Articles by Sarah Hill

Bio Strip-Till, Cover Crops Effectively Manage Soil Moisture

Implementing bio strip-till and targeted fertilizer placement results in yield increases, even in cool, heavy soils.

By Sarah Hill posted on July 28, 2023 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Cover Crops, Soil Health

Building healthy soil is a journey. Each grower is on their own journey, and that means an individual path with choices of how to improve your soil. Joe Breker, a grower from Havana, N.D., has found that using bio strip-till has helped his cash crops emerge earlier while managing moisture and improving the grazing potential of the cover crops.

Transitioning to 20-Inch Strip-Till: An Economic, Efficient Decision

A father-son team from Illinois built a customized strip-till bar to maximize their uptime, costs and input usage.

By Sarah Hill posted on March 17, 2023 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Equipment

Every farmer has certain aspects of the business that they just click with. Some producers are really into agronomy; some enjoy going deep on the financial side of the business; while for others, it's all about equipment.

Strip-Till Roundtable

Putting the Pieces of a Progressive Strip-Till System into Place

Three strip-tillers share their thoughts on how they utilize strip-tilling to maximize poorer soils and get more return on their fertilizer, cover crop and equipment investments.

By Sarah Hill posted on January 27, 2023 | Posted in Strip-Till Farming 101, Seeding & Planting, Nutrient Management

Strip-tilling combines precision tillage technology and efficient nutrient management to achieve operation goals, whether those are yield-based or soil health-centric.

7 In-Field Assessments to Determine Soil Health

Indiana USDA NRCS state soil health scientist Stephanie McLain shares indicators to look for in the soil to evaluate how well your soil functions.

By Sarah Hill posted on December 8, 2022 | Posted in Strip-Till Farming 101, Soil Health

USDA NRCS State Soil Health Specialist Stephanie McLain outlines 7 soil assessments or diagnostics that can be conducted in the field to determine how healthy soil is and if farmers need to re-activate soil function.

Highlights from the 2021 National Strip-Tillage Conference

The in-person conference offered a wide range of topics and outstanding speakers for growers to learn from and interact with.

By Sarah Hill posted on October 24, 2021 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Cover Crops, Nutrient Management, Soil Health, Water Management

More than 300 growers and industry professionals from across the globe gathered in Omaha, Neb., in early August for the 8th annual National Strip-Tillage Conference (NSTC).

Purdue Ag Economy Barometer Finds That Most Growers Still New to Using Cover Crops

Out of 400 large-acreage growers surveyed, 41% are currently seeding covers on their operations.

By Sarah Hill posted on October 7, 2021

The practice of using cover crops still has plenty of room for growth, according to the results of the August Purdue Ag Economy Barometer. Forty-one percent of growers with production of more than $500,000 annually said they are currently using cover crops, while 65% of growers responded that they had either used cover crops in the past or were currently using covers.

USDA Seeks Grower Input on Carbon Markets

Growers have until Nov. 1 to submit their comments to the federal agency.

By Sarah Hill posted on September 29, 2021

The USDA is looking to create a set of pilot projects that provides incentives to implement climate smart conservation practices on working lands and to quantify and monitor the carbon and greenhouse gases associated with those practices. The pilot projects could even expand or develop new and additional markets.

Growers Could Receive $25 Per Acre Payments if Using Cover Crops

More than two-thirds of no-tillers will be eligible for up to $5 billion in financial incentives.

By Sarah Hill posted on September 24, 2021

Landowners could receive payments of $25 per acre on up to 1,000 acres if cover crops are established in their fields for the purposes of soil health, according to a preliminary Senate draft of the Build Back Better bill and corresponding budget. Non-operating landowners could receive payments of $5 per acre for encouraging tenants to seed covers on rented fields.

Seeding the Promise & Potential of Cover Crop Adoption

The second-annual Cover Crop Benchmark Study found that most growers have only used covers for less than 5 years, though average acres covered are up year-over-year.

By Sarah Hill posted on May 18, 2021 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Cover Crops

More and more growers are seizing the numerous benefits that cover crops can provide. Growers are also finding additional ways to make cover crops put more money in their pockets. The results of the second annual Cover Crop Benchmark Study support both statements.

Clearing a Path for a Cohesive Cropping Strategy

For Mount Pulaski, Ill., strip-tiller Jeff Martin, strip-till serves as a reliable residue management tool and protective measure to retain valuable soil.

By Sarah Hill posted on April 21, 2021 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Nutrient Management

For Mount Pulaski, Ill., strip-tiller Jeff Martin, strip-till serves as a reliable residue management tool and protective measure to retain valuable soil.

Current Issue

Strip-Till Farmer

Strip-Till Farmer delivers a mix of features on strip-till farmers, strip-till management topics and trending practices in strip-till. This FREE quarterly print newsletter is available to qualified subscribers in the U.S. and Canada.

Qualify for Your Free Subscription

It’s Never Too Late to Start Strip-Tilling

Smashing the 200-Bushel Barrier with Strip-Tilled Soybeans

Best of Both Worlds: Fall vs. Spring Strip-Till

Must Read Free Eguides

Download these helpful knowledge building tools

Did Strip-Till Solve My Nutrient Stratification Problems?

Independent on-farm researcher Marion Calmer checks in from Alpha, Ill., with a preview of his 2024 National Strip-Tillage Conference presentation, “Did Strip-Till Solve My Nutrient Stratification Problems?” Over the last 5 years, Calmer has been examining fertility levels vertically in his soil profile. This inch-by-inch examination uncovered a serious nutrient stratification problem on his farm that was costing him up to $135,000 annually. The No-Till Legend switched back to strip-till in 2023 for the first time since 1995 in an effort to solve his nutrient stratification problems.

Top Directory Listings

Montag Mfg

Montag products have proven results with patented precision metering application for significant savings of nutrients and cover crop seed, and for achieving best conservation practices.

Environmental Tillage System, Inc

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

Kuhn Krause, Inc

Kuhn Krause's focus, above all, is to continue to produce quality products to serve producers better; to strive to respond to their needs with new tools and new technology to meet their growing challenges. Agronomic practices are constantly changing, and at a faster pace now than ever.