Reduced Tillage in Vegetables

Project Lead: Anu Rangarajan

Tillage can be a valuable management tool on a vegetable farm but intensive and repeated tillage is hard on soils. We support small to mid-scale vegetable farmers, many using organic practices, in adopting reduced tillage practices on their farm. These practices can take many different forms. Our goal is to integrate reduced tillage with other soil building practices, to foster the growth and viability of vegetable farming in New York and the Northeast.

We work across different tools and practices, fit to the the scale and resources of the farm, and are learning from many innovative farmers leading the way. We conduct applied research to trial new and emerging practices to understand the science behind them while sharing practical lessons learned to support farmers in fitting them into their own operations. We partner with farmers in experimenting on their farm and offer workshops and other training opportunities for farmers to share their methods and ideas with one another. Explore this website to learn more about our research, events, and resources.

Reduced Tillage Resources

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Tarps on Permanent Beds

About Reduced Tillage in Vegetables

Reduced tillage practices minimize soil disturbance with targeted and appropriate tillage based on farm goals. Reduced tillage means less intensity, shallower depth, and less area disturbed, either in the bed, field or across the farm. It can mean less frequent tillage and lead to successful adoption of no-till practices.

Practices take many forms. They may be system-wide, applied across the whole farm, or only fit in a part of the rotation for specific crops. They often maintain the benefits of some tillage for managing weeds, making a better seed bed for crop establishment, or incorporating residues. How they take shape on a farm can depend on farm size and soil characteristics, access to equipment or materials, farm skill sets, and labor availability.

Events

Events

Today

  • So You Think You Want to be a Market Gardener

    Centurion Farm, LLC 287 Creek Road, Locke, NY

    The Cornell Small Farms Program is pleased to offer an in-person workshop exploring the ins and outs of market gardening. This event is perfect for aspiring and beginning farmers who […]

  • Pasture Soil Nutrient Pasture Walk

    Rocky Top Acres 1659 Quaker Hill Road, Hubbardsville, NY

    We will discuss nutrient transport off of our grass-fed dairy farms. We will cover minerals, soil health, plant health and how these influence our dairy cow’s health. After lunch, graciously […]

  • Green leaves with a rough, textured surface are shown closely clustered together. The edges of the leaves have small serrations, and a light dusting or powdery coating is visible on their surfaces.

    Plant Foraging

    Cornell Cooperative Extension Tompkins County 615 Willow Ave, Ithaca, New York, United States

    Discover the basics of foraging for plants. We will start with general foraging tips and then go over some easily identifiable species. For a hands-on follow-up, register for the Foraging Walk […]

  • Grapevine with clusters of green grapes growing next to an olive tree in a grassy outdoor area.

    Growing Wine Forests in New York Tour

    Wineforest Farm Spencer, NY

    An exploration of the most ancient way of growing grapes for wine becomes a leap into the very deep rabbit hole of polyculture agroforestry and rethinking our relationships to the […]

  • A botanical illustration showing a walnut branch with leaves, flowers, and detailed views of walnuts in and out of their shells.

    Nut and Fruit Tree Culture: NYNGA English Walnut Tour

    Carl Albers homestead planting, which also hosts a significant trial for the NY Nut Growers Association English Walnut Project, has grafted shagbark and shellbark hickories, apples, pears, plums, black locusts, […]

  • Farmers’ Gatorade: Herbal Hydration

    Rock Steady Farm 41 Kaye Road, Millerton, NY, United States

    Quench your thirst in this hands-on workshop all about making your own herbal “gatorade.” We’ll explore three time-tested techniques that balance tangy vinegar with natural sweetness to create refreshing, mineral-rich drinks that can satisfy any farmer’s quench. We’ll learn the history and craft behind traditional drinks like switchel, sekahnjebin, and oxymel, and break down their […]

  • A group of people stand outdoors listening to a person speak near solar panels, with green grass underfoot. The words FINGER LAKES appear in bold white letters on an orange banner at the bottom.

    Innovations in Soil Health Field Day

    Martens Farm

    Mark your calendars for an interactive field day focused on innovative soil health practices and farm viability opportunities, featuring biochar and agrivoltaics at Martens Farm in Penn Yan, Yates County. Date: Wednesday, August 19, 2026 | Schedule: Biochar 2:00–4:00 p.m. | Agrivoltaics 4:00–6:00 p.m. |  Location: Martens Farm, Penn Yan, NY Space is limited, and pre-registration […]

  • Bright orange and yellow chicken of the woods mushrooms grow on a fallen log in a forest, surrounded by green moss and blurred trees in the background.

    Foraging Walk

    Join us on a foraging walk to see what along our trails is edible! This walk will focus on mushrooms but discuss plants as well. The trail will be moderately flat over uneven terrain and we will cover around 1 mile, please wear proper footwear and bring water. Participants must be 18 years old or […]

  • Exploring Updated Farm Stress Training Programs from Michigan State University Extension

    Virtual

    Looking for practical, ready-to-use programming on farm stress and communication? Join this webinar for an overview of the newly updated MSU Extension farm stress training programs and facilitator guide. Designed for educators and facilitators, these evidence-informed resources help reduce preparation time while making programs more engaging, interactive, and relevant for agricultural audiences. In this session, […]

  • A wide green field under a blue sky with scattered clouds, trees lining the horizon. The words CENTRAL NY appear in large white text on an orange banner at the bottom.

    Soil Health in Organic Field Crops

    Gianforte Farm 5882 E. Lake Rd, Cazenovia, NY

    Join us at Gianforte Farms for a NY Soil Health Field Day focused on soil health in organic field crop systems. BBQ lunch included! Free to attend, registration required. Featuring: Featured speaker: Dr. Erin Silva, (University of Wisconsin – Madison) – Reducing Tillage in Organic Systems Reduced tillage field tour Soil pit demo with NRCS Precision […]

  • Harvest & Post-Harvest 101: Safe Handling and Produce Care

    Groundswell 100 Rachel Carson Way, Ithaca, United States

    Join us for a hands-on introductory workshop focused on safe harvesting, produce handling, washing, storage, and post-harvest care for small-scale and organic farming systems. Participants will learn practical techniques to maintain produce quality, reduce food waste, and improve food safety through demonstrations and interactive learning stations. Topics include harvest timing, washing methods, storage basics, cooling, […]

  • Green plants grow densely alongside tall grass and a patch of straw on the ground. Some plants have broad, reddish leaves, while others have thin, long leaves, creating a lush, diverse garden scene.

    Syntropic Agroforestry Introduction Webinar

    Virtual

    In this presentation we will cover the essential features of syntropic agroforestry. What does syntropy mean, and how can we achieve it? We will discuss what is meant by the macro-organism, how ecological succession is used as a guiding principle, how forest stratification is treated, and the importance of pruning to drive the system. We […]

News and Updates

  • Eco-Friendly Ag Practices May Be Easier Than Farmers Think

    by

    Caitlin Hayes

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    New research shows that labor is thought to be a bigger barrier for farmers to adopt climate resilient practices than it actually is. Rotating crops, using compost, adding cover crops and flower strips, and reducing tillage are practices that can make farms resilient to climate change and bring environmental benefits, but Cornell researchers have found…

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  • Successful Field Day for Latino/a/x Farmers in Hudson Valley

    by

    Tim W. Shenk

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    The Latino/a/x farming community gathered for the Second Annual Hudson Valley Area Latinx Farmers’ Field Day on July 15, 2024. The Spanish-language event was hosted at Three Sisters Farm in Kerhonkson, NY, where co-owner José Rodríguez and his family welcomed more than 30 participants. Rodriguez shared his family’s experience of building a farm business, immersing…

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  • Natural Senescence: Integrating Tools into Gardening as We Age

    by

    Lee Rinehart

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    A gardener will likely confront the necessary evils of power tools as their body experiences aging, but there are workable solutions for overcoming this ethical and practical gardening challenge.    September is the beginning of my year. The summer crops have just about given their all, their leaves brown with wilt or downy mildew, an…

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  • Tarps, Mulch, and Timing: No-Till Tools to Rob the Weed Seedbank

    by

    Stephen Stresow

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    Research shows how the legacy of tarping and mulching can lead to fewer weeds in no–till vegetables. By Stephen Stresow and Ryan Maher The Woes of Weeding  One of the persistent challenges for organic vegetable farmers is managing weeds.  These floral foes emerge each season from the weed seedbank–a collection of all the weed seeds…

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  • Reduced Tillage Project Sharing Research at Soil Health Field Days

    by

    Ryan Maher

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    Hear the latest Cornell Small Farms Program research on reduced and no-till practices for vegetables at Soil Health and Climate Resiliency Field Days this July. We’ll be sharing our research along with the NY Soil Health team and partners in a statewide event series running this summer. On July 25, we’ll be at Cornell’s Thompson…

    Read More

See the full archive from Reduced Tillage

Project Partners

We collaborate with other researchers at Cornell, extension educators within Cornell Cooperative Extension, and other organizations and universities across the Northeast.

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About Anu Rangarajan

Anu was appointed director the Cornell Small Farms Program in 2004. At the same time, she opened a U-pick strawberry farm in Freeville, NY. The experience of operating a small farm changed her entire approach to research and extension, and deepened her commitment to NY farms and local food systems.

Read Articles by Anu Rangarajan

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