Strip Till Expo at Lamberton Aug. 11

Hear the latest University of Minnesota research and information on strip tillage and compare strip-tillage equipment in action through field demonstrations at the 2009 "Minnesota Strip Till Expo" on Tues., Aug. 11, at the Southwest Research and Outreach Center in Lamberton. This event will run, rain or shine, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with registration starting at 8:30 a.m. Entry to the Expo is free, with lunch and refreshments available on the grounds for purchase.

Field demonstrations by major manufacturers of strip-tillage equipment will run from 9 to 11 a.m. and again at 1 to 3 p.m. Educational presentations by University researchers and Extension educators on strip-tillage fertilizer management, economics, and management essentials will run from 10 a.m. to noon and 2 to 4 p.m. Field tours of strip-tillage research and demonstration plots will run from 11 a.m. to noon and 3 to 4 p.m. From 12:15 to 1 p.m., a farmer panel of producers currently using strip tillage will discuss their experiences and share tips with attendees. For more details, visit http://swroc.cfans.umn.edu/. Attendees can visit vendor and informational booths throughout the day.

Besides many environmental benefits, conservation tillage practices like strip-tillage, can yield economic benefits as well. Fuel costs can be reduced as trips across the field are decreased and fertilizer costs can be decreased if fertilizer is banded instead of broadcast.

With fall strip tillage, a zone typically 5 to 9 inches deep and 7 to 9 inches wide is tilled in the crop row, while the area between rows is untouched. The crop is subsequently planted into the cleared strips in the spring. Strip-tillage addresses a common concern of conservation tillage related to soil warm-up in the spring by clearing residue in the plant row while maintaining high residue levels overall.

The Minnesota Strip Till Expo is a great opportunity to learn more about strip tillage and current research results, to compare what system might work best for you, and to learn from others currently practicing strip tillage to help fine-tune your management practices.