While continuous corn with cereal rye offers benefits to a livestock producer in terms of feed supplementation, it does not fully replace the advantages of a longer, diversified crop rotation, Michigan State University Extension explains.

Technology Editor Noah Newman checks in from Iowa City with a preview of the 2025 National Strip-Tillage Conference, including exclusive insights from speakers on the program, a tour of the hotel and surrounding area, and a 1-on-1 interview with Iowa State’s Rebecca Vittetoe for a look at the pre-conference Strip-Till Field Day.

“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."

Alyssa Essman, assistant professor in the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science at Ohio State University, has been researching integrated weed management strategies and how cover crops can be used to supplement conventional herbicide programs.

Daniel H. Smith, nutrient and pest management program manager for the Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison, checks in from the Lancaster Agricultural Research station with details from a 6-year study.

Russell Hedrick noticed that late-season fertility uptake was being limited by inadequate moisture availability in his soil. He solved that problem in 2023 by attaching a deep-banding fertilizer bar with Yetter 2996 20-inch coulters to his planter.

Andrew Focht is still trying to figure out the best fertilizer rates for his farm, but his goals are clear. He wants to slash his fertilizer bill by 25% and use only 0.8 pounds of N per bushel, which is about 0.3-0.4 pounds less than he’s used in years past.

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