Beginning Farmer - No Till Pointers

[smithhunter1975]

Starting next year, I am going to start farming one of our family farms. It is only about 100 acres of corn/bean rotation and fortunately I am able to use family equipment. Family operation has always been fall disking corn stubble and field cultivator over everything in the spring. I am very interested in switching to no-till largely based on Skip's and others comments on this forum. I have been doing no-till food plots for several years.....but that isn't saying much. We do not have a stalk chopper but do have a batwing mower - do I need to chop the stalks?

I would greatly appreciate any and all pointers you all can give me for no-till farming. I am literally starting with zero knowledge and experience so even basic information is helpful.

Thank you in advance.

 

[Farm boy]

Boy where to start.
First you mentioned that you can use family equipment.
B very careful trying to use their existing planters/drills.
They more than likely won't work for no till.
Others will certainly chime in.

 

[smithhunter1975]

Boy where to start.
First you mentioned that you can use family equipment.
B very careful trying to use their existing planters/drills.
They more than likely won't work for no till.
Others will certainly chime in.

Thanks Farm Boy. The planter is actually no-till ready/capable. Not sure the model but it is a Deere 12 row and has no-tilled beans 2 years into an old pasture that we're now farming to get it eligible for CRP some day.

 

[JNRBRONC]

List the make and model of your planting equipment. There are aftermarket parts for some to make them better at no-till.

 

[Bassattackr]

Soil test.

My $0.02.. If you don't have a good farming mentor, try beans first year as they are much easier (and less inputs) to grow than corn.

 

[JNRBRONC]

Thanks Farm Boy. The planter is actually no-till ready/capable. Not sure the model but it is a Deere 12 row and has no-tilled beans 2 years into an old pasture that we're now farming to get it eligible for CRP some day.

Row spacing on that Deere planter? I'd prefer to drill beans, but a person can make do.

 

[Bassattackr]

Row spacing on that Deere planter? I'd prefer to drill beans, but a person can make do.

A split bar on 15” rows makes a great stand of beans.

 

[smithhunter1975]

Planter is 30” rows. Have not been back to the farm to get model number but certain it is a no till. My father checked all that last year as he no tilled into about 45 acres of old pasture to start getting some crop history for future crp.