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Michigan farmer turns to no-till to cut rising diesel costs

A fifth-generation farmer says he plans to increase no-till management this fall to help mitigate the current cost of diesel.

“If it doesn’t have to be tilled this fall, it’s not going to get it—definitely going to hold off on that a lot.”

Michigan grower Brad Kamprath raises corn, soybeans, and wheat just north of the Ohio border in Monroe County.

“On average, I probably have 50 percent no-till soybeans, and I would say 30 to 40 percent no-till corn,” he shares. “Both of those are going to be up. Beans are going to be probably closer to 75 percent. No-till corn will probably be closer to 50 percent.”

Kamprath says higher input and equipment costs have made it more challenging for smaller farms like his to keep up with the acres necessary to operate.

Following President Trump’s Executive Order on diesel tax relief, Triple A says the national average dropped about half a cent from Monday to $6.32 per gallon Tuesday, more than $2.60 above diesel prices this time last year.