[Video] Boosting Dryland Productivity with Strip-Till, Manure & Cover Crops

The combination of strip-till, cover crops and dairy manure has proven to be a winner for Stratton Kraft, who only sees about 12 inches of precipitation per year in Fort Morgan, Colo. The innovative dairy farmer uses a liquid dairy manure application in the fall as his primary source of nitrogen (N) after silage harvest. He strip-tills in circles through a cover crop mix of rye, barley and triticale around center pivots in the spring.

Kraft has improved his corn silage yields by more than 10 tons per acre, and his seed loss due to emergence has dropped from 7% to 1% or less since implementing these practices. Kraft details his successes and failures with the system, as well as strategies for improving water-use rates, soil loading of biology and organic matter.

The 2025 National Strip-Tillage Conference Video Replay is brought to you by HUMA Huma has been dedicated for over 50 years to improving soil and plant health by providing effective humic solutions for agriculture. We offer a range of products including macronutrients, micronutrients, nematicides, fungicides, growth managers, organic acids, and soil fertility products. These innovative solutions improve nutrient availability, soil and plant health, and crop protection, all while promoting sustainability. Learn more at HUMA. Return to the Video Gallery