Farming is most traditionally known to be a trade that’s passed down from generation to generation. The blood, sweat and tears poured into this land holds huge sentimental meaning that keeps farmers going even in the most uncertain of times. And with this generational passing of the torch comes the challenge of determining which practices still hold value and which need to be reevaluated.

Tilling of the land has been a go-to practice for farmers who were looking to loosen hard soil. The hope was to turn it over and expose more nutrients to prepare for planting. However, in recent years, more and more farmers are adopting the no-till philosophy. The list of benefits regarding no-till farming makes it easy to understand why most farmers are changing their ways.

Even though tillage has been practiced with the best of intentions, it has proven to be counterproductive. It interrupts the natural soil building process, bringing much needed nutrients to the surface to be washed away by rain or misplaced by the wind. And since the soil has then been turned over, it leaves the land more susceptible to erosion and lacks water retention.

Instead of ripping at the soil, the no-till method fractures the soil, relieving compaction, managing crop residue, and creating pathways for water and nutrients to get to the optimal root zone. Fracturing the subsoil allows the topsoil to stay intact reducing disturbance. This is key in retaining organic matter to achieve a stronger foundation for higher crop yields and resiliency to environmental stresses.

Renovating land that’s been dormant or abused for long periods of time can be a very daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. RanchWorx Aerators are the optimal no-till implement to reclaim low production and unused fields, opening the soil and turning it into a sponge for water, air, nutrients, and organic material to help you reclaim your rangeland and make it more productive. A RanchWorx Pasture Aerator is the most efficient, effective, and environmentally responsible solution to no-till farming.

And when you ask farmers what this means for them, they’ll tell you lower costs, increased profits, and fewer passes in the field. And great-great-grandpa wouldn’t argue with that.