Kentucky NRCS Front Page Stories

Updated 09/22/2008

No-Till Tobacco Demonstration

Submitted by

John Graham, Soil Scientist, Lexington, Kentucky

On Tuesday May 13th, a Heavy Residue Roll Down No-Till Tobacco Demonstration Field Day was held at the Bobby James Farm.  The purpose of this field day was to inform landowners of soil quality, conservation opportunities through Kentucky State University (KSU) and University of Kentucky (UK) Extension Programs, to demonstrate stalk chopper and roller crimper roll down equipment, as well as demonstrate three different types of no-till transplanters.

Approximately 45 were in attendance.  Presentations were given by NRCS staff, KSU staff and UK Staff and farm owner, Bobby James.

Three different kinds of no-till tobacco transplanters were used to demonstrate how tobacco could be no-tilled into heavy residue cover crops.  Individuals conducting demonstrations were; farm owner Bobby James (2 row ferris wheel no-till transplanter), Dr. Bob Pearce, Extension Tobacco Specialist, University of Kentucky ( 2 row carousel no-till transplanter) and Jeff Pickering, RJ Equipment Representative (1 row RJ Equipment no-till transplanter).

Sponsors for the field day were; University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Fayette County Conservation District, Kentucky State University and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. 

Presentations by:  Charles Farmer, USDA-NRCS District Conservationist, Fayette County Kentucky; John Graham, USDA-NRCS Soil Quality Coordinator; Louie Rivers, Jr., Project Manager, Small Farmer Outreach Training and Technical Assistance Program, Kentucky State University Extension Program;  Bob Pearce, Extension Tobacco Specialist, University of Kentucky, and Greg Schwab, Extension Soil Management Specialist, University of Kentucky and and Jeff Pickering, RJ Equipment Representative.  Guest speakers from Auburn, Alabama included Corey Kichler, Engineering Technician, and Eric Schwab, Agronomist.