Organic farming may be gaining traction with the general public as a consumer-friendly option in agriculture, but it’s also drawing interest from commercial producers, as a compliment to conservation tillage practices.

Residue management was a hot topic during the 25th annual National No-Tillage Conference last week in St. Louis, with several attendees sharing their experiences and tips for residue breakdown and nutrient retention.

Creativity is a cornerstone of imagination, and this innovative nature applies to strip-tillers who experiment with cover crops. Still a relatively new practice, the incorporation of different cover crop varieties into strip-till is an emerging trend and one that often prompts as many questions as answers from farmers.

As we count down the final days of 2016, it’s traditionally a time to reflect on the past year’s successes and challenges. But perhaps more importantly, it’s an opportunity to evaluate future goals and changes.

For many farmers, the growing season is finite each year, and choosing the right rotation can produce perpetual soil health and yield benefits. But for Coolidge, Ariz., farmer Robert Boyle, strip-tilling, planting and harvest are continuous tasks.

Uniform application and uptake of fertilizer is a goal strip-tillers strive to achieve on an annual basis. But timing is everything, and capitalizing on the right window of opportunity is critical.

If plants could talk, what would they say to you? Sure, this is a pretty abstract question outside of an animated film, but one worth considering as strip-tillers reflect on harvest and begin preparing for the next planting season.

In this issue, we share some best management practices for strengthening a fall fertility program to include some strategic considerations for anhydrous ammonia application. 

Some farmers invest in their own sprayer, seeing opportunity for long-term advantages than can offset the upfront cost. Stillman Valley, Ill., strip-tiller Cade Bushnell took this approach on his 1,300-acre corn and soybean operation, purchasing a Hagie sprayer after crunching the numbers on the cost of custom application vs. his fertility program goals.

This summer, I’ve had several farmers contact me looking for local strip-till resources to provide some first-hand advice on equipment setups and fertilizer application strategies.