Conservation Tillage Study

1
Conservation Tillage Study

• Prepared for
• The Cotton Foundation
• December, 2002
• Doane Marketing Research
• St. Louis, Missouri

2
Study Purpose and Objectives

• Purpose
• The primary purpose of this study, is to evaluate
  how tillage practices in cotton have changed
  since 1997 to the present and to determine the
  impact herbicide tolerant technologies such as
  Roundup Ready and BXN have had on tillage
  practices during this period.
• Objectives
• The key objectives of this study include
• To identify the tillage practices cotton growers
  utilized in 1997 and compare those to present day
  tillage practices.
• To identify the changes in technology that have
  made it possible for growers to reduce tillage in
  cotton.
• To identify obstacles that are currently
  preventing growers from trying to reduce tillage
  practices in cotton.

3
Methodology/Sample

• Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews (CATI)
  were used to collect the data for this study.
  Interviewing was conducted from October 24th
  through November 2, 2002.
• Qualified respondents must have planted a minimum
  of 250 acres of cotton in 2002 and be the
  individual responsible for tillage practice
  decisions in their farm operation.
• Sample quotas were established in 13 Southern and
  Western states. The quotas were established
  based on the proportion of cotton acres in a
  state to the total cotton acres in the 13 state
  area.
• Participants for this study were randomly
  selected from lists maintained by Doane Marketing
  Research, Inc.
• Data was weighted to represent the universe of
  250 acre cotton acres in the 13 state study
  area. These universes were based on the latest
  available USDA estimates of acres.

4
Methodology/Sample
Study Area and Sample by Area
100
35
134
100
- Southeast
- Midsouth
- Southwest
- West
5
Key Findings

• During the period from 1997 to 2002, the
  following events have occurred relative to cotton
  acreage among the study respondents (250 acre and
  above cotton growers)
• No-till cotton acres have nearly doubled to 29
  of the total cotton acres and reduced till acres
  have increased over one-half, to account for 30
  of the cotton acres
• Roundup Ready cotton acres have more than tripled
  to account for 77 of the total cotton acres
  grown in 2002.
• The percent of cotton acres planted in
  ultra-narrow (7 to 10 inches) or narrow rows (11
  to 29 inches) have increased by a fraction of a
  percent to account for slightly under 2 of the
  total cotton acres
• In this same approximate time frame, study
  respondents (250 acre cotton growers) stated
  they have undertaken the following cultural
  practices in cotton
• 80 of the growers are making fewer tillage
  passes in cotton
• 75 of the growers are leaving more crop residue
  on the soil surface
• 52 of the growers have increased their no-till
  cotton acres.

6
Key Findings

• Roundup Ready technology has been a key factor
  enabling growers to undertake this tillage
  reduction revolution in cotton. When asked,
  In the past 5 years, what changes in technology
  such as equipment, chemicals or seed have made it
  possible for you to reduce tillage or increase
  crop residue in cotton? Growers stated on an
  unaided basis
• 79 - Roundup Ready technology, including the
  seed, weed control, lower costs, less
  cultivation, and increased yield.
• 26 - Better equipment, including hooded
  sprayers, planter technology
• 12 - Better chemicals not specified
• 11 - Better/new seed out there-BT
• When asked which of six factors had the greatest
  impact toward the adoption of reduced tillage or
  no-till in cotton during the past 5 years,
  growers indicated
• The introduction of Roundup Ready cotton 71
• The availability for over the top or in crop
  herbicides 15
• Improvements in reduced or no-till planters and
  drills 5
• The availability of reduced or no-till planters
  and drills 4
• Cost of burndown herbicides 3
• The availability of burndown herbicides 3
• N 269

7
Key Findings

• Approximately 64 percent of the conventional till
  cotton growers surveyed indicated they have
  considered trying reduced or no-till cotton, but
  they currently do not practice reduced or no-till
  in their operation. Equipment issues are seen as
  a primary obstacle in trying reduced or no-till
  cotton, followed by ground and weather
  conditions. Factors or obstacles that have
  prevented this trial as stated on an unaided
  basis include
• The price of equipment 23
• Ground conditions 17
• Weather conditionslack of moisture 14
• Weed control 9
• Crop rotation practices 8
• Not willing to change 8
• Tried reduced tillage, went back to
  conventional 6
• Just havent done it yet 5
• Dont have proper equipment 5
• Roundup not effective in killing certain weeds
  5
• Not making enough yield 5
  
  N 64

8
Key Findings

• When asked, What one thing could be done that
  would strongly influence you to adopt reduced or
  no-till cotton in the next 2 years? the
  conventional cotton grower respondents who have
  considered trying reduced or no-till cotton gave
  the following unaided responses
• Better price for crop 14
• Not willing to change 14
• Reasonable price for equipment 9
• Reduced chemical cost 9
• Convince myself that it works 9
• Wouldnt plant cotton 8
• Government subsidy 6
• Wouldnt work on our land 6
• Weed control is main factor 6
• 
  N 64
• Conservation tillage results in a 20.13 savings
  for fuel and labor when compared to conventional
  tillage.

9
Key Findings

• The no-till and reduced tillage practices have
  significantly increased in the past 5 years.

10
Key Findings

• The percent of no-till and reduced till acres
  seems to be significantly lower in the West
  region. In all regions the no-till and reduced
  tillage practices have significantly increased in
  the past 5 years.

11

• Findings

12
Respondent Profile
13
Profile of Cotton Growers by Region
14
Cotton Acres By Tillage Type 2002 vs. 1997
Acres (mil)
N369 unweighted base
11.4 mil. acs.
12.7 mil. acs.
Q 1a Q 5a How many acres of cotton did you
plant in 2002? Repeat for 1997 Q 3 Q 7 How
many of these 2002 acres were no-till or strip
till, reduced till, conventional till? Repeat
for 1997
15
Cotton Tillage Practices by Region 2002
Percent of acres
Q 3 Thus overall, how many of these 2002
cotton acres were no-till or strip till, reduced
till, conventional till?
16
Cotton Tillage Practices by Region 1997
Percent of acres
Q 7 How many of these 1997 acres were no-till
or strip till, reduced till, conventional till?
17
Mean Cost of an Average Tillage Trip Per Acre
Q 9b 9c When considering labor, fuel and wear
on equipment, what would be the cost of an
average tillage trip per acre?
18
Dollar Savings for Labor and Fuel on Conservation
Tillage Acres Compared to Conventional Acres
Q 17 What do you believe the dollar savings for
labor and fuel to be on conservation tillage
acres compared to conventional till acres?
19
Cotton Acres By Row Width 2002 vs. 1997
Acres (mil)
N369 unweighted base
11.4 mil. acs.
12.7 mil. acs.
Q 1c Q 5b How many of these 2002 acres were
narrow, ultra narrow row, wide row? Repeat for
1997
20
Cotton Acres by Row Width by Region 2002
Q 1c Q 5b How many of these 2002 acres were
no-till or strip till, reduced till, conventional
till? Repeat for 1997
21
Farmer Perceptions of How They Have Changed
Tillage Practices During the Past Five Years
N369 unweighted base
Percent Indicating Yes
Q 9 Overall, compared to 5 years ago, would you
say you A. Are now making fewer tillage passes
in cotton?
B.
Are now leaving more crop residue? C. Have
more no-till acres in cotton?
22
Tillage Pass Reductions Over the Past 5 Years
Q 9a On average, how many fewer tillage passes
are you making today in cotton compared to 5
years ago?
23
Average Number of Tillage Pass Reductions Over
the Past 5 Years by Region
N295 unweighted base
Mean Pass Reductions Over Past 5 Years
Q 9a On average, how many fewer tillage passes
are you making today in cotton compared to 5
years ago?
24
Average Crop Residue on Soil SurfaceRegion in
2002 and 1997
N278 unweighted base
Mean Percent Crop Residue Level
Q 9d Q9e On average, what percent crop residue
were/are you leaving in your cotton in 1997/2002 ?
25
Changes in Technology That Have Enabled Growers
to Reduce Tillage and /or Increase Crop Residue
Levels in Cotton Over the Past 5
Years
Q 10 In the past 5 years, what changes in
technology such as equipment, chemicals or seed
have made it possible for you to reduce
your tillage and/or increase your crop residue in
cotton ?
26
Farmer Perceptions of Factors That Have Had The
Greatest Impact Toward Adoption of Reduced
Tillage or No-Till During the
Past Five Years
Q 12 Which of the following do you believe has
had the greatest impact toward your adoption of
reduced tillage or no-till in cotton
during the past 5 years?
27
Have Growers Considered Trying Reduced Tillage or
No-Till Cotton Operation? (Among Growers Having
All Conventional Till Acres)
Percent Indicating Yes
N100 unweighted base
Q 13 Have you considered trying reduced tillage
or no-till cotton in your operation?
28
Factors or Obstacles That Have Prevented
Conventional Till Growers From Trying Reduced
Tillage or No-Till Cotton - Unaided by Regions
Q 14 What factors or obstacles if any have
prevented you from trying reduced tillage or
no-till cotton?
29
What One Thing Could Be Done That Would Strongly
Influence Conventional Till Growers To Adopt
Reduced Tillage or No-Till Cotton In The Next
Year Or Two?
Q 15 What one thing could be done that would
strongly influence you to adopt reduced tillage
or no-till cotton in the next year or two?
30
Farmer Perceptions of Statements About Tillage
Practices
Conservation tillage saves labor
RUR cotton has made it possible for more growers
in my area to adopt conservation tillage
RUR cotton has made it possible for growers to
use less residual herbicides
?
(Strongly Disagree)
?
(Strongly Agree)
Q 16 I would like to read you a list of
statements about tillage practices and find out
if you agree or disagree with these statements.
Using a five point scale where 1Strongly
Disagree and 5Strongly Agree, please rate the
following statements.
31
Farmer Perceptions of Statements About Tillage
Practices
Conservation tillage allows me to farm more acres
I believe the overall profit on conservation
tillage acres is greater than the overall
profit on conventional till cotton
Lower herbicide cost have helped farmers adopt
conservation tillage
?
(Strongly Disagree)
?
(Strongly Agree)
Q 16 I would like to read you a list of
statements about tillage practices and find out
if you agree or disagree with these statements.
Using a five point scale where 1Strongly
Disagree and 5Strongly Agree, please rate the
following statements.
32
Farmer Perceptions of Statements About Tillage
PracticesTop Box 5 Strongly Agree Scores