No-till drill rentals available from Lake County Conservation District No-till drill rentals available from Lake County Conservation District
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News from the Lake County Conservation District
LAKE COUNTY — Lake County Conservation District is excited to announce that their no-till seed drill is still available for rent.
This fall marks the third season that the conservation district is making its seed drill available to the public. The program has seen great success with dozens of county residents putting it to good use. The drill allows for planning without the need for tillage. Eliminating the need for tillage before seeding may reduce soil erosion, soil compaction, water requirements and overall costs, all while increasing the field’s production. The conservation district makes the seed drill available to the community year-round with spring and fall marking the busiest seasons of use.
The conservation district purchased the no-till seed drill in 2018, thanks to a cooperative effort by the local Pheasants Forever chapter and the Lake County Weed District. The drill is equipped with two seed boxes, one for larger seeds such as wheat and another smaller seed box for small seeds such as alfalfa and grasses.
According to Lake County Conservation Coordinator Heidi Fleury, “We saw a strong need in the community for a cost-effective means to improve pastures and plant crops in a way that reduces soil disturbance. The conservation district is excited about this new opportunity we can provide to our community, and we are grateful to our local partners for helping us make it happen.”
Ben Montgomery, with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, is also excited about the continuing rental program. According to Montgomery, “We have a lot of people in the county who have really taken an interest in improving their pastures without having to tear them out and completely start over. This drill should be a great tool for those folks.”
Lake County Conservation District and the NRCS have conducted numerous field trials over the past several years to test the viability of inter-seeding legumes (clovers and other species) into existing pastures with good success. Montgomery said: “We’ve had a great amount of success at getting some new species established within existing pastures at a very low cost. We’ve tested a number of species including a variety of clovers and non-bloating legumes, such as cicer milkvetch and birdsfoot trefoil, that can really improve the condition of our pastures. We have a lot of other studies ongoing and more planned.”
The no-till drill will be available to residents of Lake County for a daily rental charge of approximately $100. The drill will need to be operated with a minimum of a 50-horsepower tractor with hydraulics. The drill can be transported by a ¾ ton pickup truck on roadways with a top speed of 50 mph. The drill seeds approximately three acres per hour under normal conditions. To make a reservation, contact the Lake County Conservation District at lakecountycd@ronan.net or 406-676-2841 x102. More information can be found on their website, www.lakecountyconservationdistrict.org.
