Maneuvering through fields riddled with angles can be difficult with any size strip-till rig. But just how essential is RTK-level guidance for smaller spaces?

When making fungicide applications, timing and application method can be critical factor in the outcome. This is something that brothers Dan, Dave and Doug Rebout have been experimenting with on their 3,900-acre operation in Janesville, Wis.

Visiting with several strip-tillers in Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan recently, they were willing to showcase off the early emergence of their corn. 'Green and growing' was the diagnosis for most of the strip-tilled fields we walked, with a healthy amount of decomposing cornstalk or soybean residue in between the rows.

When visiting with strip-tillers, I'm finding it more common to see a rainbow of equipment colors roaming the field, as farmers leverage the flexibility of precision technology in diverse fleets of machinery.

Farming 1,800 acres in south central Michigan, Ryan Groholske is accustomed to navigating rocky — though fertile — ground. Through long-term no-till practices, he’s been able to elevate organic matter content on some sandier soils to as much as 5%, while also creating a thriving habitat for earthworms.

When talking with farmers, some will refer to their strip-till system as a "gateway" from conventional-tillage practices to no-till. They'll often talk about the versatility that strip-till provides for retaining valuable residue cover, while also loosening less-forgiving areas of a field for more efficient planting and fertilization.

Finding the right mix and method for incorporating cover crops into a strip-till system is a work in progress for many farmers. Some have figured out a successful blend, while others have abandoned cover crops entirely in search of other alternatives to preserve nutrients and soil moisture.