Strip-Till Insights & Field Updates

Custom Strip Till Blog

Practical guidance on strip-till farming, soil health, equipment, nutrient placement, and crop performance in Southern Minnesota.

News

Banded Fertilizer and Rate Reduction Study: Early PTI Findings (2021–2025)

Banded Fertilizer and Rate Reduction Study: 5-Year Findings from a 10-Year PTI Farm Trial The PTI Farm initiated a 10-year field study to compare banded dry fertilizer applications against traditional broadcast methods. A core part of the trial also tests how far fertilizer rates can be reduced without sacrificing profitability, including 25%, 50%, 75%, and [...]
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Sustainable Farming Practices in Minnesota

Sustainable Farming Practices in Minnesota Sustainable Farming Practices in Minnesota are being tested and reshaped by forces that farmers cannot control: heavier rainfall, increased flooding, rising input costs, and generational transitions across rural communities. This video explores how Minnesota farmers are responding to those challenges by rethinking how they work the land, protect soil, and [...]
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News

Band vs. Broadcast Uptake Speed

If your goal is to keep fertility costs down this season, one of the best strategies—outside of regular soil testing—is to band your fertilizer rather than broadcast it. When fertilizer is broadcast, nutrients are scattered across the entire field. That creates two main challenges: nutrient tie-up and the lower likelihood that roots will find those [...]
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News

Banding vs. Broadcast: Strategies for Smarter Nutrient Placement

Choosing between banding vs broadcast fertilizer can make or break your nutrient budget and yield goals. Strip-till growers are proving that targeted, banded applications put fertility where roots actually find it—cutting costs while improving plant performance and soil health. What Is Fertilizer Banding in Strip-Till? For Shell Rock, Iowa, farmers Jeff and Clay Reints, the [...]
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News

The Truth About Organic Matter and Tillage

Organic matter (OM) is often the core focus of soil health discussions. It plays a big role as the engine of nutrient cycling, water retention, biological diversity, and long-term fertility. But when it comes to managing OM—specifically stable soil organic matter in relation to tillage—there's a lot of confusion, misconceptions, and, frankly, untruthful information. Let’s [...]
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Fertility Placement in Farming: Why It Matters More Than Ever

Fertility placement in farming has become a game-changer for growers looking to maximize yields and improve soil health. By placing nutrients exactly where crops need them, fertility placement in farming ensures plants can efficiently access the essential elements required for strong growth. This modern approach goes beyond traditional broadcast methods, delivering both environmental and economic [...]
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Nutrient Pollution Reduction Efforts in Minnesota’s Waterways

Nutrient Pollution Reduction Nutrient Pollution Reduction Efforts in Minnesota’s Waterways Preserving clean and healthy waterways is a top priority for Minnesota. The state is taking significant steps to combat a major environmental threat: nutrient pollution. Through a wide-reaching strategy focused on nutrient pollution reduction, Minnesota aims to enhance water quality, safeguard aquatic ecosystems, and promote [...]
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Maximizing Strip-Till Timing for Better Soil Health and Crop Yields

The Timing is Right: Flexibility in Strip-Till Timing and Nutrient Application Optimizing strip-till timing: A targeted approach to soil health, nutrient efficiency, and sustainable farming. Considering the adoption or current use of strip-till in your farming operations often raises the question: when is the optimal strip-till timing—fall or spring? This decision depends on factors such [...]
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Talking with Your Landlord: Strip-Tillage

Talking with Your Landlord: Strip-Tillage Strip-tillage in action: Precision tilling improves soil health, conserves moisture, and boosts crop yields while reducing erosion. Many landowners are looking for young, innovative farmers who are committed to sustainable land management and conservation. As they plan for the future care of their land, they often seek tenants who practice [...]
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