06/02/08 Tillers versus no-tillers

Farm and Ranch June 2, 2008 Some conventional tillage farmers, even those who practice reduced tillage, feel they are looked down upon by the direct seed-no-till community. The past president of the Pacific Northwest Direct Seed Association, Mark Sheffels of Davenport, Washington attended a recent Washington Wheat Commission meeting and explained that is not the view of the PNDSA. Sheffels: "We both need to have an understanding that when those with strong passions regarding either a conventional system a tillage system versus a direct seed system are voiced and maybe not well perceived by other groups, it is mostly on an individual basis. I think both as an organization the PNDSA and the Commission are supportive of each other and really not much of a problem there. I think we just hope our rank and file are fair about it when they address the benefits of the systems." Still, Sheffels says the PNDSA would like everyone to be a direct seeder. Sheffels: "We want everyone to be a direct seeder so we present our case that way. But we don't tell them they need to be a direct seeder because they are really messing up. We just tell them that no matter how good a job they do of conservation with a traditional system it has limitations. These summer storms that come along from time to time and winter erosion can trump your best efforts. Direct seeding is a pretty good to keep that from happening." I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.