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By Allison Kinney, Ohio Ag Net
When Matt Burkholder talks about soil health, he doesn’t start with test results or research data. He talks about his own fields that have firsthand reaped the benefits of using no-till farming practices. Burkholder has been farming in Allen County since about 2006 and currently grows corn, soybeans, and wheat. This summer, he also added a small sunflower planting as part of an effort to further diversify the operation.
“We grow corn, soybeans, and wheat. And after the wheat harvest, I planted six acres of sunflowers. That’s a new market we’re going to try this summer and see how it goes. We are trying to diversify our farm as much as we can,” Burkholder said.
His journey into conservation-minded farming began shortly after he started farming.
“In 2007, a friend of mine asked me, ‘Do you utilize no-till and cover crops on your farm?’ And I asked him, ‘Why would I plant a cover crop?’ He then proceeded to explain the benefits,” Burkholder said. “He planted that seed in my mind in 2007, but I didn’t plant my first cover crop until 2009.”
Like many farmers trying something new, Burkholder found the early years challenging.
“Probably some of the biggest challenges were that I felt alone,” he said. “I did not have anyone in my area that could be my mentor, or that could walk along beside me and help me through some of those management practice changes.”
Over time, however, he began to see noticeable improvements in his fields. One farm in particular convinced him the investment in soil health was paying off.
“Back when I was doing full tillage, there used to be three wet spots in a farm, and we would always have to farm around those,” Burkholder said. “After three or four years of using a cover crop rotation and not using any tillage, I noticed those spots start to shrink. Today, we can plant through those areas and plant the whole farm at the same time.”
He has also observed improved water infiltration, nutrient cycling, and weed suppression as soil health has improved. The benefits have not been limited to the soil. Burkholder said reducing tillage has significantly lowered operating costs as well.
“My fuel bill,” he said. “I can’t imagine how I used to do a three-tillage-pass system before planting. Then combining that into the equipment investment, switching to no-till really helped me save on some of my input costs.”
Burkholder is proud of the progress his farm has made in reducing soil erosion.
“One of the goals for our farm is to turn dirt into healthy soil for the next generation,” he said. “I can’t turn dirt into healthy soil if it’s blowing or washing away.”
That same passion for conservation led him to become involved with the Ohio No-Till Council. After joining the board when an opening became available, he was later selected to serve as president.
“It was humbling to be asked to become president,” Burkholder said. “I have a passion for conservation, and I want to continue to help mentor other farmers and landowners who want to adopt these practices.”
The council’s mission closely reflects the support Burkholder wished he had when he started.
“We want to provide education to farmers and landowners and other institutions to help them and promote these conservation practices,” he said. “When I implemented these practices years ago, I was standing in my field all alone.”
Looking ahead, he is encouraged by ongoing soil health research and farmer-to-farmer mentorship programs that provide both data and practical guidance. For Burkholder, no-till is not simply a cropping practice. It is an investment in the future of his farm, his soil, and the next generation that will someday farm it.
