Biological products are one of the hottest topics in regenerative ag — but recent farmer-led trials from Practical Farmers of Iowa show the results aren’t as clear-cut as the hype suggests.

Two never-before-seen tools were on display at the 2025 National Strip-Tillage Conference in Iowa City last week.

Nearly 400 farmers, agronomists, researchers, educators, dealers and manufacturers from all over the U.S. and other countries including Canada and Ireland, packed the Hyatt Regency in Coralville, Iowa for the 12^th annual National Strip-Tillage Conference July 31-Aug. 1.

“When you approach the rootworm as just a problem that has to be solved, you’re not taking into account the animal’s biology,” Ann Marie Journey says. “You’re hitting it just at certain points or with certain methods or controls, and you’re not allowing yourself in effect to have a conversation to gain insight back from the rootworms about what it is that makes them successful in any given place."

Here are over 40 actionable ideas, tips and observations from the most recent roundtable discussions at the National Strip-Tillage and No-Tillage Conferences.

Just a short drive from the conference hotel, attendees will get an up-close look at strip-till equipment — from several manufacturing companies — operating side-by-side at the Southeast Research and Demonstration Farm in Crawfordsville, Iowa.

Spring has arrived and there’s plenty to be excited about as always: Opening Day (go Guardians), March Madness (sadly, none of my teams made the tournament), planting season (I can’t wait to visit some of your farms this spring) and the release of the 12^th annual National Strip-Tillage Conference program.

I’m a first-generation farmer. My dad didn’t farm, my uncles didn’t farm, and growing up, I never even worked on a farm. I started in 1991 as a land investor.