Strip-till and conservation ag were hot topics at the 2024 Commodity Classic in Houston, Texas. Strip-Till Farmer editors shared some of their top takeaways from 2 days spent at the show.

Randy Dowdy Compares No-Till to a Cult

Independent farm researcher and 2024 National Strip-Tillage Conference speaker Marion Calmer hosted a panel discussion about vertical stratification with yield champions Randy Dowdy, David Hula (2024 National Strip-Tillage Conference Speaker) and Eric Reed. Dowdy made some less-than-favorable comments about long-term no-till.

“They’re no-tillers for a reason — it’s almost like a cult,” Dowdy said. “A lot of no-tillers say, ‘Well, I haven’t touched that ground in 40 years.’ Well, it’s time to touch the ground. It’s just the way it is. A lot of the growers we talk to are not only having problems with stratification, but compaction, too.”

Dowdy, the former world-record holder for highest soybean yield, also offered advice about running dry vs. liquid fertilizer with the strip-till bar. 

Strip-Tillers Share Unique Strategies

We stopped by the Environmental Tillage Systems booth, where Iowa strip-tiller John Hanson explained how he plants soybeans while making spring strips with his SoilWarrior.

John Deere Unveils New Air Cart, Combine, Sprayer Technology & More

John Deere made a flurry of announcements Wednesday morning, unveiling the new S7 Series combines, 9RX tractor models, C-Series air cart line and See & Spray Premium availability on the 2025 Hagie STS.

The new C-Series air cart offers reduced maintenance and improved seeding accuracy. Features include faster calibrations with Deere’s EZCal calibration system. Tank sizes range from 350 to 850 bushels. The video below shows a walkaround of the new combine.  

Drought Conditions a Concern Heading into 2024 Planting Season

Drought conditions were top of mind for growers at the show preparing for the 2024 planting season as many areas of the Midwest are coming off a drought year and a warm and dry winter. Hampton, Iowa, no-tiller April Hemmes shares some thoughts about the 2024 planting season in this video.

You’ve Heard About Liebig’s Law of the Minimum, But What About Mulder’s Chart?

Liebig’s Law of the Minimum isn’t the only principle to consider when it comes to nutrient deficiency. Wayne Becker, district agronomy specialist at Nachurs, says Mulder’s Chart illustrates the antagonism and nutrient stimulation interactions that occur among nutrients and affect nutrient availability for crops.

Head to the Strip-Till Farmer Facebook page to see more photos and videos from the 2024 Commodity Classic in Houston.

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