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.

Good morning from the road! We’re Iowa-City bound for the 2025 National Strip-Tillage Conference. I’m so amped up for the event that I just had to blog about it (don’t worry, safely from the passenger seat).

Strip-Tilling since 1987, Cliff Roberts has learned a lot about what does and doesn’t work on his farm near Kentland, Ind.

Francois and Samantha Naude detail their unique closing wheel from FigTri Steel Products & Engineering, designed for the South African climate where compaction can be a real issue in the arid environment. The lightweight unit is ideal for strip-till farming, particularly effective for corn, soybeans and sunflower.

During each spring and early summer, the chisel plow and strip-till berms consistently had the driest and warmest soil conditions. These were followed by the areas between the strip-till berms and vertical-till. Finally, no-till had the wettest and coolest soil conditions.

Understanding the financial challenges farmers face in South Africa, FigTri Steel Products & Engineering Owners Francois and Samantha Naude know how common it is for their customers to use the same equipment for as long as possible.

Raised in a farming family, Francois Naude understand the needs and challenges that farmers face growing in South Africa. From compaction issues to unreliable rainfall, Naude and his wife Samantha created their company FigTri Steel Products & Engineering, to create equipment to assist their neighbors to succeed in their operations.