You’ve likely heard about the environmental, agronomic and economic advantages of strip-till but may be wondering if it’s a good fit for your farm. Like any production practice, strip-till offers benefits and limitations, and results vary from farm to farm. Understanding where strip-till shines can help you evaluate its potential for your farm.
Make the Most of Heavy, Wet Soils
Strip-till is an excellent option in flat fields with heavy, wet soils that tend to warm slowly in the spring. Research shows that strip-till effectively increases soil temperatures and evaporation, which helps you get in fields faster.1 Scientists in Iowa found that strip-till increased soil temperatures by 2-2.5° F compared to no-till.2 In the colder climates of Minnesota, strip-till increased soil temperatures on average from 3.1-6.6° F over a two-year study.3
Minimize Erosion Risks
If topsoil erosion is a concern due to wind or rain runoff, strip-till could be a good fit for your farm. Strip-till retains, on average, 60-75% of a field’s residue, which helps keep topsoil in place, reducing erosion risks. United States Department of Agriculture researchers in Georgia found that strip-tilling reduced the sediment mass carried in the runoff water by 87% compared to conventionally tilled plots.4
Cut Production Costs
If you’re looking for an effective way to cut production costs while maintaining yield potential, strip-till may be the ticket. Strip-till offers an opportunity to band fertilizer directly in the crop’s root zone, improving accessibility and plant uptake and potentially reducing the amount of fertilizer required compared to a broadcast application. In addition, using a multi-functional strip-till machine, like the SoilWarrior®, can help you get more done with one pass, reducing labor and fuel costs. Research shows strip-till can save $19.50 per acre with no yield loss, an estimated savings of $20,000 for a two-year corn and soybean rotation on a 1,000-acre farm.5
Optimize Cover Crop Production
Strip-till and cover crops go hand-in-hand to build soil health. One of the challenges associated with cover crop management is establishing a suitable seedbed for cash crop planting. That’s where strip-till can help. Removing cover crop residue with strip-till can help optimize the seedbed for better seed-to-soil contact while maintaining the soil health benefits of the cover crop. Durable machines like the SoilWarrior can effectively manage all types of residue. “It can go through dead covers, living covers, high corn residue or heavy clay with one pass and do a good job,” says Mike Verdonck, a SoilWarrior user in Montreal, Que.
The SoilWarrior takes cover crop optimization further by offering an add-on cover crop kit to blow the seeds between the strips at 20 pounds per acre. The seed is loaded into one of the fertilizer tanks with tubes connecting its metering system to each of the row units. The tubes can be adjusted to apply in the zone, between the zones or both.
Add a Revenue Stream
If you’re looking for ways to diversify your farm income, carbon markets may be of interest. Strip-till helps capture more soil carbon and is one of the monetizable practices in most carbon programs. Capitalizing on incentives for adopting conservation strip-till, whether from carbon or government programs, can help offset some of the initial costs associated with it. Some programs may offer up to $25 per acre for adopting strip-till practices.
Other Considerations for Successful Strip-Till Adoption
The benefits of strip-till are most effectively realized when combined with other best management practices, including residue management and fertility modifications to account for extra residue, plus effective weed, disease and integrated pest management programs. Work with your local agronomic advisor to ensure you modify your current production practices to align with any tillage changes you plan to make.
Capture More Value with a SoilWarrior System
If your farm checks any of the boxes above, strip-till may be a good option. The next step is finding the best equipment for your situation. The SoilWarrior makes that easy by offering several models to fit different farm needs and budgets. With capabilities to reposition residue, prep the seedbed, break down compaction layers and place nutrients more precisely all in one pass, the SoilWarrior is a comprehensive machine that adds efficiency during critical seasonal work windows.
“Our switch to strip-till and the SoilWarrior purchase was very intentional,” says Mac Ferguson of St. Thomas, Ont., who uses it on about 85% of his acres. “We wanted to reduce passes across the field. With this system, we have one skilled operator doing tillage, applying fertilizer and cover crops in 40-foot swaths. That’s made a huge impact on our ROI.”
To learn more about implementing strip-till and the SoilWarrior to your farm, contact our team.
References
1 Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. 2019. Managing wet and cold soils.
2 Licht, M. A. and Al-Kaisi, M. 2005. Strip-tillage effect on seedbed soil temperature and other soil physical properties. Soil and Tillage Research, Volume 80, Issues 1–2, Pages 233-249.
3 Nowatzki, J., Endres, G., Dejong-Hughes, J., and Aakre, D. 2017. Strip-till for field crop production. North Dakota State University. Publication AE1370.
4 United States Department of Agriculture. 2015. Strip-till & cover crops enhance soil quality. AgResearch Magazine. November 2015 issue.
5 DeJong-Hughes, J., and Daigh, A. 2018, Reviewed 2022. Economics of tillage. UMN Extension.
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Strip-Till Farmer's Building Healthier Soil and Profits with Strip-Till series is brought to you by Environmental Tillage Systems.
At Environmental Tillage Systems, we believe farmers shouldn’t have to choose between doing what’s right for your soil and what’s right for your business. The SoilWarrior is a complete precision zone tillage system custom built for your farm and delivered to you ready to get in the field. Backed by 24-hour service and support, The SoilWarrior takes the guess work out of strip-till so you can concentrate on defending the land and leading the charge. See soilwarrior.com for more information.
