With precision ag tools, we were miles ahead in utilizing grid testing, soil sampling, tissue sampling, aerial imagery and now drones, which has been great. We’re taking it one step further.

Strip-Till Farmer, organizer of the largest farmer-attended strip-tillage conference in the nation, has announced the addition of two leading farm equipment dealerships to the sponsorship lineup for the 5th annual National Strip-Tillage Conference in Iowa City, Iowa, on July 26-27, 2018.

Underground Agriculture intends to focus on soil health intelligence to optimize equipment choices.

Case IH introduced its Nutri-Place 930 coulter at the 2017 National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville. The company said the new coulter is a high speed, low disturbance (HSLD) option that is capable of speeds up to 11 mph allowing operators to over 510 acres in a 12 hour day. According to Dave Long, Case IH Pull-type Fertilizer Applicators Marketing Manager, extensive field tests prove the toolbar’s increased efficiency is matched with superior agronomic performance.

The growing push to adopt conservation tillage practice to help improve overall soil health appears to be giving some traction to the use of strip-tillage practices. According to the results of the 3rd Strip-Till Operational Benchmark Study, average acres planted to strip-till increased to 1,139 acres in 2015 compared to 948 acres in 2014 and 877 acres in 2013.

According to USDA’s Economic Research Service and National Agricultural Statistics Service, as the emphasis on the environment takes shape, in all likelihood, farmers will consider altering field practices to adapt, especially if they see economic benefit.