Strip-till success doesn’t happen overnight, but chances of succeeding may well depend on the management and equipment decisions farmers make as they adopt the practice.
Strip-Till Farmer caught up with University of Minnesota Extension educator Jodi DeJong Hughes during the inaugural National Strip-Tillage Conference to glean advice on what farmers should know when adopting strip-till.
“Every field is different, and strip-tillers will learn this through experience,” she says. “But there are some things to think about no matter where you farm.”
Here’s a look at 20 tips and considerations DeJong-Hughes provided for strip-tillers — especially those just transitioning into the practice:
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Know your fields. Soil type, crop rotation and moisture will help determine the right type of strip-till rig for your operation.
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Determine how aggressive your strip-till rig should be, depending on your soils and crop rotation.
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Good support is critical. Dealer or manufacturer reps are primary sources for selecting equipment setups to suit your fields.
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Make sure you have an experienced operator when strip-tilling if you aren’t doing the work yourself. If you don’t keep rows straight, germination will suffer and that translates to lost yield.
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Using precision technology like GPS, auto-steer and RTK are valuable tools to maintain accuracy when building strips, especially when applying fertilizer, so the planter can accurately place that seed in the fertility zone.
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Strip-till success starts at harvest with the combine. Determine whether you want to chop or spread your corn stalks — this can depend on your crop rotation and residue-management strategies.
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