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Ian Gronau

Ian Gronau

Ian Gronau is a Contributing Editor for Lessiter Publications, with primary support responsibilities for Precision Farming Dealer, Strip-Till Strategies and the Strip-Till Farmer Website. He is a graduate of Chicago’s Columbia College and has been preparing content for magazines, websites and newspapers since 2009, and has been recognized with several awards.
Articles

ARTICLES

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Playing the Percentages with Precision Investments in Strip-Till

Cutting fuel usage by 40%, saving $5,000 in seed costs while only tilling 30% of his fields provide tangible return on investment with technology for Mark Richards.
By Ian Gronau posted on August 6, 2020 | Posted in Precision Agriculture
Dresden, Ontario strip-tiller, Mark Richards, considers himself a “bleeding-edge” farmer in terms of adopting new strategies and precision equipment. His adoption and adaptation of technology has made his 3,000-acre corn, soybean, sugarbeet, wheat and tomato operation significantly more efficient, productive and profitable.
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Managing Inputs to Boost Soil Health in a Strip-Till System

Continuous experimentation with nutrient application methods, products and timing has contributed to Kansas strip-tiller Josh Koehn consistently achieving 300-bushel corn.
By Ian Gronau posted on March 9, 2020 | Posted in Strip-Till Farming 101, Nutrient Management, Seeding & Planting
Montezuma, Kan., farmer Josh Koehn says attention to detail is really what’s made the difference on his 10,000 acre farm. Feeling the need to manage residue better and build healthier soils, he switched from full tillage to strip-till back in 2008 on most of his 30% irrigated and 70% dryland operation.
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3 Strip-Tilling Tips from a ‘Regenerative Agriculturist’

Rod Sommerfield has found an ally in strip-till as he works to return his farm’s soils to the nutrient level and health seen 150 years ago.
By Ian Gronau posted on February 14, 2020 | Posted in Nutrient Management, Seeding & Planting, Soil Health
As a strong proponent of “regenerative agriculture” — which Rod Sommerfield explains is proper residue management that recycles the carbon and other nutrients in the residue back to the following crops — his hopes for the future of the farm that’s been in his family since 1892 are bold.
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4 Ways to Supercharge Strip-Till with Certified Organic Acres

With 550 acres of certified organic farmland and 200 more in transition, Wisconsin farmer Megan Wallendal shares tips on making the most of strip-tilled organic crops.
By Ian Gronau posted on July 11, 2019 | Posted in Cover Crops, Seeding & Planting
Often, it’s the allure of operation-wide cost reduction that convinces farmers to transition into strip-tilling. But, on Wallendal Farms, strip-tilling since 1985, they’ve found a way to push revenues in addition to enjoying the efficiencies.
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5 Tips for Strip-Tilled Sugarbeet Success

Strip-tilling sugarbeets by trial and error since 2014 has taught Michigan farmer Ryan Shaw how the practice can result in input reductions and cost savings.
By Ian Gronau posted on April 4, 2019 | Posted in Cover Crops, Seeding & Planting
"You can’t strip-till sugarbeets," is something Snover, Mich., farmer Ryan Shaw had grown accustomed to hearing. But, since introducing strip-till on his 1,400-acre corn, soybean and sugarbeet operation in 2014, a glance at his fields provides evidence to the contrary.
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Justifying a Switch to Strip-Tilling with Early Progress & Profit

Illinois farmer sees roughly $45 per-acre savings and an up to 20-bushel yield advantage on marginal soils with a transition to strip-tilling.
By Ian Gronau posted on March 25, 2019 | Posted in Precision Agriculture, Seeding & Planting
For the past 6 years, Seth Wenzel and his father, Brian, have been transitioning to strip-tilled corn on their 4,000-acre farm near Kent, in northwest Illinois. Wenzel maintains a consistent corn and soybean rotation with approximately two-thirds of his acreage planted with corn annually.
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Strip-Cropping Experiments Yielding Economic, Environmental Advantages

Since adopting the modified strip-till system in 2008, Dean Sponheim has seen a 12-15% increase in corn yield and an $80-$100 per acre increase in net income.
By Ian Gronau posted on October 30, 2017 | Posted in Equipment, Seeding & Planting
Nora Springs, Iowa, farmer Dean Sponheim calls himself an “accidental conservationist,” because he stumbled into strip-tillage by necessity and economics, rather than for reasons of environmental friendliness.
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Environmental Tillage Systems, Inc

Environmental Tillage Systems is a leading manufacturer of strip-till and nutrient-management equipment which enhances soil productivity and farm profitability.
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Yetter Farm Equipment

For over 90 years, Yetter Farm Equipment has designed and manufactured innovative and effective solutions for the agriculture industry. Today, we are proud to be recognized worldwide as an industry leader in designing row cleaners, strip till tools, planter attachments, precision fertilizer placement attachments, rotary hoes, toolbars, and harvest attachments.
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