No-till Farming, Trout Rivers and Carbon

I am more and more convinced that No-tillage farming practices offer
the possibility of significantly reducing soil loss and fossil fuel
consumption in many different soil types and geographies. Over a few
years no-till practices can also reduce the use of pest and
herbicides for some crops. The benefits to fish could be substantial
in areas where ag runoff is a major limiting factor. No-till also
sequesters carbon in the soil and is seen by some as a practical, near-
term tool in the climate change arena.

I suspect there are many folks like myself who have or have friends
who have smaller ag parcels that they lease out. No-till wheat has
now replaced heavily irrigated alfalfa on my little parcel. Favoring
leasing farmers who can do no-till is a way to keep land in ag, AND
lessen the impact on nearby streams. And the cost advantages just
might keep more family farmers in the business. Lest specialized
equipment needed for no-till be a barrier, some Farm Bureau operations
now have no-till capable equipment in their contract services
programs.

There are YouTube videos that tell some of the story. A short overview
video of farmers showing what no-till has done for part of the Spokane
River drainage is the Shepard.s Grain field tour July '09

It is on YouTube, listed as "Shepard's Grain Field Tour- July 2009"

Any opinions, experiences, comments of other Roffians on no-till and
trout waters?
Dave

On Apr 26, 12:10*pm, DaveS wrote:


Any opinions, experiences, comments

Not specifically on no-till but I'm certainly of the opinion that
'small' individual lifestyle changes can add up to big gains in the
environmental arena.

One thing that consistently ****es me off is when people write off
steps in the right direction because "that won't solve the
problem." NO single new energy source or idea is going to solve
everything which is exactly why all reasonable efforts that will make
some improvement need to be advanced.

My little ag corner of the world is no-till because it is pasture.
We make little changes that limit chemicals and water usage whenever
we think of one. None has co$t much, but we are doing better than
before .... use less water, have more wildlife around, and raise the
same # of cows ( and fatter ) I've noticed neighbors starting to
be more "Conservative" lately, especially in water use, on their small
ag properties. As people become more educated about the value of
small, personal, efforts, I think the trend will accelerate

Larry ( who often wonders why the political segment most in favor of
'use it up' and most opposed to 'find new ways that work better' are
called 'conservative' when, in fact, 'backwards' would be far more
accurate ;-)

PS buying in season and locally produced food makes BIG changes in
you personal 'footprint' .... and is fun and healthy, too ... find a
farmers market

"Larry L" wrote

find a
farmers market

i have. but mine is running over with mexicans selling pot to undercover
agents.

yfitons
wayno

On Apr 28, 11:59*am, "Wayne Harrison" wrote:


i have. *but mine is running over with mexicans selling pot to undercover
agents.

yfitons
wayno


That's too bad .... grow a garden, also fun and healthy G We have
a couple nice farmer's markets near here and also grow a small
garden. It's hard to describe how much I miss "real" produce all
summer in Montahoming where it's nearly impossible to find any worthy
of the name.

I may be mistaken but aren't you a defense lawyer? speak
"mexican" ? sounds like your farmers market might be a source of new
clients G

"Larry L" wrote
I may be mistaken but aren't you a defense lawyer? speak
"mexican" ? sounds like your farmers market might be a source of new
clients G

many, as a matter of fact. but i don't speak spanish. fortunately, our
judges don't either.

yfitons
wayno

On Wed, 28 Apr 2010 16:01:00 -0400, "Wayne Harrison" wrote:


"Larry L" wrote
I may be mistaken but aren't you a defense lawyer? speak
"mexican" ? sounds like your farmers market might be a source of new
clients G

many, as a matter of fact. but i don't speak spanish. fortunately, our
judges don't either.

yfitons
wayno


Well, hell, if the fact that undercover agents are at a farmer's market in NC
trying to bust non-English-speaking "Mexican" weed dealers doesn't convince all
and sundry that "the war on drugs" is among the stupidest ideas drunks in DC
have come up with, I'm not sure anything ever will...

yfatmgrc (that would be "yfat MS Gulf Resort Classic")
R
....who was _literally_ the last person on the official course at today's
pro-am...as the marshal, fixin' to call for ****in' flashlights,
unfortunately...

On 2010-04-28 14:59:56 -0400, "Wayne Harrison" said:


"Larry L" wrote

find a
farmers market

i have. but mine is running over with mexicans selling pot to undercover
agents.

yfitons
wayno

Ahhhh. Business is good, eh?

d;o)