From a sustainable perspective, this is not a rotation. In Illinois , approximately 99 percent of corn and 97 percent of soybean acreage is treated with herbicides. In a sustainable system, pesticides can be used, but the use of an integrated pest management system is preferred. This system uses rotations, resistant varieties, and pest scouting to control weed, insect and disease pests. But we still have a long way to go.
Sustainable farmers are also interested in conservation tillage practices.
As with conventional systems, the range of conservation practices varies with the individual farmer in a sustainable system. Some sustainable farmers are reluctant to use no-till because of the increased need for herbicides for weed control.