To celebrate the arrival of the new year, here's a list of the most popular items we've published at StripTillFarmer.com in 2022.
1. 30 Years of Building Soil Health Undone with 1 Pass
This feature article by Frank Lessiter was by far the most clicked on story of 2022.
A long-time Corn Belt no-tiller and strip-tiller came upon a shocking scene: One of his fields was being chisel plowed by a misinformed tractor drive. Click here to find out what happened next.
2. 6 Most Accurate Weed-Identifying Apps
A Michigan State University study found the top 6 apps correctly identified anywhere from 11-67% of weeds.
"They often can help you narrow down the genus and/or species of the weed so you can determine how it is best managed," says weed scientist Erin Hill.
Click here to find out which apps are most accurate.
3. Boost Yields by Feeding the Plant, Not the Soil and Choosing Hybrids Conducive to Banding
This feature on Otwell, Ind., strip-tiller Chris Perkins has generated some friendly debate among our readers.
Is it more important to feed the plant or the soil? Perkins says the plant, as he takes a systematic approach to boosting corn yields with hybrid selection favoring banded fertilizer, increased plant populations and concentrated efforts to maintain plant health.
"The soil tests were saying we had plenty of nutrients, but we were still getting growth responses from adding more — up to 10 gallons of starter per acre," Perkins says, "but it was not enough to take the plant through the season. It sped up growth, but I was convinced we needed a season-long 'IV' below the plant."
4. Deere Launches New Strip-Till Unit Available for Order February 2023
Deere's re-entry into the strip-till market was one of the top stories of 2022.
We were invited to the big reveal at the company's training center in Davenport, Iowa. Tillage Product Manager Steve Sporrer gives us an up-close look at one of the new models, which is set to hit the market in February.
5. How Strip-Till Boosted My Yields with Robb Ewoldt
Our interview with Davenport, Iowa, farmer Robb Ewoldt was the most listened to Strip-Till Farmer podcast of 2022.
Several years ago, the axle on Ewoldt's strip-till bar snapped in the middle of a field while planting. He made the most out of a bad situation, turning the problem into an experiment — one that ended up proving the difference in yield that strip-till can make compared to no-till.
Click here to listen to the podcast.
6. Why Farming is More Complex Than Rocket Science
Jerry Hatfield's appearance on the Strip-Till Farmer podcast was the sixth most popular story of 2022.
The retired director of the National Laboratory for Agriculture and Environment shares data indicating how strip-till increases soil organic matter, what's an ideal water infiltration rate for soil, his advice on when you should get into carbon markets and more.
7. Minnesota Strip-Tiller Explains Why He Chose a Zimmerman Strip-Till Bar
The most popular video of 2022 features Morristown, Minn., strip-tiller Dan Morgan, who walks us through the benefits of his new Zimmerman strip-till bar.
8. When to Sell Your Used Ag Equipment with BigIron Auction's Mark Stock
We caught up with Mark Stock, co-founder of BigIron Auction Company, for some advice on what to consider when deciding to sell your equipment.
9. Pros & Cons of Coulters, Shanks & Knives
Which one's best for your system? AGuru founder Bill Preller tells our Dan Crummett everything you need to know about coulters, shanks and knives.
10. Profit From Your Social Media Strategy with the Farm Babe
Another popular podcast rounds out the top 10. Michelle Miller (aka the Farm Babe) uses her platform to dispel myths about production farming and advocate for farmers.
The Farm Babe shares advice for building your farm's social media presence and how to monetize your content.
