From twin-row 60-inch strip-till to intercropping and autonomous grazing, Zack Smith is always pushing the envelope on his 1,200-acre farm in Buffalo Center, Iowa.

Daniel H. Smith, nutrient and pest management program manager for the Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison, reveals the results and key takeaways from a 6-year study exploring a systems-based approach to weed management using cereal rye in corn-soybean rotations.

Yields aren’t the only metric Mark Dobson uses to measure success on his Donnellson, Iowa, farm. “It’s not just about increasing yields, it’s about net dollars and learning where my profitable bushels are,” he says.

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.

Jeff Herrold’s nutrient application marathon begins in the spring with his 12-row Dawn Pluribus V strip-till machine with a one-bin Salford tank attached. He makes strips 4-5 inches deep, applying a mix of 50 pounds of potash, 50 pounds of urea, 50 pounds of Mosaic MicroEssentials MES10 and 20 pounds of pelletized lime.

Mick Goedeken’s resume as a soil scientist and consultant is almost as long as the list of strip-tillers he’s helped improve over the years.

USDA-ARS Hall of Famer Jerry Hatfield joins technology editor Noah Newman for a preview of his 2025 National Strip-Tillage Conference Keynote Presentation, “Exploring Strip-Till’s Critical Role in the Quest for Healthier Soils.”

Washington, Iowa, farmer and founder of Continuum Ag, Mitchell Hora has worked extensively on biofuel tax credits and regenerative agronomy.

Gary Zimmer, internationally known as the “Father of Biological Agriculture, is on the program this year for the first time as a presenter. Last year, he was an attendee. Gary shares his biggest eye-openers from the conference, including how it captures the fun side of farming.