Ben Pederson

Farmers are used to overcoming adversity and the recent years have forced many to be increasingly resourceful and resilient with their farm management. Opportunity can take many forms, but the key is recognizing and pursing it when it arises.

Since transitioning his Lake Mills, Iowa, corn and soybean operation to 100% strip-till in 2012, Ben Pederson has pursued a deeper understanding of the progressive benefits and public influences that are shaping the conservation tillage landscape.

“With strip-till and other conservation minded practices, we need to be thinking bigger and helping consumers understand how doing things differently can make a very substantial impact on the environment and long-term food security,” he says.

During the opening general session at the 2019 National Strip-Tillage Conference, Aug. 1-2 in Peoria, Ill., Pederson will challenge you to think critically about the scope of your strip-system, and look for innovative pathways for increased profitability.

During a post-conference soil health workshop, “Seeing is Believing: A Visual Validation of Soil Health,” conference attendees will join former USDA soil scientist and founder of Wetland and Soil Consulting Services, Frank Gibbs, in at a nearby farm for a unique and eye-opening demonstration of soil health. Gibbs will conduct his famous “smoking tile” experiment which provides a visual analysis of soil structure, quality and earthworm activity. This workshop costs an additional $99 to attend. Attendees may sign up online or by calling (866) 839-8455 or (262) 432-0388.

The 6th annual National Strip-Tillage Conference will be held at the Embassy Suites by Hilton East Peoria Riverfront Hotel & Conference Center and feature 2 days of strip-till education through an array of thought-provoking general sessions, strategy-packed strip-till classrooms and highly collaborative strip-till roundtable discussions.

A $25.00 Early Bird Registration discount is available through May 31, and attendees who register their farm and family members receive additional savings. For more information and to register for the conference, visit www.StripTillFarmer.com/NSTC.

Title sponsors making the learning and networking opportunities possible for strip-tillers include AgroLiquid, Copperhead Ag, Dawn Equipment Co., Environmental Tillage Systems, Ingersoll, Kuhn Krause, Montag Mfg., Orthman Mfg., Schlagel Mfg., Topcon Agriculture, Vulcan Equipment and Yetter Mfg. Co. All 12 companies will exhibit during the 2-day educational event.

We’ll see you in Peoria!