This blog is part of our series of Wolfe’s Neck Center Stories, focusing on the people and the programs that drive our work for farmer viability, thriving ecosystems, and vibrant communities.
Does tilling serve a purpose in regenerative agriculture? Is no-till a better option for farming? What is tilling, anyway? We brought these questions to our team on campus to dig into the matter.
What is “Tilling”?
Tillage is the mechanical overturning of soil to prepare a plot for planting, control weeds and improve aeration or water absorption.
“No-Till” vs “Low-Till”?
No-till farming involves planting crops without plowing or disturbing the soil.
Low-till methods use minimal, targeted soil disturbance at a shallower depth to prepare only the areas where planting will occur.
The Wolfe’s Neck Approach
Here at Wolfe’s Neck Center, we implement both low-till and no-till practices.
“We try to impact the soil as infrequently as possible by utilizing low-till practices as well as extensive cover cropping,” said Tom Prohl, Senior Farm Operations Manager. “Our goal is to steward our farmland and surrounding ecosystems as cleanly as possible, while creating efficient production systems to demonstrate to other farmers and our visitors alike.”
We use a low-till approach on our production fields due to the unique makeup of our soil. Positioned near Casco Bay and the Harraseeket River, our fields contain significant marine clay, which creates dense, compact soil that is difficult to work with in the spring planting season.
Low tilling helps us alleviate compaction, aerate the soil and speed up the breakdown of preceding cover crop residue. We then utilize landscape fabric over our tilled ground with holes pre-cut in the fabric to match the spacing of our soon to be planted crops. The landscape fabric helps in preventing nutrient soil erosion, aid in weed control and increasing irrigation efficiency.
Inside our four greenhouses, we use a no-till system, manually aerating the soil each spring with a broad fork. Guests at Wolfe’s Neck can see this work firsthand by touring a greenhouse during their visit. In fact, one of our largest is located right next to the Smith Center for Education & Research.
An added benefit to low tilling and no tilling? This method reduces fuel use and machinery demands, lowering both environmental impact and operational costs.
“The most meaningful change happens when farmers share what works. Our hope is that when we convene groups of farmers and share ideas, stories and anecdotes from our fields and soils, we all leave more informed and ready to strengthen our farms across New England and beyond,” said Prohl.
To learn more about our regenerative agriculture practices, research or opportunities to visit campus, please visit our website.
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