VERTICAL TILLAGE PROMOTION IN SANGAMON COUNTY

Lindsay Mitchell

Aug 11, 2016  |  Today's News

Farmers in Illinois will soon have low cost access to conservation tillage equipment as part of the Lake Springfield Watershed Management Plan (LSWMP).

Reducing surface water runoff from farm fields is the #1 goal outlined in the LSWMP.  Through a special grant funding by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and Springfield City Water, Light, and Power, Lake Springfield Watershed farmers will be able to rent an 18’ Great Plains Turbo Max vertical tillage implement.

This is a great opportunity for these farmers to see first-hand how conservation tillage equipment can fit into their farming operation.

Did you know:

  • 74% of the Lake Springfield Watershed cropland acres are conventionally tilled.
  • Only 12% of the cropland is no-tilled.
  • Converting to a “conservation tillage system” leaves 30% or more of the soil surface with residue, after planting.
  • By limiting the amount of tillage done on cropland each year, surface water runoff of nutrients and soil from farm fields will be significantly reduced.

For more details about this program, contact Brian Rennecker at the Sangamon County SWCD office:

Brian Rennecker
Resource Conservationist
Sangamon County SWCD
(217) 241-6635 ext. 3
Brian.rennecker@il.nacdnet.net

About the implement:

True vertical tillage has become the standard for yield-boosting seedbed preparation. Turbo-Max® offers the benefits of spring vertical tillage with more residue-managing characteristics for the fall. Turbo-Max has two coulter gangs with 7½" spacing between each blade. The rear gangs offset the front gangs, splitting blade spacing to 3¾" for improved sizing of residue for one-pass perfection. Gang angles on the Turbo-Max adjust hydraulically on-the-go from 0° to 6°, offering greater flexibility to match field conditions. In the fall, run the machine with gangs at an angle to accelerate the decaying process of crop residue.  In the spring, keep the gangs straight to create a level, vertically tilled seedbed that is perfect for planting.