Steps for Transitioning to Conservation Agriculture (CA)
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The transition to conservation agriculture (ACS) involves deep reflection and sometimes a reorganization of work and the farm. It is therefore important to fully understand the necessary steps to implement these practices.
Context
Starting ACS requires reconsidering the overall system of the farm according to 3 guiding principles: no tillage, permanent soil cover, diversity and long crop rotation. One must be willing to change practices and habits, train, gain experience, change reference points, and become the master of their soil.
This requires time, motivation, and energy. After interviews with farmers and an ACS advisor, here is a summary of important points for transitioning to ACS.
Main reasons for transitioning to ACS are:
Economic:
- Reduce mechanization costs (fuel, equipment wear).
Environmental:
- Improvement of soil structure (reduction of erosion, better bearing capacity).
- Improvement of soil fertility.
Strategic:
- Free up time for other farm activities, a second job, or personal life.
- Yield stability.
Implementation of the transition
Transition steps
- Reflection and training phase: gathering information from farmers practicing ACS, on the internet or training (or self-training) through associations promoting conservation agriculture.
- Setting up trials on small areas: trial of no-till seeding or establishment of covers on small plots, observation on plots, yield analysis.
- Transition on the whole farm: This must be done after several trials on small plots and a significant reflection period, to gain enough experience to build confidence.
Critical points: Cover crop establishment, no-till seeding, summer and spring crop establishment.
It is important not to rush and start too quickly to avoid mistakes like those described in the testimony of Benoît Bourguignon (farmer in Vienne). Poor control of the cover crop can lead to yield loss. It may also be useful to form a GIEE or other group of farmers for conducting/following experiments on each other's plots.
Transition completed?
"To consider the transition completed, at least 5-6 years of hindsight are needed," says Antonio Pereira, field crops and ACS transition advisor at the Chamber of Agriculture of Haute Marne.
For his part, Thomas Houdan (mixed farmer in Côte d'Or) does not believe one can talk about the end of the transition: "There is never really an end to the transition because you are never at the limit of the potential, which is unattainable. Switching to ACS offers thousands of possibilities."
Which advisory organization to call on? And when?
Conducting your own experimentation beforehand can be good. It is essential to go through a research phase with other farmers or advisors. This is a long phase that takes several years.
However, getting support helps avoid common mistakes when lacking experience. Several organizations can assist in this transition. The Chamber of Agriculture does not always have advisors specialized in these practices but it can be worthwhile to see what they offer.
Otherwise, several networks of associations promoting conservation agriculture have branches throughout most of France and can provide feedback and advice. Notably, BASE, APAD, and Ver de Terre Production. The Franco-Swiss association Adria also offers training on conservation agriculture.
Necessary equipment
Conservation agriculture does not require much equipment; the goal is precisely to minimize mechanization use. It may be useful to invest in a seeder adapted to no-till, which facilitates crop establishment. However, it is possible to perform direct seeding with any type of seeder, so it may be more strategic to start the transition with seeders already on the farm to limit initial investments.
Benoît Bourguignon chose to build his own seeder. This can be a solution to best adapt it to the farm's specifics.
Antonio Pereira warns about buying a no-till seeder: "You need a seeder that can sow into a cover crop but be careful, it is not the first investment to make; you can start without one or modify existing seeders to adapt them. The main thing is to first acquire knowledge!"
Economic aspect
Reducing tillage has a major economic interest, which is cost reduction. Indeed, it significantly reduces fuel costs, but also parts replacement, especially on very stony soils where equipment wear is high.
- Benoît Bourguignon in Vienne who achieved a saving of 2500 L of diesel in one year.
- Victor Dubuet, in Côte d’Or, estimates savings of between €150 and €250/ha.
- For Thomas Houdan, in Côte d'Or, the first 4-5 years were difficult but since then, his EBITDA has grown positively year after year.
- In some cases, a reduction of operational costs by about 40% can be observed (APAD: Anthony Frison, ACS farmer)[1].
Subsidies:
- There are carbon storage premiums but no subsidies or labels for ACS.
- The protein crop premium increases as the share of these species generally increases in ACS.
- There are also occasional aids for equipment purchase via PSAE (Agricultural Farm Support Plan) at the regional level.
Environmental aspect
"Do you observe agronomic/ecological improvements?
- Yes, it is undeniable, and in advanced systems, we gain in IFT reduction” feedback from Antonio Pereira during his support.
From an agronomic point of view, ACS allows increasing soil organic matter content. For example, on Thomas Houdan's farm, it went from 2.78% OM in 1999 to 3.2% in 2013 then 8.1% in 2020.
ACS also allows sequestering more carbon. T. Houdan had Carbon Balance measurements done on his farm by Soil Capital:
- Before transition: 200 t/year positive balance.
- In 2020: 1000 t/year.
- In 2021: 2200 t/year.
Another positive point to note is the end of field flooding problems, as well as better bearing capacity with fields currently very easy to work.
Social aspect
Working time tends to decrease, although much of the tillage work is replaced by training and plot observation work.
"There is a lot of monitoring but less work in the fields." Benoît Bourguignon.
It also allows more free time for oneself. The farmers interviewed were all able to take more vacations or weekends after stopping tillage.
Summary
Obstacles that may be encountered
- Risk of heavy weed infestation if the cover crop is not suitable.
- Sometimes temporary yield losses (it is rare to maintain yield initially).
- Some crops are not suitable for ACS (potatoes, beet).
- In Organic farming, there are difficulties in destroying cover crops (favor frost-sensitive species or permanent covers).
- Some soils are more or less suitable for ACS: shallow calcareous soils are much better suited than deep clay soils.
Advice
- Surround yourself with others practicing ACS and support each other.
- Do not listen too much to those who do not believe in it.
- Always seek to train and gain self-confidence.
- Start with trials on small areas, get experience, and measure economic performance.
- Be patient.
Some contacts
- Antonio Pereira: Agronomy and crop production advisor at the Chamber of Agriculture of Haute Marne.
- Louis Gabaud: Advisor in field crops - TCS and conservation agriculture at the Chamber of Agriculture of Yonne.
- Émeric Courbet: Field crops advisor, BSV, Agrosaône at the Chamber of Agriculture of Haute Saône.
- BASE
- APAD
- Ver de Terre Production
- Adria
Sources
- Interview with Benoît Bourguignon conducted on 01/21/2022.
- Interview with Victor Dubuet conducted on 11/25/2021.
- Interview with Thomas Houdan conducted on 12/02/2021.
- Interview with Antonio Pereira conducted on 12/17/2021.
- Presentation of the transition by Anthony Frison, ACS farmer, provided by APAD.
- Keys to success for starting your transition to Conservation Agriculture, (APAD) (PDF)
Cette technique s'applique aux cultures suivantes
La technique permet de favoriser la présence des auxiliaires et bioagresseurs suivants
La technique limite la présence des auxiliaires et bioagresseurs suivants
La technique est complémentaire des techniques suivantes
Cette technique utilise le matériel suivants
- ↑ APAD: Presentation of the transition by Anthony Frison, ACS farmer
