Landlords Learn To Appreciate No-Till Benefits

Suburban development encroaches on farmland, leading to new opportunities for no-till practices.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 7:22am

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A high-end, photorealistic studio still-life photograph featuring an elegant arrangement of premium farming tools and equipment, including a no-till drill, soil samples, and precision sensors, all set against a clean, monochromatic background with dramatic studio lighting.Precision farming tools and equipment symbolize the technological innovations that enable no-till practices to thrive even as suburban development encroaches on traditional farmland.Today in Milwaukee

As residential development continues to expand around the town of Mukwonago, Wisconsin, local farmer John Steinke has had to adapt his farming operations. After quitting his hog operation in 1994, Steinke began no-tilling 500 acres of rented farmland from nearby landowners, many of whom are suburban landlords. Steinke has been able to convince these landlords of the benefits of no-till farming, allowing him to continue operating his cropping business despite the shrinking availability of affordable farmland.

Why it matters

The rapid growth of suburban development around Mukwonago has led to a sharp decline in available farmland in the area, ranked as the 3rd most threatened farmland region by the American Farmland Trust. Farmers like Steinke must find creative ways to maintain their operations, and no-till farming has emerged as an attractive option for suburban landlords who want to preserve their land's productivity.

The details

After quitting his hog operation in 1994, Steinke began no-tilling 500 acres of rented farmland, including 150 acres he picked up from a nearby dairy farm that was being developed. Steinke only has one signed contract with his landlords, as the rest have informally allowed him to farm their land using no-till practices. This arrangement has enabled Steinke to continue his cropping business despite the shrinking availability of affordable farmland in the area due to suburban sprawl.

  • In 1994, Steinke called it quits with hogs and decided to cash crop instead.
  • Last year, land right across the round sold for $6,000 an acre.

The players

John Steinke

A farmer who no-tills 500 acres of rented land near the town of Mukwonago, Wisconsin, which is located 35 miles southwest of downtown Milwaukee.

American Farmland Trust

An organization that ranks the southern area of Wisconsin, including the Mukwonago region, as the 3rd 'Top 20 Most Threatened Farmland Regions' in the country.

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What they’re saying

“I'm surrounded by development on all sides of my farm. I only own 75 acres because you simply can't afford to own land around here for farming.”

— John Steinke, Farmer

What’s next

Steinke plans to continue his no-till farming practices on the rented land, working to convince more suburban landlords of the benefits of preserving farmland productivity through sustainable methods.

The takeaway

This story highlights how innovative farming practices like no-till can help preserve agricultural land in the face of rapid suburban development, as farmers like Steinke work to partner with landlords who may not have a traditional farming background.