The Patrick Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Directors and Staff recently recognized Billy and Lee Ann Collins along with Dennis Cockerham with Collins Tractor Company for their devoted and dedicated service with assistance with the District’s no-till drill seeder.
The board and staff presented the Collins a plaque of appreciation and expressed gratitude for all their help throughout the years. Collins Tractor has provided exceptional service with the district’s no-till drill program for over the last 30 years.
So, what exactly is a no-till drill? Well, it’s just what it sounds like. It’s a planter that allows for placement of one’s seeds in the ground without having to drastically disturb the topsoil beforehand. Benefits of no-till included reduced compaction, reduced soil erosion, increased organic matter, improved soil structure and better infiltration are just a few of the positive attributes associated with no-till. Some of the more quantifiable benefits of a no-till system include increased efficiency and reductions in fuel quantity, labor, and machinery costs.
The Patrick Soil and Water Conservation District office, along with the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, assist agriculture producers who voluntarily incorporate nutrient management and other environmental safeguards within agriculture operations. With their volunteer boards and more than 150 full and part-time technical and administrative employees, districts provide a valuable delivery system for Virginia’s statewide nonpoint source prevention programs.
