Progressive leaders and innovators in no-till agriculture were recently honored at the National No-Tillage Conference in St. Louis. The 10^th annual No-Till Innovator Awards, co-sponsored by Syngenta Crop Protection and No-Till Farmer magazine, were presented Friday, Jan. 13, for achievements in the following categories: Consulting, Crop Production, Organization, and Research and Education. 

This year’s winners were chosen for their dedication to the adoption and promotion of no-till and conservation tillage practices. They were selected based on their contributions to no-till farming, regardless of the type of crop grown, brand of equipment or crop protection products used.

The 2005 No-Till Innovators are:

Paul Schaffert – Consulting

Indianola, Nebraska, businessman Paul Schaffert discovered his passion for no-tillage farming in 1972 when his first no-till harvest of corn yielded nearly 40 bushels more per acre than his tilled acres. Today, he is an accomplished inventor and the founder of Schaffert Manufacturing Company, and he continues to no-till 2,000 acres of various crops, including corn, wheat and alfalfa.

 

Schaffert found his true calling in 1989 when he responded to another inventor’s need by modifying and manufacturing a tool that is now known as the Crust Breaker, a staple product for Hawkins Manufacturing Company. He helped develop this toolbar planter attachment to break through hard soil shells, such as those caused by heavy rains, to help crops emerge. In 1992, Schaffert invented the Furrow V Closer™, which addressed farmers’ concerns that converted no-till planters were not properly closing seed furrows. He also created the Rebounder™ and Y-Not Split-It™, both are planter attachments that promote healthy seed growth. His products have been met with immediate success and tens of thousands of units have been sold worldwide.

 

Schaffert’s commitment and contributions have taken no-till farming to greater levels of precision and efficiency. As a farmer, Schaffert has intimate knowledge of no-till farming needs, which has helped him to develop these innovative equipment attachments. He serves as a key resource for growers and industry professionals nationwide.

John Aeschliman – Crop Production

Colfax, Washington, grower John Aeschliman is a 30-year advocate of no-till and soil conservation. He dedicates all 4,000 acres of his farm to producing various no-till crops, including winter and spring wheat, peas, garbanzo beans, mustard, corn and canola. He switched to no-till in the early 1970s to ward off damage caused by post-winter erosion. Since then, Aeschliman has been 100 percent committed to the practice, actively supporting no-till research and promoting direct seeding practices on local, national and international levels. His efforts range from speaking for the Pacific Northwest Direct Seed Association and conservation districts to hosting many tours each year for people from the region and around the world. He is currently involved in several projects with WSU research, including moisture and fertility studies.

 

In addition, Aeschliman works with multiple equipment companies to test drills in the field. Currently, he is assisting Yetter Manufacturing in developing residue managers to operate in the Palouse Hills region, and in the past, he has teamed up with Great Plains to build prototypes and Yielder Drill Company to perfect the track drill.

 

Aeschliman has been recognized for his efforts on several occasions, earning both environmental and yield awards. He currently serves as President for Pacific Northwest Direct Seed Association and sits on grower advisory boards for the ARS Research Farm and the Cunningham Research Farm at Washington State University, and the Lind Field Station at Ritzeville. He also participates in Clear Waters Direct Seeders meetings.

Innovative Farmers Association of Ontario – Organization

Started in 1986, the Innovative Farmers Association of Ontario (IFAO) first served as a forum to exchange ideas and share solutions among a group of devoted no-till farmers. Now with more than 300 members, the organization continues to educate and promote sustainable agriculture through enhancing the soil, and it also works closely with researchers to help improve the quality of no-till farming. As the organization expanded, IFAO established an annual conference where speakers from around the globe and more than 400 participants gather to share information about no-till topics from problem weeds to marketing solutions.

 

Based in Port Stanley, Ontario, IFAO and its members are active in numerous research projects and educational opportunities throughout Canada and the United States. Currently, 30 IFAO members are participating in a 3-year pilot carbon sequestration program that is investigating the reduction of carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere by increasing the amount of organic matter stored in the soil.

 

Additionally, IFAO works with Soil Conservation Canada and the University of Guelph and board members sit on numerous provincial and federal committees, including the Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Project Advisory Committee, Ontario Weed Committee, and Nutrient Management Working Group. IFAO funds an annual “Farmer of the Year” award, a journalism scholarship and various no-till projects through the Farm Coalition Research Council.

Dr. R. James Cook – Research and Education

Over the past 30 years, Dr. R. James Cook and his ground-breaking research have greatly impacted no-till agriculture. As a plant pathologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service stationed at Washington State University (WSU) in Pullman, Washington., Cook began studying no-till practices in the 1970s when he directed his attention to management of root diseases in no-till wheat.

 

Through his work, Cook proved that proper crop rotation decreases root disease. He also discovered the Green Bridge Concept by identifying that volunteer plants growing in the field between harvest of one crop and planting the next crop serve as a “bridge” or host for pathogens from the rotting stubble crop to the roots of the newly planted crop. Cook’s research holds true today, as no-till farmers across the country apply his findings to achieve healthier crops and higher yields.

 

In 1998, Cook joined WSU in an Endowed Chair in Wheat Research and later served as Interim Dean of the College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences. At WSU, he devoted 70 percent of his time to research and 30 percent in the classroom. Cook organized the Cunningham Farm, an intensive commercial-scale direct-seeding research and education program. He currently serves as a member of numerous organizations including the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Crop Science Society of America and the American Phytopathological Society.  He was elected to the prestigious National Academy of Sciences in 1993.

The 2005 No-Till Innovators were selected by a committee of leaders that represent different aspects of the no-till conservation system. The committee included Frank Lessiter, editor/publisher of No-Till Farmer magazine; Dana Stubbendick, market development manager with Syngenta Crop Protection; Jeff Martin, 2003 award winner, Bluestone Farms, Mt. Pulaski, Ill.; Wayne Pederson, Emeritus Professor, University of Illinois, National Soybean Research Center, Urbana, Ill.; and Dan Towery, Ag Conservation Solutions, 2004 No-Till Innovator in Research and Education, West Lafayette, Ind.

Syngenta is a world-leading agribusiness committed to sustainable agriculture through innovative research and technology.  The company is a leader in crop protection, and ranks third in the high-value commercial seeds market.  Sales in 2004 were approximately $7.3 billion.  Syngenta employs some 20,000 people in over 90 countries.  Syngenta is listed on the Swiss stock exchange (SYNN) and in New York (SYT).  Further information is available at www.syngenta.com.