Ryan and Melissa Shaw of Marlette, Mich., had their fair share of anxiety when going all in on strip-till in the fall of 2014. It was a major investment, and there was a sizable learning curve after a lifetime of conventional farming.

In this episode of Conservation Ag Update, University of Illinois ag professor Gary Schnitkey has the latest on drought conditions and explains why there’s still hope for above average yields. Plus, we take a trip back to 1988, when President Ronald Reagan visited drought-stricken Illinois. This episode of Conservation Ag Update is brought to you by Yokohama Off-Highway Tires

Strip-Till Farmer’s 10th annual benchmark study of strip-till practices conducted in early 2023 shows that strip-tillers continue to have the upper hand over their no-till counterparts when it comes to corn and soybean yields.

Ask any sports fan if the best player on their team is a Hall of Famer. It’s sure to generate a passionate debate every single time, especially with baseball savants.

In this episode of Conservation Ag Update, we explore how no-tillers are holding up in abnormally dry conditions throughout most of the U.S. Independent agronomist Jim Stute checks in from southeastern Wisconsin, and no-tiller Ryan Gibbs reports from eastern Iowa, where both areas have received minimal rainfall since April. This episode of Conservation Ag Update is brought to you by Saddle Butte Ag Bio Till Cover Crops.

Redekop, Sabanto, InnerPlant and Bosch/BASF One Smart Spray will take part in the first ever Ahead of the Curve Panel at the National Strip-Tillage Conference, Aug. 2-4, in Bloomington, Ill.

In this episode of Conservation Ag Update, we pay tribute to soil health legend Dave Brandt, who recently passed away from injuries sustained in a car crash. Fellow no-till legends who knew Dave best share their thoughts on the life and legacy of their friend. This episode of Conservation Ag Update is brought to you by Saddle Butte Ag Bio Till Cover Crops.

Scott Hoober says proper nutrient uptake is key to closing the corn yield gap. And the key to uptake, he says, is getting the nutrients into the root zone. Using an application rate of 100 pounds of N and 40 pounds of P2O5 as an example, Hoober says nutrient concentrations in the root zone vary dramatically based on application method. 

In this episode of Conservation Ag Update, no-tiller Tim Recker showcases his innovative approach to nitrogen application at the “Making Big Decisions with Precision” field day event in Arlington, Iowa. View this story and more updates in our latest newscast. This episode of Conservation Ag Update is brought to you by Saddle Butte Ag Bio Till Cover Crops.