By Scout Nelson
Exploring Reduced Tillage at the Soil Management Summit
The 2025 Soil Management Summit, scheduled for January 29-30 at the Mayo Event Center in Mankato, will focus on reduced tillage techniques and sustainable farming practices for cash crops.
Expert Sessions and Practical Insights
This two-day event offers sessions on topics like nutrient management, cover crops, and strategic tillage. A highlight is Prof. Brian Luck, an agricultural engineering expert, who will discuss planter adjustments for reduced tillage systems.
According to Prof. Anna Cates, an event organizer, reduced tillage offers alternatives for fertilizer placement, weed management, and seed bed preparation. “(Luck) has done a lot of work on planter modifications and adjustments critical for planting into no-till or residue-heavy seed beds,” she explained.
Success Stories in Conservation Practices
Farmers will share experiences of transitioning to reduced tillage systems, detailing benefits like improved water management and reduced erosion. Participants can learn how conservation methods like covering crops and minimum tillage can transform farming operations.
Economic and Environmental Benefits
One farmer’s on-farm study demonstrates how no-till, strip-till, and conventional tillage systems—paired with cover crops—impact costs and soil health over multiple crop years. Reduced tillage also cuts diesel usage and addresses labour shortages.
As Prof. Cates highlights, “If you leave the soil undisturbed and let roots stay, most soils provide good aeration and water movement through soil biology rather than mechanical activity.”
Event Information
The Soil Management Summit is supported by Minnesota Corn, which promotes sustainability and productivity in farming.
Photo Credit:istock-sasapanchenko
Categories: Minnesota, Crops, Corn, General, Sustainable Agriculture