We have partnered with Natural Resources Conservation Service under a Conservation Innovation Grant to conduct field
research to evaluate the potential of reduced spring tillage for California
rice farming systems. The project focuses on the feasibility of the Amazone Ceus-2TX
trailed disc harrow cultivator combination in California rice farming
operations.
This implement has the potential to provide great
benefits for the California rice industry through reduction of spring tillage
passes, reducing the ecological footprint of seedbed preparation through
reduced PM from tractor hours. We are also interested in reducing spring tillage due to
the potential for reduced fuel costs, earlier planting leading to earlier
harvest with less weather impacts (e.g. rain or smoke days), better control of
herbicide-resistant weeds, and potential air-quality improvements due to
reduced dust and tractor emissions.
Typical
spring tillage for rice involves six to eight tractor passes that include
chisel plowing, disking and planting before applying fertilizer, and rolling
the field in preparation for planting (Lindquist, et al. 2008). On our specific
family farm, we typically chisel twice, disc twice, and sometime conduct a
third chiseling depending on soil moisture conditions, for a total of 4-5
spring tillage operations. This is then followed by fertilizer application in
the ground with a light chisel and rolling to prepare rice seedbed, cumulating
a total of 6-7 passes each spring. With this grant we seek to explore the
cultural effectiveness, environmental benefits and economics of a new
innovative implement that has the potential to reduce spring tillage passes by
50%, reducing the 4-5 chisel/discing to only 2-3 passes.
Our family is excited to see if we can have
50% reduction in spring tillage while maintaining rice yields!
Check back for updates on the project or feel free to contact us to learn more. Ryan Schohr ryan@schohr.com or 530-570-7926.
