By Scout Nelson
University of Minnesota Extension will begin a new Strategic Farming seminar series in January 2026. The free online program will run every Wednesday from January through March. Each session will last one hour and will be available live and later as recorded videos.
The series opens with a focus on soil compaction, a common problem that reduces crop yield. Research shows that soil compaction can happen deeply and can affect plant growth for many years. Experts will share simple ways to reduce this issue. These include limiting wheel tracks in fields, using multiple axles on heavy equipment, adjusting tire pressure, and keeping grain carts at field edges when they become heavy.
“Compaction has been a growing problem,” DeJong-Hughes reported. “It’s partly to do with the equipment size getting bigger, but it also has to do with raising a limited number of crops. Adding perennials to rotations, or using cover crops, or employing several soil health techniques, can build the soil structure that can better support heavy equipment.”
The program will also include sessions on cover crops, farm finance, pest, and weed control. One session will focus on waterhemp, a fast spreading weed that is becoming resistant to many herbicides. Experts will explain how mixing agronomic practices with new technologies can reduce waterhemp growth and seed survival.
Modern tools such as laser and electric weed control systems will be discussed. A combined attachment that destroys weed seeds before they return to the soil will also be reviewed. This tool has shown strong success in making weed seeds unable to grow again.
Another session will teach ways to support pollinators. Participants will learn how pollinator-friendly field strips can improve habitats for insects and birds while supporting healthy crop production.If readers don’t see a topic of interest in the 2026 series, University of Minnesota Extension encourages people to offer suggestions for other seminar topics here.
The series is designed to be simple, practical, and useful. Participants can ask questions during live sessions. All sessions will be recorded for later viewing. Continuing education credits are also being prepared for live attendees.
This program helps spread research-based knowledge to support better crop practices, healthier soil, and stronger farm management decisions.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-eugenesergeev
Categories: Minnesota, Education, General