I recently spent a “day in the cab” with precision specialist Ryan Lynch from Ziegler Ag in Altoona, Iowa. On our way to an install, Lynch shared with me that he assists several strip-tillers in the area, two of which recently had challenges lining the planter up to the strip-till bar.
One of the strip-tillers is running a 16-row Kuhn Krause Gladiator and a 24-row planter. The other is running a 24-row Lynx unit, a 24-row planter and a 16-row combine. Both were using traditional guidance systems before Lynch convinced them that active implement guidance would solve their pass-to-pass alignment challenges.
“I sold them PTx TrueTracker Implement Steering Systems,” Lynch says. “Now, they have a globe on the implement and if it’s a few inches off one way or the other, the hitch is going to move over to correct it and they’re going to have a better opportunity for their planter to match up with the strip-till bar.”
Lynch says the TrueTracker technology helps both strip-tillers eliminate some of the guesswork that came with their older guidance systems. Most of the experienced strip-tillers Lynch works with already have solid systems in place, but for those looking to improve pass-to-pass accuracy, active implement guidance offers another tool to help make the strip-till operation more precise, he says.
Both strip-till and no-till are picking up steam in Lynch’s coverage area. He expects strip-till interest to continue growing as conservation practices, including cover crops, receive more attention and financial support.
