Kentucky has 90,000 stream miles and the number one pollutant in those steams is soil sediment.   Sediment is soil lost due to erosion in heavy rainfall events, according to Amanda Gumbert Extension Water Quality Specialist with the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food & Environment.  

No-till seeding enables farmers to directly seed into the vegetation in the field without tilling the soil.  Benefits of no-tillage include an increase in soil biological activity and organic matter with a reduction in soil erosion.  However, the success rate of no-till seeders can be low due to not knowing how to properly use the equipment.   

To address this issue the Carter County ANR Agent worked Dr. Jimmy Henning, UK Forage Specialist, and the ANR Extension agents from Boyd, Elliott, Greenup and Lawrence Counties to conduct a no-till drill clinic to educate farmers and landowners on the usage of no till seeding equipment.  

The clinic started with a short introduction of seeding tips and tricks.  Attendees then moved around the building as Dr. Henning described distinguishing features and calibration techniques of each of the six drills on display. Local Conservation District Secretaries and Department of Fish and Wildlife representatives were also on hand to describe the checkout procedures for their respective drills.  

Farmers shared their own experiences and insights, creating a collaborative learning environment where everyone benefited from each other's knowledge.  The evening concluded with a calibration demonstration of the Great Plains drill by the Carter County ANR Agent.  A Great Plains drill is available for checkout to local farmers from both the Carter and Elliott County Soil Conservation Districts.   

This clinic allowed approximately 100 farmers to see multiple brands of no-till seed drills before using them in the field.   They were able to ask questions about usage, learn how to calibrate the drill, and set the seed depth. Farmers also received a handbook of relevant UK forage publications to guide them in the future.  

Evaluations showed that the event was incredibly valuable and that producers feel more confident going into the planting season. One participant said, “As a newbie to farming (and a young woman), I feel like each piece of equipment was explained in terms that I could understand.”  The farmer who oversees the no-till drill for Carter County said that clinic has helped him answer renter’s questions.   Survey results concluded that 99 percent gained knowledge of forage production and best management practices for species and pasture renovation.  78 percent plan to rent a no-till drill in the future.

Additionally, “The Farmer’s Pride” a Kentucky Farm Community newspaper with about 16,000 bi-weekly readers featured an article about the clinic on the front page.   Dr. Henning also used numerous photos he took during the setup for the clinic for an article on “Understanding Forage Seeders To Maximize Establishment Success” for the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association’s “Cow Country News” magazine.  

The success of this No-Till Drill Clinic lies not just in the immediate knowledge gained though, but in the seeds of change sown within each participant. As these seeds take root and flourish, our local farms will grow and prosper too.