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Max Carter
Douglas, Georgia
SUMMARY
 Cotton,
corn, peanuts, soybeans, winter wheat and rye on 400 acres
Conservation
tillage, cover crops, innovative rotations
BACKGROUND
In the early 1970s, the soil on Max Carter's farm was eroding at a fast clip.
Like most cotton farmers, Carter cultivated each of his fields nearly year-round,
turning over the soil to prepare weed-free seed beds. Like all his neighbors,
he burned crop residues before each planting so the "trash" wouldn't
clog his disk or harrow.
After days of planting
when he couldn't see the front wheels of his tractor from all the dust, Carter
vowed to find another way. He retained his rotation of wheat, corn, cotton,
peanuts and soybeans, but stopped burning residue. Instead, he retrofitted a
planter to create a small bare strip ahead of the seeder and drilled directly
into the residue.
As he fine-tuned his
system, cover crops became an important part of Carter's rotation. In essence,
he now creates extra residue by growing non-cash crops in the off-season, killing
them, then planting into this soil cover for soil enhancement and weed suppression.
PROFITABILITY
By eliminating burning and consolidating tillage and planting in one field trip,
Carter shortened the time between harvesting one crop and planting another.
As long as he can keep
his yields stable, Carter defines profitability in his system by the amount
of inputs - fewer inputs equal more profit. Diesel fuel, equipment maintenance
costs and chemical costs have decreased, which has helped his bottom line. If
yields stay comparable to what he got when he conventionally tilled - and so
far they have - he'll do what's best for the soil. In a given year, he expects
45 to 50 bushels of wheat or soybeans per acre, two tons of peanuts per acre
and nearly two bales of cotton per acre.
ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGIES
Carter's no-till practices have dramatically reduced soil loss from his farm.
In the process, crop residues boosted the organic matter in Carter's soils.
Since the higher organic matter improved his soil quality and water retention,
he has significantly cut his irrigation costs. Higher soil quality also provides
more fertility for the next crop. Finally, Carter now relies on spot spraying
rather than cultivation to manage problem weeds, and his herbicide use has not
increased in the no-till system.
Without the smoke from
burning and dust from tillage, air quality has drastically improved around the
neighborhood. Max speaks with pride about the quail and other birds that have
returned to his land, finding cover among the residue on his fields.
COMMUNITY, OUTREACH,
QUALITY OF LIFE
Today, conservation tillage is sweeping the area. There are 80 members in the
Coffee County Conservation Alliance, an organization that Carter helped organize
and served as past president. His farm is a showcase for conservation tillage,
hosting numerous visitors and field days, and Carter has been asked to speak
at other events.
Carter likes to tell
people that he got into conservation tillage because the old way was too much
work, although one look around his well-kept farm will tell you that he's not
afraid to put in some long days. The truth is, conservation tillage allows him
to tend to other activities while his neighbors are out cultivating their fields
during the winter and spring. "I was ready to retire, but then this started
getting really interesting," Carter says.
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