Problem: Farms in north Georgia needed to replant pastures following a severe drought. The cost of replanting was high, and plowing would have led to soil erosion and stream contamination. No-till farming was the recommended way to replant; a no-till machine is faster and more efficient in terms of time and fuel than is conventional planting. The no-till machinery, however, was too expensive for the small farmers of the area. Proposed solution: Since the farms were fairly small, the need for the equipment was not full-time. As a result, the state developed a program to help provide the equipment. The state bought the no-till drills, and then rented them to the farmers. They also hired operators to run the equipment. The rents from the farmers cover the costs of fuel and of the operators, as well as providing for the maintenance of the equipment. Evaluation: The program has been a success. Many farmers are now renting the state equipment to do no-till planting. Yields have not declined; at the same time, fuel consumption has dropped sharply since no-till planting is far more efficient. In addition, the hiring of operators has helped provide employment in the area. Contact: Paul Burks, Director, Governor's Office of Energy Resources, 254 Washington St, Suite 401. Atlanta, GA 30334. Citation: "Innovations in State and Local Government 1991." New York: The Ford Foundation, 1991. pp 6-7. Keywords: farming agriculture agricultural equipment