Soil Health

Fulfilling a Soil Health Promise with Strategic Strip-Till, Cover Cropping

Iowa’s Jack Boyer uses cover crops to build soil for his Century Farm’s seed corn and soybean production, and reaps the benefits of additional nitrogen they add to his fields.

By Dan Crummett posted on November 16, 2022 | Posted in Cover Crops, Soil Health

Maintaining an Iowa Century Farm while fulfilling the family goal of leaving the land in better condition than it was received, has led Jack Boyer a long way from the conventional farming his wife’s grandfather used when he settled the farm.

Stretching Strip-Till Value with Crop Diversity, Cover Crop Height

A quarter-century of strip-till for Georgia grower Barry Martin complements shoulder-high cereal rye cover crops in peanuts and cotton to reduce erosion, boost organic matter and simplify planting.

By Dan Crummett posted on November 12, 2022 | Posted in Cover Crops, Soil Health

Barry Martin was completely convinced of the benefits of a heavy cereal rye cover crop on his cotton and peanut farm near Hawkinsville in central Georgia long before cover crops were the rage.

Flashback Friday: Study Shows Impact of Strip-Till on High-Value Crops

November 11, 2022 | Posted in Strip-Till Farming 101, Soil Health

Source: AgriLife Today

The results showed strip tillage not only had a positive effect on watermelon quality and yield, it also had a positive effect on the soil’s biological activity, said Dr. Daniel Leskovar, the primary investigator for the study.

5 Things to Know About Removal-Based P & K Strategies

November 11, 2022 | Posted in Nutrient Management, Soil Health

Source: University of Minnesota Extension

"One concern I have is that some growers treat their P and K like balancing a checkbook, trying to calculate what is taken off the field and putting that amount back on in fertilizer. In almost all cases, this type of accuracy is not needed for removal-based guidelines," says nutrient management specialist Dan Kaiser.

[Podcast] Inside the Cab with Illinois Strip-Tiller Jay Riddell

For this episode of the Strip-Till Farmer podcast, brought to you by the Pluribus Lite from Dawn Equipment, we're riding in the combine with Putnam, Ill., strip-tiller Jay Riddell as he completes corn harvest on one of his farms.

By Noah Newman posted on November 4, 2022 | Posted in Soil Health, Water Management

For this episode of the Strip-Till Farmer podcast, brought to you by the Pluribus Lite from Dawn Equipment, we're riding in the combine with Putnam, Ill., strip-tiller Jay Riddell as he completes corn harvest on one of his farms.

Making Environmental, Financial Gains with Strip-Till & Cover Crops

Iowa farmer improves soil, reduces inputs and achieves consistent yields with strip-till system.

By Noah Newman posted on November 1, 2022 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Cover Crops, Nutrient Management, Soil Health

Eric Hawbaker didn’t grow up on a farm, but a decade of working in the fertilizer industry as an agronomist, service tech and precision ag salesman left him concerned about the losses he saw occurring as a result of broadcasting nutrients.

Key Factors to Consider Before Applying Anhydrous Ammonia This Fall

November 1, 2022 | Posted in Nutrient Management, Soil Health

Source: Kansas State Extension

If anhydrous ammonia is to be applied in the fall, there are a number of factors that must be considered, including soil texture, temperature, and soil moisture.

Innovative Strip-Tillers Push Yield Limits & Maximize Nutrient Use

Speakers at the 2022 National Strip-Tillage Conference highlighted new strategies to improve yields, manage nutrients, alleviate compaction and more.

By Michaela Paukner posted on October 30, 2022 | Posted in Strip-Till Farming 101, Nutrient Management, Soil Health

From practical advice on alleviating compaction to conflicting views on soil health to a former NASA engineer’s new yield-boosting technology, the 2022 National Strip-Tillage Conference sent attendees home with many new ideas to try on their operations — and a lot to talk about at the coffee shop.