Dysart, Iowa, strip-tiller Pete Youngblut cut his teeth in the precision ag industry as a software support specialist for Ag Leader. Now, as president and owner of independent dealer Youngblut Ag in central Iowa, he helps other strip-tillers solve challenges with precision technology.

Advances in implement guidance offer tremendous opportunity for more growers to take advantage of the emerging technology.

For more than a decade, Dresden, Ontario, farmer Mark Richards has adopted and adapted precision farming strategies, including implement guidance, interseeding technology and data analysis on his 3,000-acre corn, soybeans, sugarbeet and wheat operation. The combination of fewer and more efficient passes through the field, precision technology and reduced tillage has contributed to a 15% reduction in fuel costs and healthier crops.

Implement guidance is still an emerging technology in North America, but it is being utilized in other parts of the world to improve agricultural production. This recent article from Ag Contractor & Large Scale Farmer looks at some of the considerations for adding implement guidance to a farming operation.

When paired with a ProTrakker Hydraulic Hitch, SonicTrakk precisely guides an implement on slopes and contour rows. It also provides farmers with the repeatability required for high accuracy farming practices such as no-till, strip till, organic farming, etc.

When visiting with strip-tillers, I'll usually take stock of what precision technology and practices they're using in their operation. And I'm always intrigued when strip-tillers tell me implement-guidance systems are among the precision tools they've tested or adopted.

Implement guidance and grid sampling helps Bonde Farms improve strip-tilled soybean emergence on sidehills and fine-tune fertilizer application.