Farmers' and experts' opinion on no-tillage -: Results of a Europe-wide survey

Experts working in the field of rural extension and research have a much more negative opinion about no-tillage as compared to no-tillage farmers. Although they agree on the ecological and economical benefits of direct drilling, the so-called experts expect increased problems with weeds, diseases and pests, soil compaction and lower yields. For them the main reasons for the low acceptance of no-tillage by the farmers are the fear of lower yields, maintenance of traditional methods, insufficient technical knowledge and analysis of the real production costs. The contradiction between research results and the opinion of "experts" and farmers indicates that it is necessary to overcome the apparent impediments for the adoption of no-tillage in order to achieve the goal for a reduction of environmental pollution and increase of the production efficiency.