Defending the Land Blog

The word change can be scary. Change in the farming community can often cause sleepless nights and great stress. Making adjustments to your farming operation takes months of careful consideration and research. After all, the average farmer only has the opportunity to plant and harvest a crop fifty times during their lifetime. One wrong decision could impact an operation for years to come.

Switching to strip-till can be one of those mindful changes. Many farmers view switching to strip-till as a lifestyle change. It may mean investing in a new guidance system, managing equipment differently, understanding a new way to apply fertilizer, and learning how to run a different type of equipment.

 The 2017 National Strip-Tillage Conference will be held August 3rd and 4th in Omaha, NE. Now in its 4^th year, the conference has become the premier learning and networking event in the U.S. for forward-thinking farmers. This year’s conference will include 7 general sessions, 12 strip-till classrooms, and 26 roundtable discussions along with unlimited networking with fellow strip-till enthusiasts. According to National Strip-Tillage Conference Attendee Surveys (2014, 2015 and 2016) 95.2% of Strip-Tillage Conference attendees would recommend attending.

Strip-tillage is a great way to cut production costs, be more efficient with time and nutrient placement, and build soil health. But the journey to developing the right strip-till system for your farm can take years of experimentation, practice, and determination. The National Strip-Tillage Conference is a great way to make that learning curve more manageable.

Now in its fourth year, the National Strip-Tillage Conference has become the premier learning and networking event in the U.S. for forward-thinking farmers. This year it will be taking place August 3-4, 2017 at the La Vista Hotel & Conference Center in Omaha, Nebraska. If you’re already practicing strip-tillage or considering it in the future, you'll want to be there!

Still not convinced? Here are 5 reasons why you should register today!

Uniform distribution of fertilizer is key for optimal crop performance. Consider the following points when planning your fertilizer application.

1. As you choose a strip-till method, be sure the fertilizer application method meets your requirements for fertilizer distribution.
2. Operate the machine at the correct speed and depth to ensure uniform incorporation.
3. Be sure the placement method does not leave a void in which nutrients get concentrated.

From Oakes, ND, the Quandt family has had award-winning entries in the NCGA yield contest since 1993. One secret to their recent success is strip-tillage. The farm began strip-tilling in 2001 and transitioned 95% of the farm to strip-tillage seven years ago. They have used the SoilWarrior® zone tillage and nutrient management system on their farm for the past five years.

The ETS team joined over 200 strip-till enthusiasts in Bloomington, IN at the beginning of August to share best practices for soil health at the National Strip-Till Conference. Of the many agronomists, consultants and farmers that presented at the conference, we are featuring four on our Defending the Land blog. Read on to learn about their strategies for improving soil.

The SoilWarrior with rolling coulters works well for Groholske; it rolls over rocks rather than pulling them to the surface.

The ETS team traveled the Midwest this summer to gather knowledge from leading experts on reducing soil erosion and improving soil health. From North Dakota to Iowa and Ohio, SoilWarrior customers, strip-tillage enthusiasts and farmers alike gathered to share best practices for sustainable land management while improving yield. Since we know you can’t be everywhere, we’re bringing three top resources for better soil management to you. We give an extra thanks to the universities and researchers that hosted us at their field days: Iowa State University, North Dakota State University, The Ohio State University and the University of Minnesota. We appreciate how hard they work to share soil health knowledge and insights with us.

Strip-tillage is a great way to cut production costs, be more efficient with time and nutrient placement, and build soil health. But the journey to developing the right strip-till system for your farm can take years of experimentation, practice, and determination. The National Strip-Tillage Conference is a great way to make that learning curve more manageable.

Now in its third year, the National Strip-Tillage Conference has become the premier learning and networking event in the U.S. for forward-thinking farmers. This year it will be taking place August 3-4, 2016 at the Marriott Hotel & Conference Center in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois. If you’re already practicing strip-tillage or considering it in the future, you’re going to want to be there.

Still not convinced? Here are 5 reasons why you should register today!

Soil Health & Farm Productivity

Consider the amazing ways earthworms contribute to soil health and farm productivity. Their activity in the soil offers many benefits including increased nutrient availability, better drainage, and a more stable soil structure, all of which help improve farm productivity.

With the continued debate of tillage versus more conservational-minded practices, farmers have traditionally been stuck trying to make decisions between their yield quality and land management practices. But what if it’s possible for farmers to have both? According to a study conducted by Purdue University, this rationale may just be achievable.