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Michaela Paukner

Michaela Paukner is the associate editor of Strip-Till Farmer and Precision Farming Dealer. Her previous journalism experience includes working as a reporter for a legal magazine and as a producer for two Wisconsin TV news stations. She has also worked with clients across the globe as a freelance writer and marketing consultant, and as a brand manager for a Wisconsin-based boutique marketing agency. She's a graduate of UW-Green Bay.

mpaukner@lessitermedia.com

Articles

ARTICLES

Worldwide Conservation Ag Efforts, Technology Take Stage at National No-Tillage Conference

32nd annual event hosts over 800 attendees from 36 U.S. states & 6 countries

By Michaela Paukner posted on February 6, 2024 | Posted in Soil Health

More than 800 farmers, researchers, educators and industry experts traveled to Indianapolis in early January to attend the 32nd Annual National No-Tillage Conference.

What Are 3 Crucial Prerequisites for Growing 300-Bushel Corn?

By Michaela Paukner posted on February 2, 2024 | Posted in Strip-Till Farming 101, Soil Health

University of Illinois professor Fred Below says there are 3 crucial factors that strip-tillers need to have right before diving into the management strategies outlined in his famous “7 Wonders of the Corn Yield World."

ADM Accepts Frank Lessiter’s Challenge to Prove Commitment to Regenerative Ag

By Michaela Paukner posted on December 1, 2023 | Posted in Cover Crops

In No-Till Farmer’s November 2023 Conservation Tillage Guide, editor Frank Lessiter challenged food companies to prove their commitment to regenerative agriculture is more than just a PR campaign … and at least one major food company was listening.

Add Flexibility to Your Operation with Strip-Till

Illinois farmer Rock Katschnig enjoys a variety of benefits from strip-till, including flexibility in an expensive fertilizer market and better planting conditions year after year.

By Michaela Paukner posted on August 21, 2023 | Posted in Strip-Till Farming 101, Equipment, Nutrient Management

In the 9 years since Illinois farmer Rock Katschnig first started strip-tilling, he’s seen improvements and benefits in every area of his operation — from yield increases to healthier soil to valuable time savings.

Widen Your Window with Fall Strip-Till

Position yourself for a productive planting season with these 4 fall strip-till tips.

By Michaela Paukner posted on July 31, 2023 | Posted in Equipment, Nutrient Management

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).

Reducing Costs & Increasing ROI with Custom Strip-Till

Strip-tiller Mike Pribyl and agronomist Brent Petersen fuel transition to strip-till and conservation tillage in Northeast Wisconsin.

By Michaela Paukner posted on July 25, 2023 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Equipment, Nutrient Management, Soil Health

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.

3 Tips for Testing Biologicals on Your Farm

Biofertilizer trials conducted by the Iowa Soybean Association have produced inconsistent results, meaning using biologicals successfully will likely require more time and management by the strip-tiller.

By Michaela Paukner posted on July 21, 2023 | Posted in Nutrient Management

Biologicals are like the Wild West of agriculture — products with big potential but little regulation. As a result, it can be difficult to determine what’s a worthy investment.

Use Strip-Till to Push Corn Planting Populations

Strip-tillers can likely increase corn & decrease soybean seeding rates from averages reported in the 2022 Strip-Till Farmer Operational Practices Survey.

By Michaela Paukner posted on March 3, 2023 | Posted in Seeding & Planting

With so many uncontrollable factors contributing to the success of a strip-tiller’s crops, maximizing the controllables can boost yields, especially for corn.

Find Strip-Till, Cover Crop Harmony

Virtual National Cover Crop Summit offers free expert advice about how to incorporate cover crops, top cover crop trends, equipment considerations & more.

By Michaela Paukner posted on February 17, 2023 | Posted in Cover Crops

Virtual National Cover Crop Summit offers free expert advice about how to incorporate cover crops, top cover crop trends, equipment considerations & more.

Strip-Till Conversation

Balancing Workload & Improving Results with Strip-Till

3 Iowa growers explain how strip-till provides better water infiltration, higher soil organic matter, better fuel efficiency and more on their operations.

By Michaela Paukner posted on February 10, 2023 | Posted in Nutrient Management, Soil Health

Whether you’re a strip-till veteran or simply thinking about trying it out, there’s always something to learn from your fellow farmers. The Southfork Watershed Alliance, which works with farmers around the Iowa River’s South Fork in central Iowa, invited three local farmers to share their experiences with strip-till during a panel discussion.

View All Articles by Michaela Paukner

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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

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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.

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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.