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  • From: Ken Hargesheimer <minifarms2@yahoo.com>
  • To: livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [Livingontheland] No-till cotton
  • Date: Wed, 2 Aug 2006 09:42:38 -0700 (PDT)

Anyone who wants to see no-till cotton just come to Lubbock TX.  One farmer has been at it almost 25 years now.  Another one started four seasons ago and could not be happier.  I know these men personally.   Steve Groff, PA, [spoke at his farm day] who has been no-till corn, etc for over 30 years. The guru  of no-till in the USA.
 
Proven Practices for Profitable Cotton Production [abbreviated]
 
These are based on the internet, US & international agriculture magazines, experiences teaching organic, no-till in many countries, research data and farmer experiences in those countries and a demonstration garden.  They are ecologically sustainable, environmentally responsible, socially just and economically viable.  There is unlimited, documented proof.  No-till reduced production cost 30% the first year and tripled profits in five years.  Over 50% of the farms went no-till in only ten years. [Argentine].  No-till farming requires a no-till planter and/or drill.  There are 200,000,000 no-till acres worldwide.
 
1985-2000, Dr. Morrison, TX research station, proved that permanent beds, with permanent tracks, increases yield 15%.  In 2002, A D Hughes [806-866-5667] decided to go no-till [cotton] and purchased a no-till planter.  He planted the cotton, harvested the cotton, planted wheat, knocked down the wheat and he was ready to plant again.  His cost went to the basement.  Buster Adair [806-755-2532] has been no-till [cotton] for over twenty years.  Steve Groff [cedarmeadowfarm.com] has been no-till [vegetables, corn] for 30 years.  It works!
 
No technique yet devised by mankind has been anywhere near as effective at halting soil erosion and making food production truly sustainable as no-till (Baker)
 
1.      Open mind.
2.      Willing to make changes [first, in the mind and then, in the cotton field]
3.      Increase the soil organic matter every year
4.      Manage the cotton for highest profit per acre; not highest yield per acre]
5.      Little or no external inputs [Not necessary to buy anything, from anybody, for the farm.  Certain things are recommended] 
6.      Leave all crop residues on top of the soil
7.      No-till:  no plowing, no disking, no cultivating.
8.      Permanent cotton beds
9.      Permanent tracks [for tractor wheels to plant & harvest.  15% yield increase.]
10.   Tractor [small] & no-till planter and/or drill [ no lister, no plows, no tandem disks, no cultivators]
11.   Soil always covered
12.   Use mulch/green manures/cover crops.
13.   Alternative cotton  [naturally colored varieties from India and Peru]
14.   Imitate nature. Most farmers fight nature. ¡Nature always wins!
 
If you would like a list of website, DVDs, etc for further research, etc. request it from minifarms@gmail.com. 
 
Ken Hargesheimer
 
DVD:  BT Cotton in Andhra Pradesh – A three year fraud.  ddsrural@sanchamet.in  Send $3 [ppd] to Ken Hargesheimer, Box 1901, Lubbock TX.

 


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