Strip-Till Farmer editors encounter a variety of articles, social media posts, podcasts and videos that offer a unique look at the grower's world from the lofty digital realm. Here is our favorite content from the past week from across the web:

• Planting Soybeans While Making Strips
• Cover Cropper Grows 255-Bushel Corn with 150 Pounds of Synthetic Fertilizer
• “Master” Strip-Tiller Builds On-Farm Nitrogen Storage Facility
• Do Thirsty Cover Crops Impact Your Cash Crops?
• Crazy Early Spring Strip-Till in Northern Plains

Planting Soybeans While Making Strips

We caught up with Iowa strip-tiller John Hanson at the Commodity Classic in Houston, Texas earlier this month. Hanson’s getting ready to make his spring strips this week. He explains how he’s able to plant soybeans while making the strips.

Iowa strip-tiller John Hanson plants soybeans at the same time that he’s making spring strips with his SoilWarrior. He gives a short explanation of how it works from the ETS booth at Commodity Classic. #classic24 pic.twitter.com/PkeGO6bNcJ

— Strip-Till Farmer (@StripTillFarmr) February 29, 2024

Cover Cropper Grows 255-Bushel Corn with 150 Pounds of Synthetic Fertilizer

Brad Zimmerman details his usage of cover crops in this Successful Farming feature. In 2023, his corn yielded 255 bushels per acre after receiving just 150 pounds of synthetic fertilizer. “As a result of natural fertility in the soil, we saved the cost of applying an additional 100 pounds of N, which might normally be required to achieve such a yield,” he says.

Photo by: BIBBIKOFF, GETTY IMAGES

“Master” Strip-Tiller Builds On-Farm Nitrogen Storage Facility

Colfax, Ill., strip-tiller Gerald Thompson is the recipient of Prairie Farmer’s 2024 Master Farmer award. Thompson built an on-farm nitrogen storage facility, so he can buy fertilizer at off-season prices, and he also built a chemical mixing facility to take advantage of better chemical pricing. Read more about Gerald’s journey and his innovative approach to farming in this article from FarmProgress.

Photo by: Betty Haynes

Do Thirsty Cover Crops Impact Your Cash Crops?

As many strip-tillers emerge from another season of drought, what have we learned about the impacts of a cover crop on moisture status in the field and impacts on our cash crop? In this video, Anna Cates, Minnesota state soil health specialist, and Dan Smith, nutrient and pest management outreach specialist at University of Wisconsin discuss their recommendations for shifts in strategies based on field moisture status.

Crazy Early Spring Strip-Till in Northern Plains

Check out this Facebook post from a strip-tiller in east central Nebraska. He says he’s been strip-tilling since late February. In the comments section, he says, “I would say we are a little ahead of schedule, but I will take this nice weather.” Have you fired up the strip-till rig yet?

Is there something you want to share in "This Week"? Send us an email.

More from this series