In a world with skyrocketing fertilizer prices, strip-till is an attractive option for farmers looking to decrease their input costs. But making strip-till work requires a lot more than buying fewer inputs and dragging a new piece of equipment through the field.

Re-evaluating fundamentals can result in significant returns on investment year after year, no matter your tillage practice or combination of practices. 

Farming practices in northeast Wisconsin have changed for the better in the past 7 years, thanks largely to the conservation efforts of Mike Pribyl and Brent Petersen. 

Fall strip-till can provide a wider window for planting corn in the spring and even boost yields. When done right, it creates a clean, warmer, mellower seedbed and provides an opportunity to apply nitrogen (N) — best if used with an N stabilizer — phosphorus (P) and potassium (K).