Husband-and-wife team Dan and Kris Nigg have increased the profitability of their corn-and-soybean operation by reducing tillage, growing cover crops, and putting variable-rate technology to work.
Successful Farming spoke with Dan Nigg, who was named a Soil Health Champion by the National Association of Conservation Districts, about how the three-point formula has led to better crop yields.
"While yields are growing, costs are decreasing," said Nigg, who farms in northeast South Dakota. "When you take away a lot of the expense while increasing yields at the same time, the return to the bottom line is going to be a lot better."
Reduced Tillage, Plus Equipment Savings
The Niggs transitioned to reduced tillage around 20 years ago by primarily practicing no-till, except for the vertical-tillage pass they make ahead of planting soybeans into cornstalks. Switching to conservation tillage had the immediate effect of reducing machinery costs.
"Cutting back on tillage let me eliminate a lot of equipment," Nigg said. "When we still practiced conventional tillage, I had a chisel plow, a ripper, and a field cultivator. We got rid of $300,000 to $400,000 worth of equipment, and we don't have to worry about replacing it."
Fewer passes across fields have meant fewer operating hours for a tractor. "We used to put 500 hours on the tillage tractor every year," Nigg said. "Last year, we ran the same tractor for just 180 hours. Eliminating about 300 operating hours on a tractor means we don't have to trade that tractor as often. That's a big savings when you're looking at a replacement cost of at least $700,000.
"Overall, we're reducing costs for machinery maintenance and replacement, as well as reducing costs for fuel and labor," he said. "The total cost savings amounts to about $60 to $80 per acre per year."
The Niggs have also reduced machinery costs by sharing ownership of equipment with another farmer. Together, the partners own two 60-foot planters and a sprayer. "We're able to run less machinery on more acres," Nigg said.
While downsizing their line of equipment, the partners incurred an additional cost of upgrading planters by adding a hydraulic downforce system and a furrow-closing system. These systems improve accuracy in seed placement and achieve better seed-to-soil contact.
