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.

Aaron Wickstrom shares his strategies and solutions to improving moisture retention and nutrient uptake in sandy soils with strip-till on his 1,000-acre cropping operation in Hilmar, Calif.

For Aaron Wickstrom, keeping his 2,400 dairy herd fed requires triple-cropping on his 1,000 acres of flood and pivot irrigated fields near Hilmar, Calif. To provide silage, he first plants corn by May 1 that’s harvested in August, followed by sorghum that’s harvested as silage in October. He then no-tills a winter cover crop of Italian rye or a mix of wheat, oats and rye.

Hitting his moisture target on corn silage when the crop is still a bright green color was a new experience for Hilmar, California, dairyman Aaron Wickstrom.