While the actual field operations used vary by producer, these are the typical field operations used for a corn/soybean rotation (winter wheat for the stubble mulch system).
| Tillage System | Typical Field Operations |
| Plow | Fall or spring plow, two spring diskings or field culitvations, plant, cultivate |
| Chisel | Fall chisel, one or two spring diskings or field cultivations, plant, cultivate |
| Disk | Fall or spring disk, spring disk and/or field cultivate, plant, cultivate or postemergent spray |
| Stubble Mulch |
Blade plow in summer, one or more shallower operations with wide sweeps or a field cultivator, one or more rod weedings, drill, postemergent spray next spring |
| Ridge Plant | Shred stalks (corn residue only), plant on ridges, cultivate for weed control, rebuild ridges |
| Strip-till | Fall strip-till, spray, plant on cleared strips, postemergent spray as needed |
| No-till | Spray, plant into undisturbed surface, postemergent spray as needed |