There are and will always be challenges when growing wheat for the American farmer. In
this essay, I would like to address two major challenges I have personally witnessed on our
northeast Oregon farm: erosion and water retention. One solution we use to address these
problems is the use of no-till farming. No-till farming has minimal soil disturbance, which in
turn helps to build soil and microbial structure, while simultaneously combating erosion.

Erosion is a problem that can occur in almost any farmer’s field, no matter the location.
Erosion occurs most often in the winter and spring months after a harvest and prior to planting.
This is when the ground has the least amount of plant material and root biomass to keep the soil
intact. No-till farming can help to combat this issue. “ By not plowing or disking, cover crop
residue remains on the surface, protecting the soil from crusting, erosion, high summer
temperatures and moisture loss” (USDA). Because of increased residue left over from last year’s
crop or a cover crop, more of the ground remains intact, held together by the last year’s roots and
residue. By allowing the residue to remain on the surface of the field, the top soil is protected
from wind erosion and the direct impact of raindrops that break up soil structure. With less of the
ground being disked up and disturbed, it leaves a soil structure intact that has a much higher
water holding capacity than cultivated soil. This means that since the ground is not as loose and
disturbed, it will not be blown or swept away by wind and water erosion.

Water retention and soil structure also play a huge part in no-till farming. Where I live in
Northeastern Oregon, we have some dry-land acreages that have problems with water retention.
To combat this, we have turned to no-till farming. Simon Donk, assistant professor of Biological
Systems Engineering at the University of Nebraska, says it best, “If the soil surface is covered
with residue, it is shielded from solar radiation and air movement just above the soil surface is
reduced. This reduces the evaporation rate from a residue-covered surface, compared to bare
soil” (Donk) . By allowing past residue to shield the surface, water retention can be increased
compared to bare soil. Increased water retention and capacity can help lead to increased yields.
The speed of water infiltration is also increased by no-till farming, meaning that more water can
be retained in a shorter amount of time, which lowers water loss. Residue on top of the soil after
decomposition will also slowly regenerate lost soil. We have fields where we have noticed an
increase in organic matter since we began practicing no-till farming in the early 1980’s. On our
ground, we have found that even after a small rain storm, there is significantly more water
retention than in pieces that were plowed. With higher amounts of water making it into the
ground, the chances for higher yields increase.

In summary, no-till farming can help to minimize soil erosion and increase water
retention. In our own personal experience, we have found no-till to be environmentally friendly,
cost effective, and beneficial to our operation. No-till helps us to grow a better wheat crop and
benefit the farm all around.

2023 Scholarship Essay: Maclane Melville