This way farmers will get better yields, farm environments will have less stress placed on them and all of us will enjoy foods grown with the judicious use of agricultural chemicals. Acres committed to no-till nearly doubled between 1989 and 1992, reaching 28 million. That figure is expected to top 40 million acres in 1996. Farmers will save money because of less equipment, fuel and labor costs - even with the additional cost for herbicides. USDA studies have shown that no-till practices reduce the amount of farm chemical run off because the crop residues trap chemicals that might otherwise spread.
Breeders also seek to improve the situation by breeding crop plants that thrive in no-till settings.
This includes plants that yield more to maximize production on cultivated land and lessen the need to put additional land into production. Feedstock Efficiency As much as 60 percent of American corn and soybean crops each year get eaten by farm animals that become the meat on our dinner plates. Anything that makes animals better able to digest their food will diminish the overall need for feed, without diminishing the overall productivity of the animals. Reduce the amount of grazing lands needed. Reduce water used by livestock and for livestock feed.