In this Strip-Till Farmer Podcast bought to you by Topcon Agriculture, Hilmar, Calif., farmer Aaron Wickstrom discusses his proven methods for conquering unfavorable soil conditions with strip-till, including split N applications and improving early emergence by minimizing risk with a wider planting window.

Typically, 10 days is the ideal time frame when terminating something growing like a cover crop. But there won’t be that much lead time this spring.

Matching equipment setups with soil conditions, Mead, Neb., strip-tiller Kerry Knuth to share his experience piecing the puzzle together for a successful strip-till system at the 4th annual National Strip-Tillage Conference Aug. 3-4 in Omaha, Neb.

Many times the differences in attaining higher net income for soybean producers can be directly tied to the timing of planting. Recent research showed yields averaged approximately 1/3 bushel per acre less for every day planting was delayed.

Once harvest comes to an end, some growers will shift their focus to strip-tillage. Fabian Fernandez, University of Illinois Extension specialist in plant nutrition and soil fertility, offers a few thoughts on applying nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium with strip-till this season.

A common question is when is the best time to lime, and the bottom line is that anytime the soil conditions are appropriate for the spreading equipment and the crop does not limit spreading, is okay.

In the spirit of continuous improvement, we recently asked strip-tillers if they could provide us with some of the beneficial modifications they've made to their strip-till rigs. Whether it's a new manufactured strip-till bar or even an older homemade version, the relative "newness"? of this management technique means many strip-tillers are looking for ways to improve berm building, fertilizer application or precision performance.

More growers are seeing major benefits by strip-tilling in the spring, citing cropping flexibility, slashed fertilizer costs, reduced winter erosion and the ability to deal with changing weather conditions.

Fall strip-tillers can succeed by avoiding common mistakes including failure to consider soil conditions and manage soil fertility, industry experts says.

If the rain, ruts and soggy fields last fall make you think twice about strip-tilling this fall, Illinois strip-tiller Brent Schmitz offers some simple advice.