Actually there is a movement back to this type of farming in the midwest where moisture can be a problem (not this year). It is a similar method in which they sow a cover crop then roll it down as a thatch barrier once it matures. Then they use equipment specifically designed to only disturb the soil where the seed is being planted. Basically a much larger than normal no till planter. The results so far have been, higher yeilds, more drought tolerance, less weed competition, and more profit. So don't make the mistake of believing just becuase something has been done a certain way for years that it's the best method. And as this board proves many times over, people are very reluctant to change, especially when it's their livelyhood. The farmers using traditional methods are making a living and see no need to change. But other farmers who are a little more open minded are willing to trial new methods and processes to see if there is something better out there. And many are finding out there is actually a better way. The healthiest soil is definetly soil that is undesturbed, allowing high populations of microbial activity. When soil is disturbed it kills much of the microb popluation, which hinders the soil break down process as it was designed to be. It also causes the soil to become hard and crusty on the surface, which affects water absorption, and causes much more water run off. Soil is kind of like a crack addict, once your hooked it's hard to go back to normal. Once traditional farming techniques are imployed and the soil becomes dead with microbial activity, you have to keep pouring the fertilizers and other chemicals to the crop in order to have a decent yeild.