Sensing and real-time data collection are emerging tools being put to work on progressive farm operations and John Nowatzki, ag engineering professor at North Dakota State University will share results from ongoing research on creating a “smart farm” at the 2020 National Strip-Tillage Conference.

Making the most of your nitrogen investment is critical along with knowing how transformation, loss processes and the crop demand curve impact yield. Brad Carlson, extension educator with the University of Minnesota, will deliver recent research to assist farmers with understanding for selecting the right N tools to suit their nutrient management needs at the 2020 National Strip-Tillage Conference.

Seeking economic gains, Illinois strip-tiller, Kale Carlisle, implemented 20-inch strip-till on the family’s continuous corn acres with a customized machine. At the 2020 National Strip-Tillage Conference, he will share their strategy and early operational hurdles to making the system work on the 1,700-acre farm.

Marrying the machinery with the practice of strip-till requires a understanding of the underlying principles, such as soil health benefits, precision farming integration and setting realistic goals — all areas Youngblut Ag owner, Pete Youngblut will offer experience-based advice on at the 2020 National Strip-Tillage Conference.

For agronomist Joey Hanson, Elk Point, S.D., spring 2020 is business as usual — so far. Hanson, owner of Diversified Agronomy, a crop consulting and custom strip-till business, has been assisting his 30-plus customers in South Dakota and Nebraska get ready for planting season.

As nutrient and land management practices continue to change, more growers are considering strip-till. Advances in equipment technology, GPS, and application control systems have helped to overcome many challenges growers typically associate with strip-till.

Whether you are thinking about trying strip-till or already using strip-till in your farming operation, the question of timing comes up—fall or spring? There are many factors that go into this decision, including availability of equipment and labor and weather and field conditions that change year to year.

Known for his record-breaking corn yields, Charles City, Va., farmer David Hula will explain his motivation, results and challenges transitioning to strip-till and where he plans to take the practice in the future at the 2020 National Strip-Tillage Conference.

From assessing and addressing in-crop nutrient needs, to proper post-harvest plans, Lafayette, Ind., strip-tiller Gary Gangwer will dig into essential tips and tools needed to maximize the window of opportunity after berms are built at the 2020 National Strip-Tillage Conference.