1st Year Assessment of OK Tillage/Cropping Systems

1
1st Year Assessment of OK Tillage/Cropping Systems

• Randy Taylor
• Extension Engineer, Machinery Systems

2
My Background

• B.S. Agricultural Engineering - 1985
• Oklahoma State University
• M.S. Agricultural Engineering - 1989
• Oklahoma State University
• Ph.D. Agricultural Engineering 1996
• University of Nebraska Lincoln
• Biological and Agricultural Engineering Kansas
  State University
• Extension Machinery Specialist 89-02
• Professor (60 Extension/40 Teaching) 02-05

3
No-Till Seeding Systems

• Applied research regarding row crop planter
  attachments, no-till drills, and planter speed
  (corn)
• Extension programs based around planter
  modification, attachments, and operation

4
Crop Density
Percent of Total Grain Crop Area
Wheat
Soybean
Sorghum
Corn
5
No-Till Adoption
One of the biggest deterrents for no-till
adoption is seeding systems.
6
Ag Machinery Research

• Small plot field research works with some
  machinery
• The trend has been to larger farm machinery
• Some is not available in sizes conducive to small
  plots
• How do we conduct valid research with current ag
  equipment?

7
Applied Research Model
Analytical and research skills
University
Cooperative relationships where everyone has a
stake.
Producers
Industry
Desire to improve efficiency by reducing
production cost.
Products to test and sell in a competitive market
8
Example - 2003 Drill Study

• Soybeans were drilled into corn and milo stubble
  at 5 fields in NE Kansas
• Planted on May 14, 15, 22, and 28
• We used 3 drills (Deere 1590, GP 1510P, Sunflower
  9412) on 7.5 spacing, the farmers planter
  (30), and GP twin row
• Four replications at each field

9
Project Responsibilities

• University ? experimental design, calibrating
  seeders, collecting and analyzing data, and
  overall study coordination.
• Growers ? selecting varieties, seeding rates,
  adjusting and operating their planters, and
  collecting yield monitor data during harvest.
• Industry ? transporting their seeder to fields
  and adjusting and operating their seeder to the
  desired conditions.

10
So Whats the Plan

• OSU is working to form a No-Till team.
• One of my thrusts for the team will be
  establishing on-farm crop rotation plots
• We are planning a field study to evaluate drills
  (air seeders) for no-till canola and wheat
  seeding
• We are also looking at a potential strip
  till/driving accuracy study

11
Importance of Strip-Till

• Strip-till is a conservation tillage method.
• A narrow strip of soil is tilled and fertilizer
  is placed in the strip.
• The subsequent crop is planted on the strip for
  easy access to nutrients.
• Primarily irrigated, continuous corn in Kansas
• Potential for corn, cotton, and peanuts in
  Oklahoma

12
Relationship to Guidance

• You have to plant back on the strips.
• Its typically done with markers or RTK GPS
  guidance
• How close to the center of the row is close
  enough?

13
The Future of Research Extension
For the times they are a-changin' -- Bob
Dylan, 1963
Ive seen a lot of change in my life and I fought
most of it every step of the way.
14
Thought for the Day

• You know you have problems when you can sell your
  waste oil as scrap metal.