"Advancing the Art" presents recent findings and ideas that should further improve zero tillage farming systems. Throughout the assembly of this manual, members of the Manitoba-North Dakota Zero Tillage Farmers Association encouraged us to view farming as both a science and an art. These farmers want to keep the land productive and healthy for future generations by the continued use of zero tillage. Our goal was to publish information that would encourage farmers and agricultural scientists to further improve farming without tillage.

While producing this manual, we invited the contributors to focus on the Leading edge ideas where the science and art of agriculture overlap. We invited the contributors to submit thought provoking material - to challenge the reader to consider not only what is but what might be as we advance the art.

We refer to zero till (or no-till) as a cropping system that leaves the soil undisturbed from harvest until seeding, except for some disturbance to apply fertilizers. We have used the terms zero till and no-till interchangeably.

We have generally avoided reference to trade names as their formulations, registrations and regulations vary between Canada and the United States. Pesticide and fertilizer information is presented in the context of research done in specific geographic areas. Please refer to product labels for recommendations, which must be followed. To ensure a broad international understanding, both metric and imperial measurements are used.

The diverse soils and weather of the Manitoba-North Dakota region are reflected in its agriculture. Given this diversity, it was appropriate for this publication to include information from the entire "northern plains" region of North America. This includes the northern Great Plains of the United States and the Prairie and Parkland regions of Canada. Enough similarities exist across this vast region to allow concepts developed in one area to be adapted to other locations.

Advancing the art is never quick or easy. In the case of zero tillage, it will take the commitment and cooperation of farmers and scientists. In producing this manual, we received generous assistance from all who were involved. For this we are grateful.

Daryl Domitruk Co-editor

Bill Crabtree Co-editor