The 11th annual National Strip-Tillage Conference will be held in Madison, Wis., at the Marriott Madison West Hotel & Conference Center Aug. 8-9, 2024. The focused 2-day program covers a myriad of topics for profitable results in strip-till farming, including precision technology pay-offs, equipment setup tips, cover crops, soil testing and fertility strategies, economic analyses, soil biology and more.

Each winter, Luverne, Minn., strip-tiller Shawn Feikema asks himself 2 questions — how can he do more with less and how can he leave the farm in better shape than it was when he got it? The 3rd-generation farmer found an answer in 2016 with the switch from conventional tillage to strip-till and cover crops. Now his family strip-tills or no-tills 100% of its 7,000-acre corn, soybean, small grain and hay farm. It also operates a large cattle feedlot that markets about 6,000 head of cattle per year.

Feikema shares the story of his family’s strip-till journey, including its approach to growing small grains like hybrid rye as a cash crop and cover crop. He also details how they’re incorporating manure applications instead of commercial fertilizer and the resources needed to store and haul manure in his classroom session, "Reviving the Soil with Strip-Till, Cover Crops & Livestock."

You’ll Learn: How to boost corn yields by up to 30 bushels per acre by adding a third cash crop to the rotation, strategies for maximizing cover crop benefits and advice for navigating strict manure application regulations.

Unique from other ag conferences, the National Strip-Tillage Conference agenda features a mix of general sessions, classrooms, farmer-to-farmer roundtable discussions and face time with suppliers — all designed for maximum networking and the practical transfer of experience and knowledge. The 2024 program lineup includes:

  • 6 General Sessions — covering an abundance of proven strip-tilling ideas and strategies. You’ll learn from industry-leading strip-tillers, such as David Hula, who achieved his fifth world-record breaking corn yield of 623 bushels per acre and original Strip-Till Innovator of the Year David Legvold back for an eleventh anniversary lecture on lessons learned from 20 years of strip-till research. Joining them are 2024 Strip-Till Innovator Award recipient Chris Perkins and No-Till Legend Marion Calmer.

  • 7 Roundtable Discussions — informal, moderated peer-to-peer discussions on specific strip-till topics. Attendees should come with 5 questions to get answered in this proven format for sharing what works and what doesn’t.

  • 12 Classrooms — in-depth presentation-style sessions convey practical, actionable ideas from experienced strip-tillers on the most pressing needs.

  • Pre-Conference Screening of “From the Heartland” — a documentary exploring rural America’s reliance on the success of its farming towns and how chasing the forward movement of the agricultural industry prompts one family farm to discard traditional practices and try something new. This limited seating reception is an add-on to your NSTC registration and offers networking opportunities, a reception meal and panel discussion with cast members Jodi DeJong-Hughes — a University of Minnesota Extension educator — and farmer Shawn Feikema.

Download the full conference agenda and register here!

Title sponsors making the learning and networking opportunities possible for strip-tillers include Vulcan Equipment, Soil Warrior, Kuhn, MonTag, Schlagel, Dawn, ESN, Yetter, Ostara, Ag Leader, Unverferth, RhizoSorb, AgSynergy and ZML. All companies will exhibit during the 4-day educational event.

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