This time of year, I look forward visiting a few farms to get a recap of harvest and also catch a glimpse of some fresh fall strips. Although there were still plenty of combines harvesting corn ahead of an expected early mid-November cold snap in western Wisconsin and central Minnesota, I had a chance to traverse the newly strip-tilled fields of Tom Muller.

In arid parts of the U.S. like the Texas Panhandle, quenching the thirst of crops has been increasingly difficult in recent years.

In arid parts of the U.S. like the Texas Panhandle, quenching the thirst of crops has been increasingly difficult in recent years.

As fall harvest winds down in some areas, many strip-tillers will soon be back in the field building berms and fertilizing for next spring's crop.

Fertilization strategy for strip-tillers can vary greatly, depending on when strips are built, soil type and health, and climate.

Trent Sanderson, strip-tiller near Clare, Ill., shares his approach to detailed management and analysis of farm data to make better decisions on fertilizer application, fuel usage and yield potential to provide a specific per-acre payback on their 2,000 corn and soybean operation.

I recently had the opportunity to attend Michelin's international media event in Europe, which included a day of field demonstrations and tire tests.

While many farmers purchase and maintain their own strip-till rigs, some prefer an alternative approach to adopting the practice.

In talking with farmers, a common goal they have in developing a successful strip-till system is to apply fertilizer more accurately. Many growers note benefits of this goal, including faster emergence and healthier plant stands with a targeted application beneath the strip.

After years of field cultivation and disc ripping on his family's corn and soybean operation, Ben Pederson believed he was improving soil tilth. But visual indicators on his farm near Lake Mills, Iowa, began to leave him less convinced that full-width tillage was worthwhile.