When Russell Hedrick started no-tilling, he kept hearing the same thing from many of his peers — “no-till, no-yield.” The Hickory, N.C., native has since busted that myth, etching his name in the no-till record books multiple times. He shattered the dryland corn yield record with 459 bushels per acre in 2022 and the North Carolina soybean yield record with 117 bushels per acre in 2021. The 2023 NNTC Presenter of the Year returns with new data and details on the specific practices that are propelling him to record-high corn and soybean yields, which, on average, are over 3 times greater than the rest of his county.

You'll Learn: No-till tips & insights from the dryland corn yield record-breaker, including innovative, money-saving nutrient management & cover crop strategies.

The 33rd Annual National No-Tillage Conference returns to Louisville on Jan. 7-10, 2025. Whether you're new to no-till or refining your system, this event delivers fast-paced learning from top no-till farmers, agronomists and experts. With over 12 General Sessions, 23 expert-led Classrooms and 34 Roundtables to choose from, plus opportunities to earn pesticide recertification and CCA credits, the 2025 No-Till Conference is a must-attend event for anyone looking to enhance their no-till farming practices.

View the full speaker agenda and topics here.

For more information about the 2025 National No-Tillage Conference, to register for the event and to book your hotel room visit no-tillfarmer.com/nntc. Use code SPEAKER50 for $50 off your registration.

The Conference extends its thanks to our 2025 sponsors: Precision Planting, Ag Leader, Montag, Martin-Till, Yetter, Bio Till Cover Crops, ForGround by Bayer, Copperhead Ag, The Andersons Plant Nutrient Group, HORSCH, Titan International, Midwest Bio-Tech, Vulcan Equipment, CLAAS, Apache Sprayers and Environmental Tillage Systems (ETS).

Russell is a first-generation farmer in the foothills of Hickory, North Carolina, where he farms JRH Grain Farms, LLC. In 2017, he won the North Carolina Corn Yield contest, the first person to win in the state using regenerative practices. In 2021, he broke the state’s soybean record with 117 bushels per acre, and in 2022, he shattered the dryland corn yield record with 459 bushels per acre. The 2023 NNTC Presenter of the Year’s operation focuses on maximizing profits and direct consumer marketing for all their products, including corn, soybeans, wheat, barley, pastures beef and pork. He is the co-founder of Regen Mills and Heritage Ground with Liz, owner of Soil Regen, LLC, and has partnered with Foothills Distillery producing the first bourbon in North Carolina since prohibition.