Dawn Equipment, a manufacturer of conservation tillage attachments and tillage implements, has begun moving into its new factory in South Milwaukee, Wis. The facility is a former Caterpillar manufacturing plant, which Caterpillar moved out of in 2017.

Driving isn’t the only thing that’s going to be autonomous. Planting crops also will be done on autopilot, and a small family-owned company is leading the way. That’s why Dawn Equipment topped Crain’s latest list of the most innovative Chicago-area companies, based on an analysis of patents.

From depth, timing and rate to season, product and method, strip-tillers always seem to be on the hunt for new strategies to improve their fertilizer and nutrient application programs. Strip-tillage already offers advantageous placement in the root zone, but there are still many decisions for a farmer to make when he takes to the field.

Strip-Till Strategies editors caught up with a several strip-till manufacturers to solicit advice for novice and veteran spring strip-tillers. Here is what they had to share.