Harnessing No-Till Planting in Pasture-Based Systems By Russ Wilson
In this episode, Russ Wilson explores the adaptation of no-till practices to pasture-based systems — showing how this crop-origin technique can revitalize and diversify your forages while improving soil function and reducing labor.
Russ shares his personal transition from conventional to no-till methods, breaking down what worked, what didn’t, and the big lessons that reshaped his approach to regenerative grazing.
🔑 Key Points Covered:
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Breaking Weed Cycles – How no-till can help interrupt persistent weeds like fescue, Johnsongrass, and knapweed.
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Boosting Forage Production – Why annual forages add grazing days and reduce dependence on stored feeds.
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Building Soil Health – From less compaction to more water infiltration and microbial activity.
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The Power of Simplicity – Russ’s revelation that planting without tillage saved time, labor, and cost.
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Practical Insights for Interseeding – When and how to use no-till to reseed thin or damaged pastures without starting over.
🌱 Actionable Insights:
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Evaluate your pastures annually to identify areas that could benefit from interseeding or renovation.
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Consider no-till as a low-labor, high-efficiency option to expand grazing days and soil resilience.
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Explore local conservation districts or neighbors with no-till drills to reduce equipment barriers.
📌 For more insights and resources visit us at stockmangrassfarmer.digital .
👉 Tune in on your favorite podcast app to The Stockman Grassfarmer Podcast and discover how no-till planting can unlock both productivity and ecological balance in your pastures.
