Organic farmers have long been at the forefront of sustainability. Yet while organic farming avoids synthetic chemicals, organic farmers often rely on intensive tillage to manage weeds and prepare fields. This practice — three times more frequent than on conventional farms — can degrade soil health over time.
Across New England, a group of organic farmers decided to take this challenge head-on. Through American Farmland Trust’s Farmer Led Innovations (FLI) in Tillage Reduction project, seven farms in Maine and Massachusetts worked together over two years to experiment, adapt, and share strategies to reduce tillage while maintaining productivity.
The results? Creative solutions, valuable lessons, and a stronger community of farmer-to-farmer learning.