Chad Godsey

Growing up on his family’s farm outside of Wray, Colo., Chad Godsey gained an early understanding of how important water is to growing a good crop. This knowledge shaped his professional career as cropping systems specialist with Oklahoma State University and the founder of Godsey Precision Ag, which provides conservation-minded water management, variable-rate prescriptions and agronomic consulting.

During the last decade, Godsey has helped transition his family’s 3,000-acre primarily irrigated corn operation to strip-till to improve soil structure. He’s also incorporated soil moisture monitoring technology to apply water more precisely from center pivots. Based on crop water needs and current moisture sensor data, Godsey has reduced seed populations on hilltops by about 20% and seen yields increase by 10% on the family farm.

“Monitoring crop needs and soil moisture is the best ammunition farmers have against over-irrigating crops,” he says.  “If we can save even a half-inch of water per acre, it’s worth it.” 

During a classroom session at the 2017 National Strip-Tillage Conference, Godsey will share the value and payback of soil and moisture sensing technology in a strip-till system to include better management of seeding populations and water application to increase productivity.

Registration is open for the 2017 event, at $234 per person and $214 for additional farm or family members, at www.StripTillConference.com.

There are two hotel options – both connected directly to the conference center – providing special rates for conference attendees:

  • The host Embassy Suites Omaha-La Vista Hotel & Conference Center is holding a block of rooms for the conference at a special rate of $129 per night. You can make reservations by calling (402) 331-7400. When booking, mention code “NS8” to get the special rate.
  • Reservations can also be made at the Courtyard Omaha La Vista at a special rate of $109. You can make reservations by calling (402) 339-4900. Use the code “NSTC” to get the special rate.

Preliminary plans for the event include 7 general session speakers; 12 classrooms covering a range of strip-till topics, including cover cropping, precision farming practices and equipment modifications; and 26 roundtable discussions.

Stay tuned for more conference updates by visiting www.StripTillConference.com, and we’ll see you in Omaha!