Transitioning to No-Till: A Step-by-Step Journey Rooted in Practicality

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For many growers, the idea of switching from conventional tillage to a no-till or reduced tillage system can seem daunting. It’s not just a shift in equipment; a bigger hurdle is often a shift in mindset. But as farmers across the country are discovering, taking small, deliberate steps and learning from each season can ease the transition and unlock the long-term benefits of soil health.

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In this video from our How to Soil Health series, producers Brian Kossman and Luke Adams recount their multi-year transition into no-till farming. Their story is a blueprint for practical innovation and shows how gradual adaptation, community support, and creative solutions can overcome even the most entrenched doubts.

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Starting Small: Side-by-Side Trials

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These guys didn’t jump straight into no-till. They began with a simple test: split a small field in half - one half followed their traditional fall tillage routine, the other was left untouched, cover crop and all, through to the spring.

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“It was kind of our safety net,” Luke explained. “We always knew we could spring plow it if things didn’t look good.” And that’s exactly what they did the first year—when the spring residue proved too heavy to manage, they returned to tillage. But they didn’t give up

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Instead, they learned from the experience. In year two, they left more cover crop residue but started exploring new ways to manage it effectively.

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Sheep to the Rescue: Managing Cover Crop Residue

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One unexpected strategy they turned to was grazing. By bringing sheep into their field, they created a manageable surface for planting. Their reason for bringing in sheep, however, wasn’t for manure or to boost soil biology; it was primarily for residue control, but the other benefits indeed followed.

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“Radish residue two feet thick in the spring was just too much,” Luke recalled. “But once we added sheep, we got it down to a level where the planting equipment could handle it.”

This is a perfect example of how regenerative practices like integrating livestock can serve multiple purposes. In this case, the sheep were key to residue management, but the added biological benefits were a bonus.

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The Power of Programs and Peer Learning

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Financial risk is a real barrier to trying something new in farming. Brian Kossman shared how participation in a program through Amalgamated Sugar helped him overcome that initial hesitation. The program provided reassurance that he wouldn’t be alone if something went wrong, giving him the confidence to trial direct-seeded sugar beets side-by-side with conventional tillage.

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“Once we saw we could get similar results and raise competitive crops, the rest was history,” he said. From there, the transition to cover crops and reduced tillage snowballed.

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Stories like this highlight the value of supportive networks, such as local conservation districts, co-ops, or commodity groups. Programs that offer technical or financial backing help minimize the risk of innovative or alternative management, allowing more producers to test soil health strategies without jeopardizing their livelihoods.

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Fear of Failure: A Common Hurdle

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Not everyone is ready to dive in right away, and that’s okay. One of the growers admitted that while they started experimenting with cover crops, they were still too nervous to skip fall tillage. “We’d grow a great cover crop, then plow it in the fall,” Luke said. “We just weren’t sure what spring would look like.”

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For him, the turning point came from watching his neighbor, Brian, succeed. Seeing someone else in their community make it work, and knowing they had already figured out how to grow the cover crop, gave them the courage to take the next step and direct seed into living cover.

This kind of local peer influence is one of the most powerful tools in driving soil health adoption. Seeing someone you know succeed in your soil type, climate, and crop rotation is often more persuasive than any research article.

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Lessons for New Adopters

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So what can others learn from their experience?

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1. Start small. Use split fields to compare systems and build confidence before going full-scale.

2. Plan for residue. Cover crops are powerful tools, but they must be managed properly for YOUR operation. Whether that’s grazing, mowing, or rolling, have a strategy in place.

3. Don’t go it alone. Leverage available programs and support networks to reduce risk and increase knowledge.

4. Use cover crops wisely. Even without switching tillage practices right away, cover crops add diversity and keep living roots in the ground to build soil health over time.

5. Lean on your community. Watch what’s working locally, ask questions, and share your own wins and failures.

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Soil Health Is a Process, Not a Prescription

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Transitioning to no-till isn’t a single decision; it’s a series of adaptive steps. Whether it’s grazing to manage cover residue or working side-by-side trials, each action adds up. And while the path isn’t always smooth, the benefits of improved soil structure, water retention, and long-term productivity make the journey worthwhile. Because no matter your soil type, crop rotation, or comfort level, there’s a way forward, and it starts with just one field.

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To hear more from Luke & Brian, check out our How to Start a No Till Journey interview with them, as well as the rest of our How To Soil Health series.

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