Donn Branton

Constantly evaluating the form, rates and placement of nutrients can make the difference between profitability and not farming at all.

This is a philosophy that strip-tiller Donn Branton and his son, Chad, subscribe to on their 1,500-acre operation in LeRoy, N.Y., since adopting strip-tillage more than 12 years ago. Deep placement of fertilizer, multiple nitrogen applications and nutrient management trials have contributed to a 40-bushel-per-acre boost in some cornfields.

“Every decision we make on the farm is an investment,” Branton says. “The reason we’ve stuck with strip-till, cover crops and other practices is because they improve the soil, our yields, the environment and our bottom line.”

During a general session on Thursday, Aug. 4, at the 2016 National Strip-Tillage Conference, Branton will share results of on-farm nutrient management experimentation and detail his strategies for improving yields and soil health with a conservation-minded fertility program.

The host Marriott Hotel and Conference Center in Normal, Ill., will offer an ideal learning environment for attendees to absorb dozens upon dozens of actionable strip-till practices from fellow farmers, consultants, university specialists and other agricultural experts through general sessions, strip-till classrooms, roundtable discussions, hallway networking and a special members-only workshop.

Preliminary plans for the event include 7 general session speakers, 12 classrooms covering a range of strip-till topics, including cover cropping, precision farming practices and equipment modifications, and 20 roundtable discussions.

Stay tuned for more conference updates by visiting www.StripTillConference.com and we’ll see you in central Illinois!