Francois Soucy, vice president of sales and marketing for SoucyTrack introduces the company’s planter track kit for John Deere planters at Agritechnica 2015. The system helps minimize compaction and reduces ground pressure by 4-5 times more than tires.

The initial results from the Mitas PneuTrac concept field tests show the advantages of its larger footprint and better tractive force over standard but also IF agricultural tires. The footprint of the 600/65 R38 and 480/85R28 PneuTrac is significantly larger than a standard and VF-rated tire. Mitas is conducting field tests in Europe with a John Deere 6150R tractor mounted with 480/65 R28 PneuTrac on the front axle and 600/65 R38 PneuTrac on the rear.

Using tires that can operate at lower pressures is one of the most effective ways to minimize soil compaction, along with reducing total axle load and minimizing trips across the field.

I recently had the opportunity to attend Michelin's international media event in Europe, which included a day of field demonstrations and tire tests.

The pressure is on with a short time window to do field work before planting season begins.

Some producers are taking advantage of frozen ground conditions to apply nitrogen to wheat fields or manure to corn fields.

One of more interesting things I've learned about strip-till is how the practice can vary from farmer to farmer, depending on their years of experience. While there are principles to adhere to — noted by Illinois strip-tiller Alan Madison in this edition's feature story — there's also no textbook way to strip-till.

When Joe Brightly came home to the family farm in Hamlin, N.Y., in 2009 after graduating from college, he and his father, Dean, weighed whether they should replace an aging field cultivator and chisel plow with new ones.

Dean Carstens, president of Twin Diamond Industries in Minden, Neb., traveled to France in September to visit with farmers interested in strip-till. Twin Diamond ran a small ad about a year ago in an international ag equipment publication that generated five e-mails.

Now is a good time for strip-tillers to dig soil pits to assess root development, compaction and soil health, says Jodi DeJong-Hughes, University of Minnesota Extension strip-till expert.