At the 2015 National Strip-Tillage Conference Mike Petersen, the lead agronomist at Moline, Ill.-based ANP, Inc. offered five tips to help strip-tillers maximize the potential of their fertilizer application.

Farming 1,800 acres in south central Michigan, Ryan Groholske is accustomed to navigating rocky — though fertile — ground. Through long-term no-till practices, he’s been able to elevate organic matter content on some sandier soils to as much as 5%, while also creating a thriving habitat for earthworms.

Finding the right mix and method for incorporating cover crops into a strip-till system is a work in progress for many farmers. Some have figured out a successful blend, while others have abandoned cover crops entirely in search of other alternatives to preserve nutrients and soil moisture.