En route to Omaha, Neb., and our 4^th annual National Strip-Tillage Conference this week, I had a lot of windshield time to mentally run through the paces of the event ahead of time and try and proactively plan for the unexpected.

Of course, there is always the potential to overthink a situation and delay a decision. That’s why going in with a game plan — and writing it down — helps minimize the potential for disaster.

Strip-tillers are no strangers to adapting to field or climate conditions to accomplish their seasonal goals. But they are also savvy planners, looking to take full advantage to the windows Mother Nature provides each year.

Walking the halls ahead of this year’s conference, it’s nice to see some familiar faces, along with many first-timers. Talking with a few attendees, several Northern Plains farmers noted the challenging conditions they’ve faced this year, with parts of Nebraska and the Dakotas dealing with moderate to severe drought conditions.

At the same time, strip-tillers in the Midwest talked about the abundance of moisture they’ve seen and, in some cases, severe weather that has also proven problematic.

Regardless of the growing conditions, though, everyone who I talked with was steadfast in their commitment to strip-till and the direction the practice is taking their farming operation. Whether through improved timing and placement of nutrients, preservation of top soil and organic matter, or yield consistency, they spoke of the value in making the transition.

I look forward to learning more from both conference attendees and speakers during the event, and I’d encourage to join the conversation either in person, or online, through our Strip-Till Farmer Facebook page on our Twitter feed @StripTillFarmr.

And stay tuned for a recap and updates on highlights from the 4^th Annual Strip-Tillage Conference throughout the year.