In an analysis for considering multiple tillage systems, Farm Journal field agronomist Ken Ferrie cited the pros and cons for seven tillage alternatives.

What is most interesting to no-tillers will be the costs Ferrie shard for implementing each tillage system and the hours of labor required per year when 1,000 acres are farmed by one person. 

To estimate the cost to adopt each new tillage system, Ferrie determined the cost of implement needs used based on the custom rates listed on Iowa State University’s ag decision website. This calculator was also used to determine the hours of labor required per year with each tillage system.

Ferrie cautions growers not to mismatch tillage systems by combining vertical and horizontal tillage systems. An example of a mismatched system would be no-tilling soybeans into corn stubble and then making a horizontal tillage trip before planting conventionally planting corn into soybean stubble.

1 No-Tillage

Plant directly into crop residue without any primary or secondary tillage.

$21.00 per acre cost to implement on 1,000 acres.

258 hours of labor per year with 1,000 acres.

2 No-Tillage with Cover Crops

Plant directly into old crop residue and cover crop without any tillage.

$51 per acre cost to implement. (includes cover crop seed and planting cost, plus spring burndown herbicide.) 

368 hours of labor per year.

3 Strip-Tillage 

Fall or early spring pass with strip-builder unit to apply fertilizer and build strip for planting.

$47.00 to $59.00 per acre cost to implement.

379 hours of labor per year.

4 Vertical Tillage

One pass in fall or spring with vertical harrow. 

$46.50 per acre cost to implement.

317 hours of labor per year.

5 Conventional Vertical Tillage

Primary tillage in spring or fall with disc ripper, chisel plow or in-line ripper, then leveled in fall or spring with a vertical harrow.

$47.50 per acre cost to implement.

419 hours of labor per year.

6 Conventional Horizontal Tillage 

Primary tillage with moldboard plow, disc, chisel, in-line ripper or heavy offset disc in the spring or fall, followed in the spring with one or more horizontal leveling passes with a soil finisher, field cultivator, finishing disc or vertical harrow.

$44 per acre cost to implement.

419 hours of labor per year.

7 One- or Two-Pass and Plant, with Horizontal Tillage

One or two passes on untouched soybean stubble or corn stalks with disc, soil finisher, field cultivator or vertical harrow.

$23.25 per acre cost to implement.

285 hours of labor per year.

What Changes Are You Making Due to Higher Energy Prices?

Change in Practices                % of Growers

Doing less tillage                              33%

Reducing nitrogen                            24%

Increasing no-tillage                         11%

Reducing crop drying                          8%

Making other changes                       24%

— November 2022 Purdue University Commercial Ag Producer Survey 

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