"Our GPS system has 10cm accuracy at the moment but it only sows 60pc of the grain between the rows," he said.

"With 2cm accuracy via the base station, we should be able to sow with confidence every year into new ground that hasn't been cultivated and it means less weed build-up in the furrows.

"The base station is expensive but we are looking maybe to share the cost with other no-till croppers in the region."

With wife Kath, son Steven and daughter-in-law Nicole, John crops 3300 hectares, 800ha of which are leased.

John moved to Lameroo 45 years ago, after previously running a mixed farming operation.

By 1996, no-till popularity in the area caught John's eye and he began to notice the benefits.

"Not exposing the ground to the elements by retaining stubble was eliminating drift problems," he said.

John began complete no-till cropping in 1998.

* Extract from a full report to appear in Stock Journal, SA, July 24 issue.