Conservation Tillage Benefits

February 20, 2013
Climate Change 

Around the world, herbicide-tolerant biotech crops are enabling farmers to use environmentally sound herbicides instead of tillage for weed control.

Growing crops with minimal soil disturbance reduces soil erosion, increases carbon sequestration and keeps more moisture in the soil.

This switch to conversation agriculture practices (growing crops with minimal soil disturbance) reduces soil erosion, increases carbon sequestration and keeps more moisture in the soil for the growing crop. For example, a Canadian survey indicated that 64% of farmers planting herbicide-tolerant canola are now using conservation tillage practices, with 86% reporting reduced soil erosion, and 83% indicating greater soil moisture. Greenhouse gas emissions are also greatly reduced because farmers are making fewer passes over the field with heavy tillage equipment, reducing fuel use.