Subsoiling and ripping, also known as deep tillage, is a practice used to break up compacted sub-surface soil layers to improve water and airflow and alleviate root limiting layers. This paper discusses the benefits of subsoiling and ripping in sugarcane production, highlighting the importance of eliminating confounding factors before embarking on the tillage operation. The paper provides examples of the factors that should be considered before and during the subsoiling operation.