The North Dakota State University Extension Service and University of Minnesota Extension will co-host a conservation tillage conference Dec. 16-17, at the Hilton Garden Inn, Fargo.

The conference is for experienced land stewards, crop consultants or novices looking to better understand conservation tillage.

Keynote speakers will be Brain Watkins, creator of the program Cropzilla and Ohio farmer, as well as David Montgomery, author of "Dirt: the Erosion of Civilizations." Additional speakers include experienced growers, agronomists, academic experts and production economists.

Topics include:

* Maximizing fertility in different tillage systems
* Using cover crops to your advantage
* Vertical tillage as a transition
* Choosing between no-till and strip-till
* Tiling and tillage options for production management
* Getting soil biology to work for you
* Managing weed pressures without using tillage
* Managing compaction
* No-till in wheat

Also scheduled are table talks, which are small group sessions where participants can directly ask questions of the conference speakers and industry specialists. A farmer panel will give those attending an opportunity to ask producers questions about no-till, strip-till and vertical tillage practices.

Eight continuing education units will be offered.

The registration fee is $125 before Dec. 3 and $155 after that date. For more information or to register, go to http://www.ndsu.edu/soilhealth/.