Prairie soil is going to crack when it dries out regardless of what's planted in it whether it gets tilled or not. The volume of the soil changes with the moisture content. It is what it is. I've dealt with it off and on for about 60 years. It's a pain when it's wet,
It's a pain when it's dry and a pain when it's in between. It's fertile, the ph is good if it's not too high and it will grow crops and deer, you just have to learn how to deal with it and to stay off it when it's too wet or you'll be taking a long walk, 4wd or not. It can be like driving on grease