Solinftec debuts its new autonomous docking station, which will allow its Solix Ag Robot to operate 100% autonomously throughout the season, without the need for a manual refill. Guilherme Guine, COO North America, showcases how the station works and explains its potential impact on autonomous farming technology.

Solinftec debuts its new autonomous docking station, which will allow its Solix Ag Robot to operate 100% autonomously throughout the season, without the need for a manual refill. Guilherme Guine, COO North America, showcases how the station works and explains its potential impact on autonomous farming technology.

We’re kicking things off with breaking news. Strip-tiller Alex Harrell broke his own world record with a 218-bushel soybean yield in Smithville, Ga., this week. The irrigated soybeans were 12 bushels better than his 206-bushel yield last year. He strip-tilled through a terminated wheat cover crop on red clay soil with a Schlagel Rapid-Till, while banding a homogenized mix of N, P, K, sulfur, zinc, iron and copper.

Our entire staff was on hand as the No-Till Farmer editor opened the first box of his brand-new book, “Frankly Speaking: A Non-Whitewashed ‘First-Hand’ Account of No-Till Farming’s Rise Over 50-Plus Years.” It features 683 of Frank’s personal columns and opinions — as they occurred in real-time dating back to 1972. The only editor of No-Till Farmer since its first edition, Frank’s front-row seat spans more than half a century, during which he witnessed no-till acres grow from 3.3 million acres to 110 million acres today.

One of the highlights of the conference was the Strip-Till Hall of Fame induction ceremony, which featured Northfield, Minn., strip-tiller David Legvold, Univ. of Minnesota Extension educator Jodi DeJong-Hughes and AGuru Machinery founder Bill Preller. During his acceptance speech, Preller reflected on his no-till origin story and the man who helped him get here.

Fun fact — did you know mustard can be used to measure soil health? I didn’t, until I saw this video. This is from the Soil Health Alliance for Research & Education (SHARE) field day at the Arlington Research Farm in Madison, Wis., Aug. 7. Research assistant Logan Barr is using a mustard liquid mix to draw out earthworms.

On this episode of Conservation Ag Update, brought to you by Martin-Till, Smithville, Ga., strip-tiller and cover cropper Alex Harrell shares the main takeaway from his record-breaking 218-bushel soybean yield.