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What does it really take to scale a no-till system without piling on equipment costs? In this episode of Crop Chats, we’re in Cobourg, Ontario with seventh-generation farmer Mark Burnham of Burnham Farms. Mark shares how his farm transitioned into full no-till over two decades—without the need for flashy new iron or big tillage passes.

Mark and his father have built a system that works across steep hills, sandy loam, and large field blocks. From optimizing cover crop timing to managing compaction through strategic patience (and the occasional well-tuned chisel plow), Mark walks us through how his no-till system thrives in real-world conditions.

We discuss:

• Why cover crops now pay for themselves through soil savings
• How planting green fits into his corn and azuki bean rotation
• Why patience and timing are more critical than horsepower
• The key equipment pieces that actually matter for no-till
• His honest take on when and why he still uses tillage—and how little it takes

🎧 New episodes dropping weekly throughout the planting season.

Crop Chats is a collaborative video and podcast series between the Ontario Soil Network and Ian McDonald (OMAFA). Watch the full video on YouTube or listen on your favourite podcast platform.

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Let’s keep growing—together. See you next time!