Sixth-generation farmer Clayton Griffith is pioneering a new era in Delta Junction, Alaska, by introducing the state’s first John Deere 1890 no-till air drill. Moving from Kansas to the “Last Frontier” five years ago (because of his passion for fishing and hunting), he is transitioning to a no-till system to condense the planting window — a critical shift in a region where winter comes early.
As the equipment travels via a four-truck convoy through the U.S. and Canada, Griffith hopes to prove that modern conservation practices are the key to building a sustainable operation in one of the world’s most challenging environments.
“The idea is to get into the fields quicker, get the crop in the ground as soon as possible,” Griffith says.
How No-Till Can Transform Alaska’s Short Growing Season
In a conventional-till system, Griffith says planting takes three to four weeks. With a short growing season that lasts 90 to 110 days, every day counts for his barley, oats, hay and grass crops to thrive. Using the no-till air drill, he expects to plant 5,600 acres in approximately five days.
“Winter could come as early as September; you can’t predict the weather, so it’s crucial for us to expand the growing season,” he explains.
After an opportunity to locally source an air drill fell through, and with the clock ticking, Griffith reached out to Quality Drills based in Kansas.
“To be bringing something to [Alaska] that focuses on what I view as a really important cause is very rewarding,” says Stefan Alderson, CEO, in regard to helping Alaska agriculture and the people who call that state home.
The two drills along with two tractors headed to Griffith’s farm once belonged to Howard Turner Farm in Muskogee, Okla. After Turner passed away, Quality Drills was tasked with selling some of the farm’s estate.
“His machines and his legacy are going to be a part of something really big in Alaska, where hopefully it’ll live on for a good, long time,” Alderson says.
The convoy of four semi-trucks and a passenger vehicle is traveling from the U.S., through Canada into the Land of the Midnight Sun, where they are expected to arrive in three days.
On the Leading Edge of A No-Till Movement in Alaska
Griffith looks forward to getting to work once the equipment arrives and building soil health as he starts to plant on May 15.
“If you want to build a sustainable local food network, you have to be efficient,” Griffith says. “Using variable-rate applications is crucial to saving on fertilizer and herbicide costs.”
Due to his location, the only fertilizer Griffith can get in bulk is dry fertilizer, such as urea and phosphorus. Not to mention, fertilizer and herbicides are more expensive.
Eventually, he hopes his neighbors will be convinced to invest in no-till practices and equipment. He compares farming in Alaska to “farming on the moon” because the only equipment he has is what he brought with him.
“If we have the same kind of equipment, we can help out with parts, etc.,” Griffith explains.
In Alaska, there is heavy competition for the small labor pool. Between the pipeline, mining and Fort Greely, it can be hard to find good help. That is why no-till practices and machinery are crucial to farming.
“Having machines that can get the job done quicker, be more efficient, and save costs on fertilizer is a huge advantage,” Griffith says. “This has been a long time coming. It’s a great opportunity for the state of Alaska.”
