We’re going to kick things off with an update from our Conservation Ag Operator Fellow, Ray McCormick. To say that Ray takes conservation to a “whole ‘nother” level would be a massive understatement. From ponds to solar panels, Ray’s got a lot going at his Vincennes, Ind., farm.

On this edition of Conservation Ag Update, brought to you by CultivAce, No-Till Farmer’s Conservation Ag Operator Fellow, Ray McCormick, showcases how he’s taking conservation ag to the next level in Vincennes, Ind., with ponds, solar panels, duck hunting and more.

Charles City, Va., strip-tiller Dave Hula continues his NCGA Yield Contest championship run with a 490-bushel yield in the strip-till irrigated category — the top overall yield in the 2024 contest. Dubois, Ind., no-tiller Shawn Kalb captured the top spot in the no-till non-irrigated category with a 402-bushel yield.

Jimmy Emmons checks in from Oklahoma to show how his long-term no-till field held up after getting pounded by rain. Jimmy, take it away!

Liz Haney. Russell Hedrick. Jerry Hatfield. Roy Pfaltzgraff. Lance Gunderson. David Kleinschmidt. Dan Luepkes. Sarah Martello. Talk about a cavalcade of All-Stars. With heavy hitters like those on the program, we knew this year’s Big Soil Health Event was once again going to be a can’t-miss event.

Speaking of conferences, the 10th annual Sustainable Agriculture Summit took place in Minneapolis recently. And during the event, our Mike Lessiter caught up with Carrie Vollmer-Sanders, the president of Field to Market who also farms in Northeast Indiana and Northwest Ohio.

I’ve heard some people refer to biologicals as the “Wild West” of farming. Huge potential, little regulation. How do you know which ones could work on your farm? Soil health specialist and No-Till Innovator Jim Hoorman helps navigate some of the key factors to consider with biologicals.

Winter is coming, which means it’s time to make sure there aren’t any gremlins lurking in your equipment. Precision Planting’s Clay Scott checks in with one of the most important things that should be on your planter maintenance checklist.  

According to 2024 No-Till Farmer Benchmark Study, almost 90% of you plant corn in 30-inch rows. Sparta, Wis., no-tiller Jim Leverich is among the other 10%.  He’s been no-tilling corn in 20-inch rows with his Case IH 1245 planter for a long time.

On this edition of Conservation Ag Update, brought to you by CultivAce, longtime no-tiller Jim Leverich explains why 20-inch corn rows are paying off big time on his Sparta, Wis., farm.