give us a call!

NOTE: The drill is not available to be used on worked fields. #1 It defeats the intent of the district providing the drill (soil & energy savings) and #2 worked soils usually result in seed being buried too deep.

The district's John Deere no-till drill is available to area landowners for a cost of $10.00 per acre. There have been 65 area landowners who have used the no-till drill since its purchase in 2000 on over 4492 acres. Crops planted included alfalfa, oats, rape seed, clover, grasses, including switchgrass, birdsfoot trefoil, wildlife food plots and cover, soy beans, wheat and spinach. Crops are planted into the previous crop's residue eliminating the need for tillage prior to planting, making it a great soil and energy conservation tool.

If you would be interested in using the drill call Lynda at 757-3708 ext. 3 for more information. She would be happy to look at your field prior to planting. She prefers taking a look at them in the Spring if you are interested in doing a late summer seeding and in the fall if you are interested in doing a spring seeding. No-till planting is something that should be planned well ahead of time whenever possible.

STREAMBANK STABILIZATION

On-Site technical assistance in vegetating riverbanks is available. A listing of suitable shrubs which grow well on streambanks can be mailed or obtained from the Mason-Lake CD office by request.

DUNE STABILIZATION

On-site assistance is available to help determine means of vegetating blowing sand with beachgrass and other plants. See "Beachgrass" for more information on Beachgrass Sales and other plants suitable for dune stabilization. For large beachgrass planting jobs, the district has a crew available for a fee to do plantings.

BUFFER ZONES

Assistance in designing conservation buffers along streams, ditches and lakes is available. Buffers of natural vegetation serve as a filter strip helping to prevent farm or lawn fertilizer and pesticide runoff from reaching surface water.

WIND EROISION

Shrubs, trees, grasses and other native plants play a big part in wind erosion control. Beachgrass works the best for sandy, sunny dune areas. A couple rows of conifers and/or shrubs can help reduce wind erosion, can help save you money in heating costs and provide habitat for songbirds. District staff can assist you with the placement and selection of trees and or shrubs to get the best benefit. Call Lynda at 757-3708 x3 for assistance.

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DO’S AND DON’TS OF NO-TILL

DO’S

1. Select fields that are fertile, well drained and relatively weed free.

2. Use insecticides and herbicides as recommended and at recommended rates, in a timely manner.

3. Fertilize and lime according to soil test.

4. Plant seed varieties that are recommended for no-till.

5. Monitor fields after planting for possible insect damage.

6. If necessary apply additional herbicide on escape weeds.

7. Wait until soil warms up (50^O—55^O) before planting.

8. Use higher seedling rates.

9. Plan your fertilizer program in advance especially how to apply nitrogen.

DON’T’S

1. Substitute no-till for drainage!

2. Cut corners with herbicides and fertilizers.

3. Expect no-till to be successful on poorly drained and compacted soils.

4. Chop, disc, chisel, plow or disturb old crop residues in any manner before no-till planting.

5. Use a planter that is not adapted for no-till.

6. Plant too fast (3-5 m.p.h. maximum)

RUNOFF EROSION

Runoff can wash sediment, fertilizers, and pesticides into waterways. Erosion also removes valuable topsoil. Grassed filter strips, no-till drills, and organic matter on fields can help eliminate or slow down erosion of fields. For more information or assistance you can contact Lynda Herremans @ 231-757-3708 ext 3.