As successful strip-tillers know, the benefits of the practice come from being able to evolve and adapt the system to suit their operation. In other words, it takes patience to see the payoff.

It’s no secret that farmers are continuing to be more conservative with their new equipment purchases until the tide turns on the commodities market. This approach also extends to precision technology, although strip-tillers may be more willing to flex the budget depending on the return-on-investment potential.

At the 2015 National Strip-Tillage Conference Mike Petersen, the lead agronomist at Moline, Ill.-based ANP, Inc. offered five tips to help strip-tillers maximize the potential of their fertilizer application.

Drought isn’t a word farmers want to hear during any growing season, especially as some states wrestle with growing demand and decreasing supply of water. In particularly arid parts of the country, strip-till has proven to be an asset in not only to maximize water usage, but also increase yields.

Cover crops are becoming an increasingly attractive addition for many strip-tillers, primarily as a way to carry over nitrogen and increase water infiltration.

Throughout the growing season, strip-tillers have kept a close eye on their corn crop to assess if and when any late-season nitrogen (N) applications are warranted. Whatever the situation, strip-tillers don’t want to see N go to waste.

During our 2nd Annual National Strip-Tillage Conference in Iowa, I was able to touch base with speakers and attendees alike over the future challenges within the strip-till industry and how we as a community can strive towards success.

These days, farmers are certainly being more judicious with where they spend their money. While there are certainly unavoidable expenses, farmers can also use a little creativity to produce an economical result.

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.