There is clearly a long way to go to encourage what is regarded as best practice in no-till and conservation farming, according to the organiser of a major conference at Tamworth.

'Ironically, farmers who have made the move to no-tillage nominate reduced costs as an advantage,' said Dr Bob Martin, after the two-day Facilitating No-tillage and Conservation Farming Practise conference.

More than 130 farmers, consultants and leading scientists came together at Tamworth Agricultural Institute, to better understand why some farmers baulk at no-tillage.

Dr Martin, also director of the Institute, said a series of focus group meetings with the region’s farmers some time before the conference highlighted the importance of economic, social, technical and managerial constraints.

In the focus meetings, farmers outlined many factors that influence their decisions not to embrace no-tillage.

'We heard vigorous arguments against adoption of no-tillage due to conversion costs, farm scale, intractable soil types and previous failed attempts,' Dr Martin said.

So, leading into the conference there was already a picture of existing constraints.

'Therefore we were and in a good position to look for potential solutions that will, in time, lead to wider adoption of conservation farming.'

Despite the scientifically proven benefits of water-use efficiency, managing climate variability, and protection of the natural resource base, adoption rates for no-tillage remain low.

A survey in 2002 showed the levels varied from 15 to 40 percent between districts in the northern region.

'There are many barriers to adoption, including a lack of understanding of some of the principles behind conservation farming like stubble management and nutrition, but soil type, cost of machinery, and the cost of chemicals and fertiliser are important issues,' he said.

Conference speakers included several farmers and national and international experts on the social, economic and technical aspects of conservation farming practises and their adoption.

The no-till conference was an initiative of the Primary Industries Innovation Centre (PIIC), a partnership between NSW Department of Primary Industries and the University of New England.

Dr Martin said recommendations and strategies arising from the conference would be of special interest to rural R&D corporations, catchment management authorities, government agencies, agribusiness and farmers.

The conference was part of a research project funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, and was sponsored by the Grains Research and Development Corporation, the University of New England, and the Namoi Catchment Management Authority.