Change isn't always an easy sell to farmers who have relied on the same methodology for years or even decades, especially if they've had success. Farmers tend to rely on the two T's -- tillage and tradition, Minnesota strip-tiller David Legvold told me during a recent visit to his farm. In my opinion, you need to shift away from the traditional, and from practices that are damaging the soil.

One of more interesting things I've learned about strip-till is how the practice can vary from farmer to farmer, depending on their years of experience. While there are principles to adhere to — noted by Illinois strip-tiller Alan Madison in this edition's feature story — there's also no textbook way to strip-till.

One of the challenges of strip-tilling is that there's not always a next-door neighbor handy to bounce fertilizer-application ideas off of, or discuss residue-management strategies.

Beginning this month, you'll be greeted by a new face when opening your Strip-Till Strategies e-newsletter.

In 5 years of strip-tilling, Josh Backstrom of Maddock, N.D., has gone through quite a learning curve, which has included figuring out how to manage rocks and residue.

After reading recent questions from readers of Strip-Till Strategies about soil-sampling procedures and nitrogen credits -- as well as nitrogen rates in strip-tilled corn following soybeans - Orthman Mfg. Co. lead agronomist Mike Petersen offered some recommendations.

With the New Year just a few days away, it's natural to reflect on the past year and what lies ahead. What did you learn from strip-tilling this past year, and what do you want to accomplish in 2013?

After reading the request for reports on fuel efficiency in the last issue of Strip-Till Strategies, Minnesota strip-tiller Rod Sommerfield shared this good news. Sommerfield farms 35 miles southeast of Northfield, Minn., and uses a 12-row Red Ball stripper set to 30-inch spacings, pulled with a 245-horsepower tractor and Flexicoil air cart behind the strip-till unit for fertilizer application.

Like many farmers during this past growing season, Iowa strip-tiller Frank Moore harvested corn and soybeans with wildly varying yields. Much of the variation stemmed from when, where and how much rain fell, along with planting dates and when corn pollinated.

This week's lead story includes specific recommendations from Iowa farmer and tillage consultant Kevin Kimberley on how strip-tillers can cope successfully with the bone-dry, rock-hard fields they'll be facing this fall in much of the Midwest and Great Plains.