[Video] Panel Discussion: Fall vs. Spring Strip-Till

Veteran strip-tillers Brian Watkins and Jay Riddell join technology editor Noah Newman for a conversation about the benefits and challenges of fall and spring strip-till, and the practices that are making strip-till successful in their operations.

Brian Watkins is a sixth-generation farmer from Kenton, Ohio. He applies a true “dollars and cents” mentality to managing his 7,000-acre corn, soybean, winter wheat and livestock operation. When he transitioned from no-till to strip-till several years ago, Watkins — who meticulously manages the ROI of his strip-till system — saw the potential to further improve upon his fertilizer application practices and make better use of his equipment.

Fourth-generation farmer Jay Riddell strip-tills 100% of his corn and soybeans across 2,500 acres in Sparland, Ill. Riddell is a heavy user of precision technology, and everything he does is based on management zones. With his zones, the goal isn’t to reduce fertilizer or input costs, but to reallocate it. Riddell wants his cost per bushel through all areas of the field to be the same.

The 2024 National Strip-Tillage Conference Video Replays are brought to you by ForGround by Bayer.           ForGround by Bayer is a farmer-first digital platform that supports growers in improving soil health and resilience through practices such as strip-till, no-till and cover crops. ForGround provides farmers exclusive access to tools, resources and discounts as well as the potential to earn revenue through carbon programs for the adoption of regenerative practices. Learn more at BayerForGround.com/Farmers. Return to the Video Gallery