No-till is a win-win-win for soil health, crop production, and clean water

In the Hangman Creek watershed, producers and conservation partners are working together to improve water quality while supporting productive farms. A key tool is no‑till farming — planting directly into last year’s crop residue to protect soil health, retain moisture, and keep sediment out of the streams and rivers.

Recently, partners of the Hangman Creek watershed workgroup gathered to see no-till practices in action with a presentation from the Spokane Conservation District.

Finding solutions for cleaner water together

The Hangman Creek watershed workgroup was created in 2018 and consists of partners from state and local government agencies, local Tribes, conservation districts, nonprofits, producers and landowners. The goal of the work group is to help improve water quality through coordination and collaboration.

That same year, the Spokane Riverkeeper established the Hangman Settlement Agreement with Ecology to tackle water quality issues in the watershed. Years of water quality data collected by Riverkeeper and Spokane Falls Trout Unlimited volunteers also helped underscore the urgency of cleaning up the watershed. While Ecology staff had been studying and working on a Hangman Creek cleanup plan, the legal agreement helped expedite the work with more funding, outreach, and implementation of conservation practices on the ground.

Every year, we develop a report to outline the progress made within the watershed. The 2025 Hangman Creek Settlement Agreement Annual Report is available online.

Helping improve soil and stream health through farming practices

Land in the Hangman Creek watershed is primarily used for agriculture, predominantly cropland and some livestock. Ecology and partners work with landowners and producers to provide information on best management practices that prevent pollution (such as soil erosion and chemicals) from getting into the creek. Many practices can support water health and provide benefits for landowners on the ground. One of the most beneficial practices for water quality, soil health, and even operation costs is no-till.

Ty Meyer, ag manager at the Spokane Conservation District, told the Hangman Creek workgroup he estimates around 30% of dryland crop producers in the Hangman watershed are still using conventional methods, 60-70% practice conservation tillage, and only about 5% are true no-tillers. “A conventional farm can plow up to 12 inches into the soil and make 6-8 passes a year, compared to a no-till farm that doesn’t plow at all — that’s a lot of time and energy, not to mention fuel costs,” Meyer said.

A true no-till operation never plows or even disturbs the soil. Instead, the seed for the next crop is drilled directly into the remains of the previous crop. These remains, called residue, have many benefits. After harvest, the roots are left in the ground, which provides food for decomposers (bacteria, fungi, worms) and holds soil in place during rain events. The leftover stubble also protects the soil from water and wind erosion and gradually becomes a mulch that helps keep in moisture. The fungi and bacteria communities provide nutrients for the plants, while earthworms help break down organic material and aerate the soil. Plowing disrupts these decomposer communities and dries out the soil.

Building drought resistance

“No-till fields are like sponges — they absorb runoff during rain events and keep it in the ground for plants to use later in the summer when they need it most,” explained Ecology Eastern Region Watershed Unit Supervisor Mitch Redfern. In contrast, a conventional tilled field absorbs little rainwater and the rest runs off into nearby streams, carrying eroded soil and other possible pollutants with it.

The sponge-like properties of no-till soil are especially beneficial in drought conditions because it retains water in the ground instead of letting it run off into surface water. Washington, like much of the west, has been in a continuous cycle of drought since 2023. More and more producers are turning to conservation tillage as a way to navigate persistent drought conditions.

Bob Sievers is a dryland wheat producer whose been no-tilling for 23 years in the Spangle area. When neighboring farm acreage went up for sale, he took the opportunity to look at how much wheat, also known as yield, was produced on the property. “When I compared yield numbers from the conventionally farmed field with my no-till fields, my yields were higher every year, sometimes three times as high,” he said.

Turning challenges into opportunities

Considering the many benefits of no-till, especially with increased drought, it may be hard to understand the hesitation from producers to make the shift. But, like any change, there are some real challenges. The main, and most obvious, obstacle is the high cost of machinery. New no-till equipment can cost thousands of dollars. Compared to conventional or direct seed equipment this may be comparable, but making the switch is still an investment.

The less obvious challenge is the practice itself, since the approach asks operators to manage their fields in a very different way from what they’ve been used to for decades. The no-till system is almost the complete opposite of conventional operations. Farming has always been about plowing, removing the weeds, clearing out last year’s harvest to make way for this year. But by definition, no-till requires no plowing and leaving the stubble from last year’s harvest untouched. Making that switch takes different equipment, a new set of skills, and willingness to try a new approach — no small thing in a business where margins are already tight.

Fortunately, there are many financial resources for no-till, including the Spokane Conservation District’s loan program, funded through Ecology’s Water Quality Combined Fund. In addition, their newest offering, coming soon, will pay producers to protect ecosystem services, such as clean water and pollinator habitat, depending on which conservation practices they use on their operation. Ecology also provides a number of funding opportunities for best management practices and water quality improvement.

To find out more about no-till, other conservation practices, and funding sources, contact your local Ecology office, visit our nonpoint pollution webpage, or reach out to your local conservation district or NRCS office.

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