Pennsylvania Farmers Advance No-Till Cover Crop Practices

Lucas Criswell and Jim Hershey use Dawn ZRX roller-crimper to plant directly into cover crops.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 7:19am

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A highly textured, abstract painting in soft, earthy tones of green, brown, and ochre, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circular patterns, and precise botanical spirals. The composition resembles a complex scientific diagram, conveying the structural order and natural cycles of sustainable agriculture through visual abstraction.Innovative no-till farmers in Pennsylvania are using specialized roller-crimper technology to plant directly into cover crop mulch, further enhancing soil health and erosion control.Hershey Today

Pennsylvania no-till farmers Lucas Criswell and Jim Hershey are extending the benefits of cover crops by using a Dawn ZRX roller-crimper to plant directly into the cover crop, rather than terminating it first. This innovative approach helps further reduce erosion and improve soil health.

Why it matters

As more farmers adopt no-till practices, some are finding that cover crops alone are not enough to fully prevent soil erosion. Criswell and Hershey's use of the roller-crimper technology allows them to maintain the cover crop's protective mulch layer while still planting their cash crops, providing an additional layer of erosion control.

The details

The Dawn ZRX roller-crimper is a specialized piece of equipment that rolls over the cover crop, crimping and flattening the stems to create a protective mat on the soil surface. Criswell and Hershey then plant their cash crops directly into this mulch layer, allowing the cover crop to continue providing erosion control and soil health benefits even after planting.

  • Criswell and Hershey have been using the Dawn ZRX roller-crimper on their Pennsylvania farms for the past 3 years.

The players

Lucas Criswell

A no-till farmer in Pennsylvania who has been using the Dawn ZRX roller-crimper to plant directly into cover crops.

Jim Hershey

A no-till farmer in Pennsylvania who has been using the Dawn ZRX roller-crimper to plant directly into cover crops.

Dawn ZRX

A specialized roller-crimper machine that allows farmers to plant directly into flattened cover crops without first terminating the cover crop.

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The takeaway

Criswell and Hershey's innovative use of the Dawn ZRX roller-crimper demonstrates how no-till farmers can further enhance the erosion control and soil health benefits of cover crops by planting directly into the cover crop mulch layer, rather than terminating it first. This approach could inspire more farmers to explore roller-crimper technology as a way to maximize the value of their cover crop investments.