When it comes to till vs. no-till, there is give and take in any situation, according to an Ashland County soil conservationist.

Dialing back tillage can increase energy savings, water-holding capacity, soil biological activity and organic matter as well as reduce compaction. Jodi DeJong-Hughes, a University of Minnesota ...

Reducing tillage reduces dependence on limited non-renewable resources. Spring tillage loosens and dries soil, thus warming it. Tillage can pulverize soil, making it more susceptible to erosion.

Early vertical tillage tools used straight disks mounted in the direction of travel to cut and size residue with minimal lateral soil movement. Second generation vertical tillage tools added ...