Two local farmers will share their experiences at upcoming conferences hosted by the Virginia No-Till Alliance. Anthony Beery, who farms in Mount Crawford, and D.J. Myers, of Dayton, will participate in a panel of farmers speaking about making the transition away from tilling land.
Conferences will be Feb. 6 in Rocky Mount, Feb. 7 in Harrisonburg and Feb. 8 in Colonial Heights. Pre-registration for the Harrisonburg conference ends Monday.
Beery, who grows corn, soybeans and alfalfa on 450 acres, was recently featured in a documentary about the benefits of no-till planting and rotational grazing systems. He is a board member of the Virginia No-Till Alliance and has no-tilled for eight years.
Advocates say that leaving the soil untilled allows nutrient-producing microorganisms to enrich the soil, making it more absorbent and reducing runoff.
Farm runoff is a major contributing factor to pollution in the Chesapeake Bay, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Other benefits include savings on equipment and labor costs.
The all-day conference, which is co-sponsored by Virginia Cooperative Extension and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, also features nationally renowned speakers Missy Bauer and Dr. Joel Gruver.
Bauer, an independent crop consultant and field agronomist, will talk about increasing corn yields and getting a good corn stand.
Gruver manages an 80-acre research farm at Western Illinois University. He will discuss the science and management of soil biology, as well as micronutrients necessary for crop growth.
The conference and trade show is from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Cost is $10, payable at the door, which includes a catered lunch. For the agenda, visit www.virginianotill.com. To pre-register, call the Rockingham Extension office at 564-3080 or email Matt Yancey at yancey@vt.edu.
