Reduced tillage systems in cotton have been suggested as one means to improve seedling growth, decrease production costs and increase yields. A field study was conducted near Portageville, Missouri in 1992 to evaluate the influences of ridge till with a winter cover crop, ridge till fallow, and conventional tillage system on cotton growth and yield. Weekly growth and development data were collected throughout the growing season. Wind data were collected after emergence, and yield and fiber quality were determined at maturity. The average amount of wind encountered by the ridge till with cover crop cotton was reduced by more than 1 mile/hr, compared to the conventional tillage system. Ridge till treatments exhibited more vigorous early season growth with taller plants, more mainstem node development, and more total biomass. These early season advantages resulted in significantly higher boll biomass, more fruiting branches, and more first position bolls. Lint yield was 15% to 29% higher in the ridge till plots with no significant differences in fiber quality.