PrecisionTillage.com |

	2/1/2012 Strip till results - Illinois and Indiana It was a dry year for these regions, and we were looking forward to analyzing "in the bin" results in a side-by-side trial. The Illinois study included single row and twin row studies, comparing chisel plow, vertical still, and strip till using 36,000 population and 30" rows. Download the Illinois yield study results. The Indiana study compared conventional till with strip till, and looked at precision nutrient placement comparisons as well. Download the Indiana yield study results. Special thanks to our friends at Channel Seed Co, Clunette Elevator, and Helena Chemical for this yield data.
	1/5/2012 Top 10 Strip Till videos It's that time of year for a review of the best and brightest of the past year! In that effort, here's a list of Orthman's "most viewed" Youtube videos. Stay tuned for many more to come in 2012! Spring striptill with the shallow tillage (coulter) shank on a 6 row 1tRIPr in Indiana. Pulled with a John Deere 4560, owned by Brubaker farms. The Orthman Stalk Puller (SP500) blows through some corn residue - 6 row 30" pulled by a John Deere 8520. 16 row Orthman 1tRIPr with Atlas cart and Valmar dry fertilizer system, pulled by a Case IH 535 at Shady Lane Farms in South Bend, Indiana 6 row Orthman 1tRIPr pulled by a John Deere 4560. Also in Indiana, using the shallow tillage (coulter) shank. Spring Striptill with the Orthman 1tRIPr, pulled by a John Deere 8530. This is a test plot for the Clunette Elevator, precision-applying fertilizer at 3-1/2" and 7" depths near Leesburg, Indiana A view of the Orthman 1tRIPr in action, as viewed from the back of the rig. An 8 row, 30" 1tRIPr and Atlas cart combination with camoplast tracks. This is a tomato operation near Liberty Center, Ohio. A folding, 16 row 30" Orthman 1tRIPr - transports like a 6 row unit, near New Carlisle, Indiana. Striptill and planting together with a 16 row 30" 1tRIPr and JD 1720 Max Emerge XP planter combination near Patterson, Washington, pulled by a CAT MT865. Posted almost 5 years ago, here's a 16 row 1tRIPr at work, pulled by a John Deere 9420 near Wallace, Nebraska.
	1/2/2012 Abraham Lincoln's Words Still Ring True Today Now some 153 years ago in 1859 Abraham Lincoln gave an address to the State Agricutural Society of Wisconsin growers regarding the evident yield decline in crop production and that he believed that with care, better management skills, knowledge of the soil twice if not more could come from the soil in the way of production. Let me quote from Cyril Hopkins writing from the speech Lincoln gave; " My first suggestion is an inquiry as to the effect of greater thoroughness in all departments of agriculture than now prevails in the Northwest - perhaps I might say America. To speak entirely within bounds, it is known that fifty bushels of wheat or one hundred bushels of Indian corn, can be produced from an acre." He goes on to state; "Less than a year ago I saw it stated that a man, by extrordinary care and labor, had produced of wheat what was equal to two hundred bushels from an acre (we are speaking of 1858 now). But take fifty of wheat, and one hundred of corn to be the possibility, and compare it with actual crops of the country. Many years ago I saw it stated, in a patent office report, that eighteen bushels was the average crop throughout the United States; and this year an intelligent farmer of Illinois assured me that he did not believe the land harvested in that state this season yielded more than eight bushels to the acre; much was cut, and then abandoned as not worth threshing, and much was abandoned as not worth cutting." That year was dry and cinch bugs ate crops up was the comments from the author. Lincoln goes on and states this - "It is true that heretofore we have had better crops with no better cultivation, but I believe that it is also true that the soil has never been pushed up to one-half its capacity." Abraham Lincoln was very observant and knew that from his folks family farm in Cumberland County near Charleston, ILL that possibilities, better skills and ingenuity would improve crop production and well managed use of the soils resources. To make that all happen we at Orthman Manufacturing suggest precision tillage by the use of the 1tRIPr and precise placement of nutrients with the same tool. Work becomes more efficient and yields improve to be truly profitable and with less erosion and production loss. Picture is of a 1tRIPr applying fertilizer with a Tracker IV system to be within 1 inch accuracy at all times.
	12/3/2011 Fall Strips - The Process is Good to Go! We at Orthman Manufacturing are pretty much settled in for the winter. What ground we wanted to get strip-tilled for trials next season are done. We are putting together reports that are coming in from our partner research sites all across the lower 48. Mike tells us that two new research partners have come alongside in Georgia and Texas. Agronomics play a key ingredient to making the strip-tillage system really work for any grower. It is also critical that hybrid selection fits like hand in glove for you the grower. Talk to your seed representative and ask him/her how your program can work better with strip-till as the foundation.
	11/18/2011 Fall Strip-Tilling - Snow Did not Stop Us! Last week on Thursday we awoke to 11 above and a dab of frost, snow from previous day's snow showers. The guys were out strip-tilling for our fall strip-till comparison plots which will be ready for the 2012 season. Got the Deere GPS system up and running with A-B lines all set, field boundaries set, what else to set the stage. In the picture the guys are working where there will be soybeans in 2012 after average yields of corn on corn of 192bu/acre this year. Check out the articles section, we are posting our results from our research partners results as well as our own. This week we post the Strip-Till to No-Till comparison plot data in a one page document with Pioneer corn varieties. As of today 11/22/11 we posted data with the FBSciences results, then in coming days we will offer the variety trials with differing family root characteristics as well as yield information, followed up by soybean trials both irrigated and dryland. It is our desire that as you follow along with our Orthman Research Farm Precision Tillage System activities you will see that we did accomplish more for you this year in the Platte Valley of Nebraska.
	11/9/2011 It's not a return to the Dust Bowl, but... From our friend Steve Olson, here's a screen shot from his video of the dust storm that enveloped Lubbock, Texas on October 17. While ugly, that storm DID have a positive impact - it helped generate some awareness of strip till. See more at the Voice of America web site.
	10/25/2011 Fall Corn Harvest at Orthman Research Farm Truly a good feeling when any of us finish harvesting the 2011 crop of corn. At the Orthman Research Farm we did not pop any corks, but we did celebrate a bit when the plot results came in and observed that the tried and true Orthman approach with the 1tRIPr starting the path for corn to grow we topped the 250 bushels/acre club in several of our plots. After carefully applying 72lbs of Nitrogen via the strip-till operation, 7 lbs with the planter, using some of the best grade of liquid fertilizers we know of here in Nebraska (Kugler Fertilizer Co.), 4 times through the pivot with a N source we metered out another 96lbs of actual N - totalling 175lbs of nitrogen, to yield 195 bu/ac for the average across all of the irrigated acres and a top plot weighed in to yield 285bu/acre. We are developing the reports for our research partners now and will have some reports out to you in the coming days. Keep tuned in, right here.
	10/19/2011 Finishing Orthman Research Farm Soybeans Today the beans dried well so we could get in and harvest the last of our irrigated portion and then what you see in the image is our man harvesting the dryland soybeans. Had one of those mornings when the combine was fussy, you know the drill and when the guys from Deere come out, it does not replicate - grrrrr! Did a quick tap here and a turn there and we are wrapping it up and heading the semi to the elevator. The dryland soybeans are just over 60 bu/acre and we are smiling. It is our hope that late this afternoon we are in the field cutting corn before the sun goes down today 10/19/2011.
	10/6/2011 Corn Harvest 2011 - Eastern Corn Region Reports In Corn harvest - Some of wondered when it was going to get here due to anticipation and tired of the ugly heat. We have garnered some our first cooperative study results and want you all to see the positive results. We will be putting more information out as soon as it comes in for all to see and read. This first data set comes fronm Illinois with items from Indiana and Ohio right on its heels folks. Read in the Articles Section from today.
	10/3/2011 Mike Petersen presentation Seminar presented in South Africa by agronomist Mike Petersen.
	9/20/2011 Nearing maturity at the Orthman Research Farm Central Platte River Valley irrigated corn is giving us at the Orthman Research Farm a vision of hitting some pretty good yields, where we have heard across other portions of the Corn Belt that some yields are much less than desirable. The four ears you see in this image are examples of flex varieties in the two ears on the left, a determinant ear in the middle and a semi-determinant on the right. This year my co-workers and I modified our nutrition program to spread out the nitrogen over the course of the summer and it appears to have given us a better opportunity to gain some large number kernels on the ear. The two left ears are 850 kernels and 880 kernels, and with final plant populations of 31,500- we have the potential of 290 bu/ac and more. We will still have to stick the snout of the combine corn head in the field before we can dance at the end of the field when the combine unloads into the Orthman grain carts. Even the smaller ear could tap 225 bu/acre. Taking steps to fertilize several times during the growing season does present us with opportunities to spoon feed and push the corn yields higher. Right now the corn is 8-10 days away from "black layer" which is the complete sign that we made maturity and can finish well. Stay tuned and we will share what goes on from here. Hope your yields are high out there!
	9/8/2011 Husker Harvest Days It's that time of year - for the 34th year in a row, actually - it's the Husker Harvest Days working farm show in Grand Island, Nebraska. Mike will be on hand at the Orthman Manufacturing lot, #402, spreading the strip-till gospel, with do's and don'ts and goods and bads and all of the stuff in between. See, all those holes, all that data, all that knowledge, is crammed into Mike's cranium, and we're afraid if he doesn't let it out, his head could explode. Just sayin! Come visit Mike, and bring your strip-till and precision tillage questions to the Orthman lot at Husker Harvest Days in Grand Island, Nebraska.
	8/24/2011 Carbon Boost-S product has promise The headline reads "Carbon Boost-S Shines at Orthman Field Day." Well, yes - I think that's probably true! Read all about it on the FBSciences page. Their Carbon Boost-S product is under examination on the Orthman Research Farm, and agronomist Mike Petersen likes what he sees! Of course, he also likes digging holes in July and examining plant roots with a magnifying glass...
	8/5/2011 Orthman Agronomist Still Digs 'em Deep Mid-season root digs are wrapping up and Mike Petersen has exposed roots deep as 48 inches to see the positive effects of strip-till in irrigated corn. Mike notes that with the heat many of you have endured and continue to endure, so has the corn had to. The deeper rooted crops have a better chance of coming through this hot summer than any other. Back when you selected from the Seed catalogs, December - yes that is when putting strip-till and deeper rooted hybrids come into the decision making process. Here at Orthman Manufacturing we have coordinated with three Seed Companies to gain better knowledge of what family lines will deliver the deeper rooted crop to get you through the hot and dry periods. It also is very informative to the Seed companies we work with because they can deliver products to you that can be successful in your region, especially the drier sections of the Western CornBelt. So when you men and women consider 2012's lineup of hybrids beyond did they outyield XYZ in the neighbors field down the road - ask the deeper question, "What about this hybrids root potential?" You might remember, that Orthman is learning and finding out the root dimensions 3X per season right in the state where Irrigation is King for the entire United States - Nebraska. In 2010 we surpassed all irrigated acres over California which was #1.
	7/21/2011 What's Happening? Agronomist and dirt guru Mike Petersen gave an overview on the test plots and strip-tillage research efforts underway at the Orthman Research Farm near Lexington, Nebraska on Tuesday and Wednesday. Mike showed the national sales team the variables being tested, including fertility rates and placements, spring vs fall strip till differences, and more. Size and canopy are all well and good... the proof is in the harvest... so stay tuned!
	6/29/2011 There's more than just diggin'! Ask Mike and he'll tell you that soil pits and root studies are the best part of his job. But, it's also up to Mike to share his results with growers and dealers around the US and the world. Mike has talked root development, soil condition, and more with everyone from corn belters to Delta cotton growers, even France, Ukraine, Australia, and more. Here, he shares some findings with growers in southern Washington state. "I'm spreading the strip till gospel!" said Mike. "The benefits and results from strip tilling need to be shared!"
	6/22/2011 Orthman Research farm The soybeans are on the way on the Orthman Research Farm. You can see Henry's barn in the background. And, sorry for the blurriness - Mother Nature has the fan kicked up on high here in central Nebraska today!
	6/14/2011 Evaluating how Precision Tillage Affects Roots, year after year - June 14, 2011! Agronomist/soil scientist Mike Petersen is on the Orthman Research Farm this week with his sidekick Jake, digging pits and doing root studies on 18 different corn hybrids in multiple locations. He's evaluating nodes and root numbers, size, plant height, leaf stage and root depth. Then he'll analyze the differences among them to help ascertain for the Seed Companies what varieties the sales rep's promote is the right one with your soils, your availability to water, fertility and management. Exciting? For Mike, it is! :) Being knowledgeable of what happens below ground is vital to understanding what is being displayed by the above ground green portion of the plant and ultimately the yield. Mike says he will get a preliminary report available soon.
	6/6/2011 The heat is on! The corn likes it, but that's about it. And, these summer-like temps are BAKING the south and midwest. Pictured is one of our test plots, testing some different hybrids, dry fertilizer techniques, and strip-till procedure/timing tests.
	6/2/2011 Majestic, powerful... and scary Mother Nature has certainly shown her power this spring, and our thoughts and prayers are with all those whose lives have been forever altered. From Massachusetts to Missouri, the flooded Mississippi Delta to the parched Texas plains - hang in there!
	5/27/2011 Beans are on the way! After several days of overcast - and not a little rain (about 3" over the last few days), the sun is shining and it's a beautiful spring day on the Orthman Research Farm. A quick check of the north and south bean fields show emergence just starting.
	5/18/2011 Soybeans are in ... All's well! We at the Orthman Farm finished getting the soybean plots and bulk beans planted for the 2011 season. This year we are trying a few tricks to the trade to reach the goal of 100 bu/ac soybeans in the Platte River Valley with the excellent start of a proper strip-till seedbed and precision placed fertilizers. We know it has been done in the Valley in 2010 with strip-till, so we said "Why not at Orthman?" Our first corn we planted on May 4th is coming through as are our neighbors corn. Let's vote for a nice rain which is forcasted.
	5/16/2011 New efforts with UN-L Extension UN-L Extension Service scientists provide the new challenges and efforts in Western Corn Belt irrigation management to Orthman Manufacturing at the research pivots north of Brule, Nebraska. Dr. Waller, UN-L is in the center of the photo with Orthman's John McCoy just to his left as Bob Klein explains. Orthman Manufacturing, Inc is providing a 1tRIPr toolbar and support for work the scientists at Brule and North Platte will be carrying out for conserving water in irrigated crops of the area and west.
	5/12/2011 Waitin' on the corn The Orthman Research Farm caught only a sprinkle last night. The clouds are ominous here in early afternoon, with a chance of rain tonight and tomorrow. A lot of corn has been put in the ground in the last week, that's for sure!
	5/7/2011 Orthman Research Farm Wraps Up Planting - 5/07/11 Going until sunset is sometimes the days work schedule for the American farmer wanting to get his/her corn in the ground. We finalized Friday morning 5/06/11 with 87 different plots across the entire farm. This year we have entered the National Corn growers Yield Contest with an 11.9 acre plot using a top notch hybrid. We look forward to a great year without hail. Stop in and visit with the guys in the Sales Office or chat with Mike Petersen our Agronomist to hear what challenging items are being studied this year which will interest you as to the factors that Strip-Till can play a significant role in your farming. Tons of Thanks go to Brent and BJ for "getting 'er done".
	5/4/2011 We're finally planting! Of course, Mike's elbows deep in the dirt again, checking for 7-1/4" seed spacing and checking soil temps up and down the row. He's happy now, and the Precision Farming process is at full steam for the 2011 season. See more at Facebook.com/OrthmanAg (plus vote on whether you prefer planting or harvest!
	4/26/2011 Sewing the seeds of precision tillage After many days of hit-and-miss rain and cool weather, we're still chomping at the bit to get into the field. And, this cool spring is a great analogy to where we are with getting the precision tillage "seed" put into the agriculture "field." We took a stride forward, though � 8 years of research with Mike Petersen and Jeff Tichota summarized into one PDF. The benefits of strip-tillage are obvious in this summary, and it's good to know those hours of digging, sweating, analyzing, and studying are starting to pay off! View the summary in the Articles section, right.
	4/20/2011 RowCommand system installed on research planter The sun FINALLY came out today at the Orthman Research Farm, and though it isn't expected to last long, service tech Brent Kliment took advantage by throwing open the shop doors and installing a RowCommand system on the Orthman Research Farm planter. This is a simple and efficient (but also very much a PRECISION TILLAGE!) tool that stops and resumes planting at each individual box using a series of individual clutches. RowCommand is available from John Deere as a factory-installed option or as a field-conversion.
	4/13/2011 Orthman Resarch Team Creates Beautiful Strips After a few hiccups with accessing some control cables and some parts we had waited on from suppliers which happens, the team got into the field to carry out their pre-plant strip tilling operations. They are applying N-P-K-S-Zn in the strip in two locations immediately behind the shanks at 5 and 10 inches. "The soil is at a near perfect moisture content at the 9 inch level to fracture and crumble for the seedbed that we recommend. This will get us off on a right foot for 2011," Mike Petersen, Precision Tillage Agronomist with Orthman told us. He went on to say, "The soil today is so much different than when we started this field research back in 2006. Our soil tests values for organic matter has risen from 1.9% to 2.4% and on the south side it has risen from 1.9% to 2.7%. All in four years of strip-till after 50+ years of full width inversion tillage."Mike told us that the earthworm numbers are incredible this year. The Orthman Farm is changing to a much higher soil quality level than before, that is the real beauty of precision tillage Mike says. The image is 4/12/11 around 6:00pm on the Orthman Farm - getting it done!
	4/3/2011 Fall Strip-Tillage Awaits - 2011 Planting Season...First week of April 2011 Late last fall we pulled the experimental 4row 1tRIPr through our west field of the Orthman Research Farm to create locations for several studies with N-P-K applied with the pictured unit. We applied for high sustainable corn production, MAP at 290lbs/acre with the Valmar fertilizer system mounted on the 4 row Orthman 1tRIPr. It is getting more exciting for all of us that are on the research team for Orthman Manufacturing. A chance to seek sustainable high corn on corn yields that a number of growers have told us it can't be done. I disagree from all of the experience we have had in eastern Colorado and numerous other growers that have been corn-on-corn for near 50 continuous years. We shall see what advanced agronomics and top quality hybrids selected will do.
	3/22/2011 Orthman Asks the Questions and Seeks Answers with Strip-Tillage Research We at Orthman Manufacturing are dedicated to gaining data, reasons, information, and answers to the questions we get from you growers regarding the system approach of Strip-Till. This week we have sought out more involving why do specific corn and soybean hybrids respond better in a strip-till system than conventional tillage when banding of fertilizer is part of both systems. Not everything is in yet, but Mike Petersen our agronomist put together a short piece for you to read in our ARTICLES section about banding of potassium (K) and what has been the observations in the Central Corn Belt specifically Indiana. Banding has been known as a good approach to applying fertility for over 30 years. Does it fit with your fertilizer management program? Consider the opportunity to apply it right where the roots grow, maybe even using less quantity due to proximity, does banding build up the levels in zones? How can we maximize our potential in a volatile priced market with N-P-K costs rising to the moon? Mike says being precision based in how we apply and where it goes underground instead of the gamble of throwing it on top with broadcast is a very wise approach. Tools such as the Orthman 1tRIPr make this all possible besides giving you a top ranked seedbed and rooting environment. Read the article and go to the sources and gain more if you so desire folks. We want to lead you to the water - now drink!
	3/16/2011 Spring is Looking like it is tomorrow - Ready to Strip-Till? On March 16th, 2011 Mike and team went out into the fields to check on how the residue and moisture is because it is time to consider that spring strip-till operation is upon us. Soil temps are cold and the soil moisture is very wet, a few more days of this weather and we will be getting after it. Mike wanted us to say, soil samples taken? Fertilizer ordered? He just got that done here recently and felt the pangs of the big numbers going by the way of the check book. The fall strip-tilled plots Mike told us today that they looked fantastic and it will be great planting into those plots come the end of April.
	3/15/2011 March 9-11, 2011 California Conservation Tillage Workgroup Tour The three days of field visits and presentations in the Central Valley area,with the California Conservation Tillage Workgroup and Southern California Edison was an eye opening visit. We were exposed to numerous farmers that have a different mindset of using firm conservation measures that save water, save time, fuel, and manpower. With two and three crops grown in the same calendar year in the same field, wisest management they have is to employee precision tillage in their row crops. The workgroup along with Edison Power and Light advertised well ahead of time and helped obtain newsworthy speakers.
	3/3/2011 Orthman 1tRIPr Demo Near Lyon, France ... Week of February 25, 2011 On the outskirts of the city of Lyon, France we ran a demo in 2010 corn stalks and manured field on an 8th generation same family farm. The grower was very pleased with the results. Over 60 people showed up, as well as 10 students and their instructors from a local Agricultural Technical College. The glacial outwash soils, even as wet as they were worked beautifully and we showed how this system would be a benefit to these French farmers. The days before we demo'ed the 1tRIPr north of Lyon approximately 30 km to a large group of growers and showed in heavier textured soils that the 6 row strip-till operation was 6.4L/ha of fuel consumption (here in United States that is 0.7gal/ac). The grower was using the monitor from his Fendt tractor to offer that information. He expressed to us that strip-till could save him more than 50% of what he has been burning to prepare his soils for planting, he was excited and impressed. It was a pleasure to see a number of the French growers have a desire to change from the moldboard plow and multiple operations they complete every spring.
	2/1/2011 Before the Snows Hit - Precision Ag Solutions Were Strip-Tilling Vigorously Back in November the guys at Precision Ag Solutions offered a quick look at their operations and how the RTK guided 1tRIPr was working as they fertilized in the Aberdeen, SD area. *Image courtesy Of Troy McKown*: Putting on a dry product for the 2011 crop year into standing corn residue has made a number of growers look at this top notch conservation practice real hard. Those who had PAS custom strip-till in 2010 had fewer dollars invested than their normal conventional tilled ground and saw top yields in corn and soybeans. Check with the guys at Precision Ag Solutions to learn about it in Eastern South Dakota and how it could change how you farm with 1 inch accuracy and fertilizer savings. We at Orthman are very proud of their work ethic and knowledge of the systems approach. Check with Brett, Troy, Greg or Kim. Call 605.725.6999 and they'll be ready to help.
	1/15/2011 Winter...For 49 States that have Some Snow Cover For many of us we have come to think that the North Pole sank a long ways south. Snow in every state but Florida? Wow! As we get into the thought that snow is good we tend to like to play in it too. Good snow depth in many of the Western States offers promise for a full irrigation season this coming summer.
	12/9/2010 Orthman 1tRIPr That Works in Narrow Row Systems December 9th, 2010 For those of you that are desiring to strip-till in 20 and 22 inch row crops, we at Orthman Manufacturing are "good to go" to have a tool that works. The growers in Texas and Idaho raising 20 inch corn and 22 inch sugarbeets are some of the first using these setback attachments and really liking their results. This image is a brand new 12 row 22 inch machine in the Campbell Tractor shop ready to go to the field. The growers that have used this machine are very pleased with their strips after small grain and sugarbeets did well even with the tough, cold year of 2010 in Idaho. Please get in touch with an Orthman rep or Orthman dealer to give you the information regarding these attachments in a narrow row scenario. Strip-till protects from damaging winds in the Snake River region and less replanting of sugarbeets has to be done which means dollar savings.
	11/17/2010 Cotton Harvest in High Plains of Texas - Strip-Till is the Difference A good customer of Orthman equipment reported in to let us know his cotton production this year has made some very good yields. His strip-tillage system with the Orthman 1tRIPr is contributing greatly to his 2010 successful crop. Look for yourself. Mr. Steve Olson is improving his overall farm management each year in cotton and corn and he says strip-till is right at the root of the success. Photo courtesy of Steve Olson
	11/9/2010 Testing out Fall Strip-Till and Dry Fertilizer Application for 2011 Fall activity has been like a beehive at the Orthman Research Farm this month. As we looked ahead into the 2011 year and with the many requests to study the effects of dry fertilizer applied with a 1tRIPr - we got 'er in the ground. Brent, BJ, and Warren all got access to our "Mexican machine" we fondly call and applied dry products for the phosphorus needs with some nitrogen. The study is approximately 4.9 acres in size and we'll track the progress with updates as the year goes along.
	10/31/2010 Fall Strip-Till from our Partners in South Dakota Get'Er Done! Our friends up north in NE South Dakota where corn harvest is winding down, farmers are getting into their fields and getting some much wanted tillage for 2011 season. The guys at Precision Ag Solutions are enjoying some great opportunities to till their customers fields in preparation for 2011. Going through heavy residue like seen in the picture taken a few days ago, the men said it was just like the doctor ordered. Courtesy: Precision Ag Solutions
	10/8/2010 Finished Harvest at Orthman Research Farm 8th day October, 2010 Right at high noon we made the last turn with the combine and finished the last corn plot for the 2010 season. The weather has never been this nice in the years we have grown crops for the Orthman Manufacturing, Inc facility. Last year we experienced -20 degrees F. and felt cold seep into our bones. Preliminary soybean results are 46 bpa at the low and 79bpa for the high. Average was in the upper 60 bpa range on the Orthman Farm. Corn yield we are now calculating as we write this. The 2010 year was not kind to most growers due to the extra rainy and wet soil conditions long into the season. With over 15 inches falling in a 40 day period early this summer the corn needed snorkel tubes and a Geiger counter to find where the N leached to. Roots had a struggle as we have reported before, the access to N was late because of its deep movement during the rains. So when the roots reached into the "N pool" we saw a lot of yellow corn and stunting effect. We are seeing it in the ear size and yield. The corn at the Orthman Farm is heavy 59 to 62lbs per bushel and 12.2 to 14% moisture. We are pleased with kernel condition and weight, yes we realize that the bushel per acre farm yield is shy of last year by 27.5%. Poor little ole plants were wet and cold for so long, no wonder we are down. This is prevalent all across the Corn Belt. We will get everyone that monitors our web site a report of the results as soon as possible on this webpage. Thanks for keeping tract. Photo courtesy of Mike P.
	9/18/2010 Husker Harvest Days - 2010 Signals the Time of Harvest is Near! During the week of September 13-16th the finicky Nebraska weather made the freshly combined field where we all were to run the demonstrations a bit trying. With some adjustments we ran and did fantastic showing the versatility and capabilities of the Orthman 1tRIPr. The heavy residue did not stop us from going right through and making perfect strips that growers stated "we could plant into these" words. Crowds were excellent all three days and the people coming to demo's were well pleased. The picture to the left is our 1tRIPr pulling through the freshly combined corn in the HHD field. Doing just like it is supposed to! Mike Petersen, our agronomist is heading to South Africa (9/20-27/2010) to work with growers and our Orthman dealer to provide assistance as strip-till is gaining with growers. Watch for an update from him soon.
	9/4/2010 As Summer Retreats to Harvest Time ... A Different Perspective is Appreciated! After a wonderful cool week on the Oregon Coast it is time to reflect and consider the wondrous beauty our Nation has to offer us all. To consider these men and women who manned the lighthouses in the 1880's to early 1900's gave a great deal to keep mariners and the coast safe. Another small portion of why America is such a great place to live.
	8/20/2010 Latest Demo - South Africa Style Time Period: Aug.17-19th, 2010 Our dealer in Johannesburg area of South Africa Werner Nel had a very successful demonstration and educational day to local growers with the Orthman strip-till tool - the 1tRIPr. In this picture courtesy of Werner Nel and he tells us; The crop was corn that yielded 12t/ha (190bu/ac)under irrigation � 1st grade. 34 mm (1.3 inches)of water was put down about one week before we worked the field. Ryegrass was sown in between the corn rows but the livestock already went through the field by the time we worked it. The town where the demo was held is Ugie in the Eastern Cape Province. The day was on the farm of Rob Farrington of Farrington farms.
	8/11/2010 Widmer & Associates Field Day - Western Ohio August 11, 2010 Widmers and Orthman team up to present the case of how better fertility placement, precision tillage in the fall, and better root zones provide a farmer the edge he needs in growing corn. The Orthman 1tRIPr and Atlas lifting cart with the Valmar 6Ton stainless steel box are ready for the field day. A soil-root pit was dug and all the trimmings offered to growers in the surrounding area today. Stop and see with the Widmer group how this strip-till systems approach can make a difference for you. They are located in Gibsonburg, Ohio and have the technical means with Orthman equipment, RTK global positioning tools, variable rate technology, agronomic scouting, fertility expertise to get you on your way. The Orthman strip-till equipment sets the tone for all to work like clock work. Then it turns into music folks!
	7/14/2010 Corn is Finally Growing Despite the Wet Season .. July 14th The long range weather/climate forecasters in central Nebraska spoke of a wet spring and on into summer. That and then some is the picture and story along much of the Platte River Valley. Our agronomist, Mike Petersen is back for the second round of root studies to better weigh in on how the crops are doing. He said in many today that the amount of root development has been very minimal. The water table has remained high on the terraces of the Platte Valley which has slowed down crop growth and gaining access to nitrogen, numerous fields appear yellow green and quite irregular in height. In many parts of the Corn Belt corn farmers have tiled their fields due to consistent wet fields to have any crop whatsoever. In Central Nebraska that is not the norm, rather quite the opposite. Mike says that in the past three years tile drains would have been a good asset for farmers including the Orthman Research Farm. The corn plants he has excavated in the strip-till compared with Direct Seeded corn is taller by 8 to 15 inches, more total roots per plant and larger in diameter stalks. He said the Direct Seeded corn is trying to combat more dense soils and remaining wetter longer, having a tough go at getting caught up that it usually does about right now in July. Where the water table has dropped to 30 inches or deeper the corn is tassling and getting ready to shoot ear silk.
	6/28/2010 Early Root Studies at Lexington, Nebraska Confirm that Strip-Till has and Advantage over No-Till in Corn Rooting - June 28th, 2010 Just completed the root studies for the 25th day after emergence to observe what is happening in the two most promising tillage/planting concepts for corn farmers. We are running a myriad of plots to check out what are the differences with varying fertility levels, what products will enhance crop development, an additive from FB Sciences that stimulates roots along with fertilizers and some differing day lengths in strip-till. The No-Till is showing consistently fewer roots on the 4th node compared to the Strip-Tilled plots, 3 to 5 inches shorter in the No-Till, same Dekalb variety - all planted the same day within 30 minutes of each other, May 7th. In another variety bred in Nebraska (Excell Hybrids) the Strip-Till is also further advanced in 3rd and 4th nodal roots. Plants are 5 inches taller in strip-till and 4 inches deeper on the average over the No-Till (Direct Seeded corns). Photo - Comparison of Pre-plant fertility in foreground compared to no preplant fertility in background. Yellow color and 6 inches shorter.
	6/18/2010 Have you Considered what your Corn Roots are doing Today? June 18, 2010 Rains, sunshine, soils are warming up, fertility is in the ground, some of you have sprayed at least once and others of you are cultivating or ditching your corn for the 2010 crop year. Have you considered what is happening below that soil surface to develop the best corn crop? Here at Orthman Research Farm, Mike Petersen our Agronomist is on a mission, he is out there in the fields digging and washing roots to gauge the development of the hybrids he selected to relate the effectiveness of the strip-tillage practice. So far he has looked at just over 30 plots and he is 1/3rd done for the first set of observations. Mike is measuring the number of roots on the first through fourth nodes, depth of roots, plant dimensions, leaf stage, and plant density within rows. What has he found? We asked that question this morning and Mike paused for a second and said that the roots after all the rains are still fairly shallow but staged to go deep. Anything else? He said folks ought to be looking for node number 4 and 5, if they are developing well and reaching out. Those that planted in late April and first week or so of May should be seeing nodes 1 thru 5 developed and extending. It is important to note that getting the maximum number of roots on each node below the surface can mean more water/nutrient uptake, sugar movement up and down the plants xylem and phloem cells. Mike is finding in the strip-till plots in the better developed corn plants 30 to 32 roots on nodes 1 through 3 and 2 to 8 roots on node 4 with more to come. He says corn has the potential on nodes 2, 3, 4, 5 of developing 48-52 roots. That is one mass of roots. How does this compare to the Direct Seeded corn? Unfortunately the corn plants are not as far along due to the colder and wetter soil conditions. The plants are 3 to 7 inches shorter, V6 to V7 leaf stage and finding node 3 roots developing. Yes they will catch up he says, however right now corn planted late April to early May should be setting roots on node 5. Corn here at the Orthman Farm got planted May 6th - May 13th due to slow downs with intermittent rain showers.
	5/26/2010 A Wind Generator/Turbine and Spring Thunderstorm .. May 26th, 2010 After a journey to the Panhandle of Nebraska for a Univ. of Nebraska Extension Service Field Day/Demo of Strip-Tillage tools on Narrow Row configuration for the Sugar beet growers of Western Sugar we stopped in far NE Colorado to capture this scene. On the High Plains Peetz Table is a large group of wind turbines generating electricity for the Western electrical power grid. Image - Courtesy Mike Petersen, Orthman
	5/18/2010 In South Africa the Orthman 1tRIPr is a Hit! Farmers in South Africa are turning their heads for a second look as they see the Orthman 1tRIPr Strip-Till Tool work. Werner Nels the man in the Orthman baseball cap and sunglasses explains the functionality of the 1tRIPr to his fellow countrymen at a big Farm Show this week. This pre-plant tillage tool makes sense here in the United States and also in South Africa.
	5/10/2010 2010 Corn at Orthman Research Farm is Planted...May 14th, 2010 After the rains, some normal little issues of equipment like any other farm operation - we got all the corn seed in the ground and rounded out with 80+ plots. Soybeans will be next but the soil temperatures are way too cold yet, hovering in the upper 2 inches at 56 to 58 degrees F and at 4 inches it is 52 to 54 degrees F. Warmer temperatures are promised and we should be able to get the seed in the ground by May 21st. We went up north to southern portions of North Dakota and saw corn still in the field standing not harvested from 2009 folks. We feel horrible for those folks. Every field is saturated and standing water is prevalent everywhere.
	5/3/2010 May 3rd, 2010 Finished Strip-Tilling & Placing Fertilizer The Research Team at the Orthman Research Farm today wrapped up the application of precision placing fertility in two locations in the strip to better feed the forthcoming corn crop. Planting is next and we are all excited to get this year rolling. In this picture we are going through 2009 corn residue that yielded 235-250bpa corn. We left the stalks 16 to 22" tall which really helps with keeping the tractor tires from wearing and getting chewed up.
	4/24/2010 April 24th, 2010... We Caught Two Days to Strip-Till With a long winter, lots of snow, a wet spring and not enough sunny days it is a challenge to catch the right conditions to place nutrition and strip-till. We are sure that you are finding similar conditions. The days of April 20 and 21, we loaded fertilizer products and got after it. Then as we were challenging the clouds on Thursday, they opened up and stopped all activity. Hmmmmmmm! We need one more good day, next week? The Orthman Research Farm will be looking at numerous trials this year: weak vs. strong rooting type corn varieties, differing fertilizer application timings and amounts, nematode resistant varieties, seed coatings and day length. We have some fertilizer types and timing trials in soybeans this year. Please stop in and see us.
	4/12/2010 It's April 16th, 2010 ... Are you counting the days to plant? This image excites many of us to smell the soil, walk across residue, cool mornings, lining up the seedcorn, checking the list and where we want to plant XYZ hybrid doesn't it. Well Mike Petersen our Agronomist has written some valuable pieces this week: one on floppy corn or rootless corn syndrome and that doing a proper planting job of that corn whether in disked ground or strip-till is still very important. The second is the 4th article in his series of four referring to what was observed and concluded at the Orthman Research Farm in 2009. Both are in the ARTICLES section! We suggest you take a few moments read or download and catch the info later.
	4/6/2010 It is Spring! Which one is Ready to Plant? Images of the strip-tilled field on the left ready to go and the moldboard plow guy (on the right) in wet sticky soils with at least 4 more operations to get ready! Strip-till has the greater chance to save fuel, time, trips, dollars and allow one to be ready to plant On Time! Please Compare!
	3/23/2010 Soil Samples Tell Us Good News! Got the results from our sampling. Our findings verified that we have changed 8 sites out of 9 upward on soil organic matter (SOM) for the surface 4 inches. Two years ago our SOM was running 1.7 to 2.7 depending upon where we were on the field. Today with continuous strip-tilled corn we jumped up at the lowest 2.0 to a high of 3.5%. As said, one site where we have a corn-soybean rotation, SOM dropped to 2.1% and was 2.2% 2 years earlier. All other sites changed 0.1 to 0.2% each year which is what we expect in continuous corn. Carbon sequestration and carbon crediting is a viable thing with strip-till folks. It does work!!!
	3/7/2010 More Tillage Research and Data from North Dakota We have been provided some more research that indicates strip-till is making itself known beyond the borders of North Dakota. Take a look at what happened at the Conservation Systems Research near Forman, ND in 2009 with corn following soybeans. It is working! *Image to the left*-Courtesy of Warren Coulter-SW Minnesota Also we have a new bit of news from our friends up north in Ontario where the Ontario Grain Farmer magazine and Claire Cowan put together a piece on new technology and strip-till - Orthman style. Look in our NEWS section for more.
	3/2/2010 Winter Blues Got Ya, The Oregon Coast is Waiting for Summer! Just returned from the Ohio Conservation Tillage Conference where 950+ people attended the two day event. Snow, sleet, wind and cold greeted us each day. The presenters were loaded with great facts, figures, charts and everyone went home filled with information to consider in 2010. But the feeling of spring field work seemed years away to all there. Good News! Mike Petersen our agronomist has finished the second of four articles on the results of the Orthman Research Farm in 2009 and you can read or download the report on the right side of the webpage under ARTICLES. This report is the tillage and fertility comparison studies carried out in 2009.
	2/22/2010 Winter Has Not Lost It's Grip February 22, 2010 While the latest storm dropped some more snow across the Northern Tier States and the remaining portion of the Great Plains down to almost Texas - we have put together a set of reports to inform you of the happenings at the Orthman Farm in 2009. Mike Petersen our agronomist wrote large reports for all our partners in the efforts there in December and January, he wanted to cut them back from 16 to 18 pages to 4 or 5. So here the first one is ready for your reading. We hope you will enjoy all four of them. It is our intention to publish each report in a four week time period. Watch for them all! The image is near Sibley, Iowa on January 28, 2010
	2/13/2010 2010 Nat'l Farm Machinery Show - Louisville, KY Crowds were reaching 75,000 each day at the 2010 NFMS version 2010. Amazing crowds and loads of interest in what is happening with the rapidly changing face of Agriculture. Seminars were held each day to inform and bring people up to date. We of Orthman Manufacturing gave two seminars in the Implement Guidance seminar and also the Strip-Till/Zone Till Seminars. Loads of questions and interest.
	2/4/2010 A New Way.... Feb. 4th, 2010 Sano Farms Strip-Till Tomatoes in Central Valley, Calif. Dr. Jeff Mitchell working with the Sano Farms, together they are getting into a better managed crop of tomatoes to reduce input costs, reduce PM10 concerns, retain residue for organic matter, reduce fuel costs and maintain excellent yields. Keep watch of this operation for it meets many grower needs: fertility concerns, erosion issues, PM10 issues, input costs, labor, water savings, and so on. California farmers are being watched intensely to what their operations can be and what they may not. The maximum tillage of the past is being challenged and changed. The folks at Sano Farms are innovative and making a difference. Photo and info courtesy of J. Mitchell & Sano Farms
	1/28/2010 Minnesota With Snowed in Corn January 28, 2010 Returning from the Minnesota Conservation Tillage Conference held in Jackpot Pct, MN we saw some of the remnants of the corn yet to be harvested in snow. 2009 is a year many growers want to close the book on and say whew! We feel bad for this guy. We saw 20-24" on the ground and drifts 5 to 8 ft.
	1/24/2010 Winters Grip! Under that snow Strip-Till is beautiful! Even with snow blanketing the landscape from the Intermountain West to the Eastern CornBelt, we know for those lucky souls that got some Strip-Tilling done last fall, the soil conditions will be super come planting time this 2010 season. Here in the Blackfoot, ID area this field to be sugar beets for 2010 will be everything this growers wants for his planting. We know strip-till offers great gains in moisture absorbtion when the snow melts and seeps into the ground to fill the lower portions of the soil profile that feeds the sugar beet taproot late in the season.
	1/21/2010 The 2010 AG CONNECT SHOW in Orlando, FL was a Success! FEMA co-sponsored this event to entice international farm machinery manufacturers to come over to the U.S. and show their products and share ideas. We at Orthman Mfg. were there to be part of the event. Growers and rep's from Canada, France, Brazil, Italy, Argentina, U.K., Germany and others were there. The picture you see is from the beach at sunset near Cape Canaveral after a full day at the show.
	12/19/2009 Orthman Research Farm Tells of a Portion of the 63 Plots Results Our Agronomist Mike Petersen is tallying up the results and wanted to give you a bit of the news. Look off to the right in the NEWS section. Keep watching for more complete reporting of the results from our fertilizer comparisons, tillage comparisons, day length comparisons and more. We will get them out in short readable reports that will tell of the good news with Strip-Till the 1tRIPr method.
	11/25/2009 Corn Harvest At Orthman Research Farm Wrapped Up on 12/07/09 As we finished shivering through the cold Arctic air blast with dry corn we shouted to one another Hoorah! At the Orthman Farm in 62 actual plots we averaged over 220 bu/acre. High was 258bpa - low was 182 bpa in the irrigated corn and the top yield in the dryland plots went 158bpa. We planted 105 to 113 relative maturity corn varieties in those 62 plots. In photo: Mark Griffith our Farm Director is finishing up a plot with varying fertility rates in 108 day corn.
	10/24/2009 Sunbelt Farm Expo and Peanut Harvest Time in Georgia During the week of October 20th, 2009 the Sunbelt Expo took place for the 32nd time. Due to some wet weather as of late the peanut harvest has been slowed considerably. While we were there we stopped to watch a peanut harvest operation. Strip-Till is gaining familiarity with the peanut growers. Researchers in Georgia and Alabama have accomplished some very interesting results with strip-till bumping yields upwards of 10% and more.
	10/15/2009 10/15/2009.......Orthman's Root Digs Find that Precision Placement Makes Big Difference While excavating in the rain and then sunshine today (10/15) the precise placement of nutrients with the strip-till implement in the irrigated corn fields of the Platte River Valley-Nebraska,we have seen deeper maximum extension of the corn and soybean roots. How much more you ask? When placing a portion of the total N-P-K nutrients In-Furrow and at 4" and 9" depths compared to checks - roots are 18 to 36% deeper. Our different checks are without pre-plant N-P-K but In-Furrow products and pre-plant N-P-K without In-Furrow. These are all strip-tilled and with precise placements showing improvements. Pulling back ear shucks we are seeing 70 to 150 more kernels per corn cob. At 29,000 final plant population, that is approx. 22 to 48 bpa increases in yield potential. But folks we are 25 days away from putting the combine in the field. All indications are smiles on the horizon. Keep watching and we will let you know of the lie detectors findings. ***Picture of the combine is all of our hopes to soon happen before Saint Nick comes.
	10/13/2009 10/13/09 ... It's Root Diggin' Time at Orthman Research Farm If it is wet, cold, and miserable in Central Nebraska it must be time for Mike Petersen to go out measure, count, dig roots, and play in the mud. Today was no exception to the norm for when we have the days to dig - Mike is here and getting brown and muddy. Just like a kid, but this guy says it is great! The root digs he told us are coming up with interesting results with facts that the cool, wet season was detrimental to the Direct Seeded corn. The strip-till corn shows a distinct advantage to root development, corn ear size, kernel maturity, and population of the corn crop. In the various fertilizer treatments, the rooting profiles Mike explained to us are showing very positive results compared to the check plots. As the data comes in and Mike summarizes he will be getting a report here on the Precision Tillage website. The differences between strip-till and Direct Seeded in rooting depth is 16 to 29% deeper for the strip-tilled. Above ground, the corn looked slightly smaller in diameter, it was 1 to 2 fewer leaves in stature in the Direct Seeded but about the same height. Kernel count per ear in the Direct Seeded was off by 56 to 176 kernels compared to the Strip-Till. When the "lie detector" goes through the field we will know the real numbers come first of next month - we hope!
	10/2/2009 You've Waited for Part III Article on Soil Compaction Effects - 10/02/09 Soils should be treated as a tremendous resource, even under our best intentions, soil and the life in soil takes a tumble. Mike Petersen has finished the last of the series on Compaction effects. This article is concentrating on specific points to consider what happens to soil biology. Take a look in our ARTICLES section and read or download it for reading at another time. Photo: Courtesy Michigan State Univ.
	9/21/2009 Husker Harvest was Big for Orthman Manufacturing! With the advent of our Nebraska debut of highlighting the new John Deere Integral toolbars with Pro Planting units, the growers were coming by and talking excitedly about the next season. We polished up our 24row-30" CCS planter and a 16row-40" CCS planter for the three day show. These units attracted a crowd for sure. It is our pleasure to get you the tools you've been thinking about that will set your management at the forefront. Chat with your Orthman representative or your Deere seeding specialists - see if we can link up the right integral or 3 point tools for you.
	9/12/2009 The 32nd Annual Show - Husker Harvest 2009 The Time is Here! The week for Husker Harvest Days is upon us. The largest show specializing in what is happening in the world of Irrigated Agriculture in the U.S. starts Tuesday September 15th. Come and see what Orthman Mfg. has to offer and the other 500+ vendors.
	8/28/2009 8/27/09 - Amalgamated Sugar - Southern Idaho Features Strip-Till Along with 4 other manufacturers Orthman featured our '09 12 row-22" unit in barley stubble for the 220+ growers that braved the Idaho 90+ degrees day. The differences were shown in the seedbed preparation, illustrated the vertical tillage, spoke to the fertilizer placement potentials and how this approach works in growers crop rotations. A good day!
	8/16/2009 Colorado State University Teams Up with Ag Industry - August 14, 2009 Colorado State Univ. is conducting a 3 year demonstration study which is farmer based,looking at which system will work the best for conservation tillage in furrow irrigated cropland. The Big Thompson and Ft. Collins Conservation Districts, USDA-NRCS, USDA-ARS, Orthman Manufacturing, Schlagel Manufacturing, and Colorado Equipment have joined forces to educate growers in Northern Colorado along the Front Range. A field day was held Friday August 14th, 2009 to launch the first major look at what has happened this season. "Turn out was slight but we spoke to the right people for the day we came for" said Todd Boldt of NRCS. Direct Seeding, Conventional till, Strip-Till and Chop and Bed systems are all segments of this study led by Dr. Neil Hansen, CSU. Come by anytime and Ted Acton, ARDEC Director and the men at ARDEC will be glad to show you what is happening to the continuous corn plots. This soil pit was one of the stops on the tour of the day. Orthman's Agronomist Mike Petersen put on an in-depth presentation depicting the strip-till corn (on the left and the conventional till corn on the right). The differences were quite evident even though the corn above ground looked much the same. It was said by several participants,"Mike, the guy in the soil pit helped put all what the scientists spoke of in perspective earlier in the day, I really appreciate that at a event like this one."
	8/10/2009 August 10th -- Field Days and Farm Shows - It's Time! Orthman Manufacturing, Inc is into full swing with the late summer shows and field days to present what we have for growers. This field day was in Central Illinois with our rep's at the Todd Mooberry Farm. Good turnout on a lovely evening for growers to see and hear about the Precision Tillage approach.
	7/28/2009 Fall Strip-Till vs. No-Till in NE South Dakota... July 25th, 2009 The men at Precision Ag Solutions are proving that a top notch seedbed, accurate placement of fertility, better tillage for soil-to-seed contact,and a robust rooting system is the real thing. This plot east of Aberdeen was all planted the 2nd of May and the Strip-Till on the right side of the image is what farmers are looking for in 95 day corn. Greg and Troy say come by and see what a joint effort of tillage, precision placement and a smart fertilizer program can do. Photo Courtesy: Precision Ag Solutions
	7/14/2009 55 Days after emergence - Serious Differences with Root Development Considering root development and the potential roots can have with a good versus excellent crop - we have reaffirmed with better nutrient management and a proper tillage management program we can dramatically improve yields getting roots to go deep as possible early on. The image we are portraying is from our Orthman Research Farm and it reflects what tillage and fertility placement can offer you the grower.
	6/25/2009 CSU Strip-Till Comparison Demo Plots Are Taking Off! Colorado State University is involved with ag industry, farmers, seed companies, CSU Extension Service-Larimer Co., and USDA-NRCS to demonstrate the options of strip-till, minimum mulch till, and a conventional tillage system in furrow irrigated continuous corn. These demonstration plots under the guidance of Dr. Niel Hansen-CSU says they are open to the public to see what can and will work in order to save input costs, follow the time inputs, save energy, be compatible with furrow-gravity irrigation methods, and keep up a very profitable yield. Ted Acton, Farm and Research Director at ARDEC is happy to announce a field day to more fully explain and help others explore what all of us are studying at ARDEC. August 14th, 2009 please come by. Activities and speakers will start at 10:00am with a lunch at 12:00pm. It is well worth your time folks! Image shows strip-till plot and on the far right is the mulch tillage plot.
	6/16/2009 June Root Studies at 25 Days After Emergence As you look at these roots from a Pioneer hybrid, these exemplify the pronounced improvement in root mass, length, and number with third year strip till compared to second year No-Till. Both received 'In-Furrow' same amount of fertilizer at planting. Another tell-tale sign that strip-till is a benefit and will be of help to that early growth. Strip-till plant is on the left side of the image, no-till on the right, planted within 30 minutes of each other. Photo Courtesy: Mark Griffith
	6/4/2009 Strip-Tilling with Dry Edible Beans to Follow Triticale Haylage Steve & Doug Huettig in the Heyburn, Idaho area are making the 1tRIPr part of their farming system work for dry edibles into Triticale they cut for hay products. Photo courtesy: Doug Huettig
	5/28/2009 NDSU Long Term Strip-Till Study Shines for 2009 Oakes Research Station Farm Manager Walt Albus reports that the long term research corn-on-corn plots are well on their way. This image is after emergence the last week of May 2009. Photo courtesy; Walt Albus
	5/11/2009 California Strip-Tills - R. Iest Dairy Farms Strip-tilling after wheat for haylage Iest Dairy Farm has discovered the way to manage their next crop to corn with the Best Management Practice using the 1tRIPr System. Yes you counted right - there is 16! Photo Courtesy - Matt Delahanty
	4/29/2009 Implement Steering on 1tRIPr in Steep Country April 23rd, 2009 Our guys from Orthman are giving the Trimble RTK guided tractor a real test with the Orthman RTK Tracker Steered 1tRIPr. The strip-tilling and precision placing fertilizing is in a field with 7 to 15% slopes near Broken Bow, NE Photo courtesy Mark Griffith
	4/25/2009 On April 23rd; Precision Tillage & Implement Steering - ABSOLUTELY!! Mark Griffith, Orthman Mfg is really needing the precision of Implement Steering which is connected to this MX 275 Case-IH Tractor w/RTK guidance. When running in steep slopes, heavy residue, intense pitch & yaw; the Implement steering keeps it right on the money. Following this 8row 1tRIPr will be a 12 row planter with Implement steering also. We know it is an abolute necessary method to farm in rough ground. Check it out!
	4/10/2009 Longs Peak Sparkles in Mid-day Sun For Northern Colorado this 14'er stands nearly 8500ft above the Plains. Snow is melting slowly and tells us that Summer is coming! Looking from NE of Ft. Collins, CO which is about 5 miles to the WSW from this picture location.
	3/25/2009 March 2009 - Fall Laid 1tRIPr Strips in NW Indiana This field in NW Indiana was strip-tilled by the Orthman 1tRIPr in the late fall of 2008. Late winter rains were soaked in and very little if any ranoff. This field is ready to plant. Darker area in picture is a soil mapping unit change. Looking east!
	3/12/2009 From Central California To Your Local Grocer *March 11, 2099* A beautiful romaine lettuce field, tilled and planted with GPS guidance. This field was 80 acres in size south of Five Points, CA. This area is experiencing a severe cutback in irrigation water due to the low snowpack in the mountains. Enjoy your salad tonite.
	3/5/2009 Late Winter Sunset On I-80 Westbound Returning home from Central Iowa and we are heading west towards Lexington, Nebraska - the late winter sunset captured our attention as a passenger in the front seat. March 5th, 2009
	1/25/2009 Eastern Colorado Snowstorm Effects Along the east-west Colorado railway, the tracks in and out of the country roads have a beauty all of its own. Looking forward to spring. Courtesy Decarli.com image
	1/12/2009 Narrow Row (22in.) Strip-Till Following Wheat - In Idaho January 8, 2009 Near Hazelton, Idaho on the Snake River Plains a pair of brothers are getting started with their 1tRIPr strip tilling. Narrow row farming of sugar beets and corn production gives growers a challenge to prepare their fields for the 2009 crop. These men are getting it done. It works here and in the Yellowstone River Valley in Montana giving farmers relief in their inputs and provides great protection to crops from wind erosion and holds onto snow for spring moisture.
	1/4/2009 Winter, Even in the Cold Offers Beauty This scene from Custer County, Nebraska depicts a time of day when we all head indoors for a time to relax and be with family. Our hope is 2009 is a year better than what we have seen in the past. *Happy New Year Everyone!!*
	12/22/2008 Late Fall Strip-Till Before the Snow and Cold We at Orthman got some 22 acres run over with the 1tRIPr to make observations on how fall strip-till works in the Central Platte River Valley of Nebraska. This tillage pass was into 40 bu/ac soybean stubble and left over residue from 2007 corn.
	11/19/2008 Eaton, CO farmer uses 1tRIPr in 22 inch row spacing after heavy corn November 17, 2008 In Colorado we are working a demo machine 1tRIPr to see how 200+ bu/acre corn residue works in the narrow spacings. With corn stalks dry and soil moisture near perfect the machine walked through the heavy residue at 5 mph with no plugging problems whatsoever.
	11/8/2008 Fall Strip-Tilling Soybeans for 2009 We at the Orthman Research Farm finished our portion of the farm fall strip-till operations. Working in soybean stubble for the 2009 corn crop. We observed the earthworm population to be three and four times more than the summer of 2006. Soil porosity will be measured in 2009 along with other soil quality characteristics at the farm.
	10/8/2008 This Brightens Up Anyones Day! The mountains of Colorado can deliver some vibrant colors. Enjoy!
	9/18/2008 Orthman Agronomist Goes Underground Mike Petersen, our agronomist is digging again to better determine what happened below the soil surface in our corn fields at the Orthman Research Farm. This year has been cool, wet and shy of heat units - Mike is looking to see what happened to the root systems. Take a look at the image and check out the multiple roots growing down an old decaying root from 2007.
	8/15/2008 Newest Addition to Orthman 1tRIPr System Orthman is happy to present its newest edition that rolled out of the factory doors this week 8/13/2008. A track option for the cart to carry the Valmar 6ton capacity dry fertilizer system. Here you see the ready to go to the field unit with an 8-row folding 1tRIPr. Courtesy: Mark Griffith
	8/12/2008 Central Indiana - Becks Seed Company's Practical Farming Strip-Till Plots Becks Hybrids, headquarters near Atlanta, IN; a well know family owned business of Indiana are growing corn and soybeans in plots comparing conventional tillage against strip-till. Orthman Mfg is working with Becks in this study. Becks invites people to stop by and visit their studies and see how hybrids are maturing in their practical farming methods.
	7/24/2008 An Evening Thunderhead Cloud, July 24th To the west of our Research Farm near Lexington, Nebraska this sunset was spectacular.
	7/16/2008 Northeast Indiana Growers See 1tRIPr Work in Stubble and Hidden Rocks July 16th, 2008 The Daugherty Companies out of Warren, IN demonstrated the versatility and functionality of the 1tRIPr-AR just a few miles south of Warren and west. Strip-tillage is a new concept on how it will function for the corn-soybean farmer and the continuous Corn grower. Daugherty and Orthman Mfg teamed up to demonstrate this tool made with rock protection have succeeded in showing how this machine works in clayey textured soils and rocks/stones the size of rugby balls and larger.
	6/24/2008 Orthman Sales Team Takes Strip-Tillage to Sinoloa, Mexico A small team of men from Nebraska hosted by MATCO representatives out of Culiacan, Mexico. We met with growers in the Culiacan region to see how their farming practices and strip-till can benefit them and their methods. We were very well received and numerous growers want to try the strip-till system. White corn is the greatest percentage of the acreage of what they grow in Sinoloa.
	5/21/2008 Planting After Strip-Till In Heavy '07 Wheat Stubble in South Central Nebraska Warren Coulter who works for Orthman is planting grain sorghum into strip-tilled wheat stubble that went 60 bu/acre+. Good start for dryland sorghum in such an environment. Photo courtesy - Mark Griffith
	5/18/2008 NDSU Agronomist Investigates Strip-Till Walt Albus with NDSU checks one of his fields how the corn is emerging placed into a strip-tilled field. NDSU at the Oakes Site is carrying out new research to study how strip-till can be useful to the North Dakotan growers. Orthman is settling on an agreement to assist with a 3 yr. research and outreach project. We returned from up north working with Walt Albus and other NDSU officials.
	5/4/2008 Applying Manure is Labor Intensive in Corn Fields in Romania J. Colville captures a chore that many of us dispise when cleaning out pens and applying manure. Hauled into piles and then spread with pitchforks manure is a premium for most Romanian farmers. My friend was in eastern Europe in late winter/early spring traveling this year and captured this image.
	4/30/2008 Most Days Can Settle Like This One! A spring sunset on the North Platte River to remember how a day should close and give us a sense of peace. Image courtesy: Kati Griffith
	4/25/2008 Dealers from South of the Border Visit Two gentlemen who represent MATCO Catepillar and Challenger came to visit Orthman Manufacturing, Inc April 22-23, 2008. These men were able to see the 1tRIPr in action and Implement guidance by Trimble. Photo:courtesy Justin Troudt
	4/22/2008 Orthman Practices What We Preach South of Arapahoe, NE we are practicing the precision fertilizer application, tilling a narrow 9 inch band, disrupting a compacted soil profile in the 2007 65-70bu/ac wheat crop for 2008 dryland corn. Soils are 49-50 degrees F. and will warm up quickly with the exposed tilled area. Soil between the stripped zone is left untouched, keeping residues attached, covering the ground for spring and summer rains to soak in, shade the soils and prevent wind/water erosion. All the while using 1 operation at 1.3 to 1.7gal/acre diesel fuel to prepare the seedbed, fertilize and allow vertical soil disturbance for deeper root growth in this dryland field. Check with your Orthman dealer or rep to get a better idea of the system.
	4/15/2008 Colorado State University Has Great Success at Strip-Tilling CSU uses their 1tRIPr for seedbed preparation for crops into a cover crop of clover. This research project is in the Grand Valley near Grand Junction, Colorado. Image courtesy: Dr.Neil Hansen, CSU
	4/10/2008 STONEHENGE A good friend now passed on sent this to me before he died. Quite a place that has stood before time and thwarted many a man's mind of Why?
	3/27/2008 Good Deal on Old Tractor? A very good friend on her travels in Europe, Hungary and Romania thought this would appeal to some of us. This is an implement dealer in Hungary and his line up of farm machinery. Courtesy of J. Colville
	3/19/2008 Growers in the Yellowstone River Valley - Do A Taste Test for Strip-Till 3/19/2008 NRCS and two Montana Conservation Districts join forces to bring new information from research in strip-till out of the West (Sydney, MT and Colorado) to help sugar beet and corn growers in the Yellowstone valley west of Billings, MT. Our men Doug Peterson and Mike Petersen presented the good news for Orthman. 45+ growers enjoyed a pleasant last day of winter to see and hear what strip-till can do for them. We, Orthman Mfg., and Schlagel demonstrated in this corn field near Laurel, MT.
	3/12/2008 Spring Is In The Air! The Irrigation Research Foundation near Yuma, Colorado held their late winter Ride 'n Drive clinic (3/11/2008) for Orthman Mfg, Inc., CNH/Brothers Equipment, MV Equipment-Yuma, Auto-Farm and Trimble Navigation to show what's new for the 2008 season. In the picture (kneeling) is Doug Peterson with Orthman offering the advantages of what the Orthman 1tRIPr does for fertilizer placement and seedbed preparation. The soil worked up beautifully, but icy cold. Frost is almost all out of the ground.
	2/21/2008 New 1925 Stacker Bar for the 24 Row Market with Planters & Cultivators Orthman Manufacturing releases a peek at the large toolbar market folks! It is good for the 60 ft. toolbar customer who wants pull-type tools. This cool unit went north of Lexington, Nebraska to Broken Bow for a customer to attach 24-planter units. Photo courtesy of Mark Griffith
	1/7/2008 Red Sundowns Mean What for Tomorrow? In the winter months the sundowns can be rather spectacular across the Plains of Nebraska. This is one of those that bleeds across the cold winter sky as we head west on a highway outside of Broken Bow.
	12/27/2007 Mt.Sneffels Range Shines Bright This photo from just north of Montrose, Colorado looking southwest to the big mountains in the SW corner of Colorado is a great backdrop for those farmers on the Uncompaghre Plateau and in the valley area of the Gunnison and Uncompaghre Rivers. Even though all of the mountains are shouldered with more white stuff - spring is around the corner.
	12/17/2007 December Cold Sunrise - Santa is Near! Cold morning and Thoughts of What 2008 will Bring! Courtesy: Mark Griffith
	12/12/2007 Imagery of A Loving Christmas Gift Even the wildlife have the right idea at this time of the year - Christmas!!
	11/1/2007 Precision Fall Fertilization After Soybeans in Ohio Mark Foster with Widmer & Associates is precisely applying fertilizers to fit a specific fertility program in the Fostoria, OH area. Trimble guidance and Orthman 1tRIPr working together for this growers 2008 upcoming crop. Courtesy Widmer & Assoc.
	10/20/2007 2007 SunBelt Expo near Moultrie, GA is a Hit Thousands of visitors came to see the 1,000+ vendors goods. Country music was played by several live groups, good food offered to all. New items were exposed from lawn mowers to the new cotton harvestors by John Deere and Case-IH. Some in-field demonstrations caught the eye of folks.
	10/3/2007 Delta Strip-Tilling As a Fall Sun Sets - October 3rd, 2007 A beautiful evening glow of the sun setting backlights a tractor. Located in the Delta of Arkansas we were finishing up a day of strip-tilling and precision placing of fertilizer for the 2008 crop. The Orthman 1tRIPr guided by Trimble RTK Implement guidance is making a great difference for precison farming in heavy 2007 corn residue.
	9/29/2007 North Dakota Badlands - A Marvelous Fall Day! Traveling to and from Dickinson, ND to eastern Montana to present information to growers in the Yellowstone Valley allowed this picture to be taken from a trail in T. Roosevelt Nat'l Park. A place that the young man of the Rough Riders enjoyed greatly. This fall day (9/28) offered a glance in that beauty.
	9/21/2007 Orthman Organizes a Successful Strip-Till Field Event Near the two soil pits used for in-field education and demonstration for what is happening with the OMI Tillage Study; Mike Petersen with Orthman on the right and Rich Peters with Channel Bio discuss their findings. Over 130 bonafide growers came 9/14/2007 to Lexington, Nebraska to see and hear what is new and changing the face of advanced agriculture. Mike, Rich Peters and Maynard Ochs of Mycogen Seeds, all spoke at the soil pits relating agronomic facts of strip-tillage in irrigated corn. Some of the information shared is found is offered to the right of this photo - Comparative Tillage Study Fall 2007 in the News sidebar Photo courtesy - John Bell
	9/14/2007 Orthman Ready for Strip-Till Field Day Case-IH combine with 8 row header harvests 97 day corn so Orthman Mfg. can demonstrate the versatility of 1tRIPr tool right after harvest. September 14th at 10:00am to 4:00pm just west of the Orthman Plant just off Rd 435 near Lexington, Nebraska the first event at the new Orthman research facility. Vendors, partners, seed companies, new equipment will be exhibited for all our guests. Soil/Root pits will have discussions as to the results of the 2007 corn crop to this date. Field demos and Trimble and AutoFarm will show their new implement steering capabilities. Come and see!
	9/6/2007 California Farmer Get's Top Performance with Strip-Till Last of August this year Tom Barcellos stands to make some great corn with conservation tillage (strip-tillage). He says it grows some tall corn.
	9/1/2007 Orthman's New Atlas Cart w/1tRIPr This is the brand new twin 500 gallon liquid Atlas Lifting Cart with an 8 row folding 1tRIPr that will be debuted at 2007 Husker Harvest Days. Come by the Orthman lot and talk to the Orthman Team about its features and possibilities on your farm. Great Versatility, 1000 gallons and Precise Placement of Fertilizer - Its Ready for 2008 Crops!
	8/30/2007 Farm Progress 2007 - Decatur, Illinois 2007 Farm Progress Show wrapped up today (8/30/07) with a great three day show and so much to see. A couple days were a little on the extra warm side but the amount of new technology for growers to learn about was phenomenal. The field demonstrations were much of what growers wanted to see, strip-till was so well visited that we run out of area to see tools pull through the field. Many new items were revealed to the public at 2007 Farm Progress. Secretary of Ag Johanns stopped by and other dignataries. Next year - Boone, Iowa.
	8/23/2007 Beauty of Oregon Coast When an evening comes to rest the sun sets over the Pacific Ocean in peace.
	8/8/2007 Kunau, Orthman and Trimble Navigation Team up well! A good crowd of farmers came and went during the August 2nd event just east of DeWitt, Iowa to see how the Trimble GPS implement guidance on the Orthman 1tRIPr strip-till tool. Farmers could drive tractors, combines, spray rigs with GPS guidance and they heard about the real benefits of precision tillage and placed fertility for growing corn in Iowa. A hearty thanks to Kunau Implement!!
	7/31/2007 Mid-West Strip-Till Expo, Waterloo, Iowa The multi-state sponsored Strip-Till Exposition was a grand success. Over 400 growers from 5 states drove into Waterloo to see and hear about Strip-Till as an answer to minimizing input costs, improving soil health, and farming with the best technology out there. Ten implement companies demonstrated in the field both in the morning and right after lunch. Researchers presented good information on the Hawkeye Community College campus. August 14th, 2007 near Fergus Falls, MN the second of these events will be held to attract Dakotan, Minnesotan farmers, and some Iowa growers.
	7/28/2007 From 27000 ft. Kansas Thunderstorm is Awe Inspiring Feeling fortunate to fly around this powerful storm over Eastern Kansas and yet capture the awesome beauty from this massive Cumulus nimbus cloud is for you to enjoy also.
	7/18/2007 Americana Thrives Daugherty's in northern Indiana strut their stuff in a Fourth of July parade.
	7/16/2007 67 inches Tall at 45 days after emergence Planted May 17,2007 This Strip-Tilled corn is up, up'n Away at the Orthman Research fields. Fertility was precisely placed in the till zone beneath the seed to best feed the crop. Strip-till corn was averaging 71 inches compared to conventionally tilled corn at 49 inches the week of July 13th, 2007
	7/5/2007 Central Nebraska Pot-a-Gold - Bin full of Corn? As today's agriculture sees corn as a golden elixir for cars, trucks and vans to keep moving powered by ethanol; this big bin is one key to the entire puzzle. There is always a promise for the good under the rainbow. Photo courtesy of John Bell
	7/3/2007 July 29th Tillage Comparison Trials Near Lexington, Nebraska Orthman trials are studying traits with two prominent seed companies and how they respond to conventional tillage and strip-tillage for 2007. In the foreground the conventional tillage corn is shorter and a little 'N' deficient compared to the strip-tilled corn which is in the background. Our fertilizer program is working and the corn will be fine. Come by and take a look, the marketing and sales team would be glad to talk to you what is happening with the study.
	6/27/2007 Sun setting over Elm Creek, NE The day of June 26th comes to a close in a red burning ball on the western horizon over a small town in the Platte River Valley of Nebraska.
	6/22/2007 Side-by-Side Comparison of Tillage Plots at Orthman Farm -- June 18th, 2007 on left is Conventional, on right Strip-Till Our plots are coming right along. Two days prior to photo, sprayed with Glyphosate product w/ Thiosulfate to accelerate weed control. Slight burn! Early next week we are measuring roots for 25-30 day root growth. You may have noticed - conventional till planted a lot of volunteer corn, strip-till very little. Keep following our progress. Photo Courtesy - Seth Fenner
	6/12/2007 Orthman Research Plots - Excellent Stand & Emergence At the Orthman Farm our plots comparing four different varieties from two prominent Corn Hybrid companies in two tillage systems are up and growing fast. In this image, we are pleased to show the excellent stand and emergence in the strip-till plots, only tillage was with the Orthman 1tRIPr and the Case-IH planter. The corn was planted May 18th, this photo was taken June 11th. Life on the farm is good! Photo Courtesy Seth Fenner
	6/8/2007 Texas Blackland Soils - Strip-Till Improves Porosity The cooperative study with Orthman, Texas A&M, and USDA-NRCS at the Stiles Research Farm - in Central Texas is taking a close-up and personal look at the soil to make measurements on soil porosity. Strip-Till, No-Till and Conventional tillage methods are being monitored for three years. You are looking at a close-up photo of the 2 to 4 inch zone of the soils in the corn-on-corn portion of the study. Numerous pores help the soil absorb water and breathe. Strip-Till and is able to absorb water 15% faster than conventional tilled corn-on-corn. The No-Till is able to absorb water 25% faster than conventional in these heavy clay textured Blacklands soils. Photo courtesy - Lori Ziehr,USDA-NRCS
	5/31/2007 Orthman Research Plot Work - It has begun! Planted on May 17th after innumerable inches of rain, clouds and nervously waiting for the ground to dry the Orthman guys have corn emerging. This year along with a 11 company variety trial showing some of their best numbers, Orthman is carrying out a tillage study with two Seed-Hybrid Companies studying effects of tillage on root distribution, physiology differences, yield and handling of rootworm pressures. Photo courtesy - Seth Fenner
	5/23/2007 Red Sky at Night - Sailors Delight Captured a true Colorado sundown across the Pawnee Grasslands near New Raymer, Colorado, May 22, 2007.
	5/15/2007 Orthman Research Farm - Strip-Till w/Trimble Guidance Adjacent to the Lexington North Plant is the newly organized research field/farm for Orthman Manufacturing. After the very wet spring, Orthman is in full swing strip-tilling utilizing Precision guidance and precise placement of fertility. Studies similar to what Orthman has been conducting at the Irrigation Research Foundation about 3 hours further west in Colorado are under way. Using Trimble implement steering tools at the RTK level of accuracy is part of the program. Come, stop by and see what the staff is doing and get a good idea of the importance of precision guidance for planting, tillage, fertility and weed control.
	5/12/2007 11 inches of Rain - Aberdeen, So.Dak Area Early May 2007 This makes one wonder if Noah's Ark is necessary. Courtesy Warren Coulter
	5/6/2007 Strip-Till Is Working Even in This Rainy Spell Placing liquid fertilizer with a 1-tRIPr near Arapahoe, Nebraska for the first time allows this grower to avoid some potential compaction. Case tractor has implement steering on 1tRIPr. Photo courtesy: Mark Griffith
	4/24/2007 Montrose, Colorado farmer goes into second year of Strip-Till Mr. Meaker used the Strip-Till system in 2006 to harvest a great crop. With his addition of making the Orthman 1-tRIPr tool a true one-pass operation in 2007, he eagerly awaits the soil temperature to allow him to go. Last year his fuel savings and yield boost in silage and corn grain has he and his wife in high hopes. Randy is one of the very first men on the Western Slope to use Strip-Till technology to raise his crops.
	4/20/2007 Irrigation Research Foundation - Ready to See What Happens Charles Corey and staff finished getting all the IRF ready for planting with the strip-till rigs. Now we wait for the soil temperature to warm up enough to plant corn. Soil temps must be 52-54 degrees for corn to germinate and begin the cycle. With the very moist conditions and cold soil, planted too early the seed coat will imbibe moisture and the seed coat would rupture and potentially rot because the roots or small plant will not grow at soil temperatures below 50. Let us all be smart and give the soil a chance to warm up.
	4/9/2007 Sunset in Western Nebraska - A Warm Glow This sunset reminds us that spring time is really coming and summer is around the corner. Orange and warmth of a summer evening eminates from this photo. Photo courtesy of John Bell
	4/6/2007 Learn a Little About Bacteria in a New Article Series This little microscopic creature lives with millions of it's buddies doing good for the plant root rhizosphere. In strip-till it all happens for you and the seeds you are about to plant.
	4/3/2007 Broken Bow, Nebraska Sunday 4/01/07 - Terrible Fire Destroys The buildings in the downtown Square area caught fire from unknown cause at this time, became a four alarm fire with numerous fire departments from surrounding communities called to help. Folks are saddened to see a landmark and their town damaged so badly with this tragedy. Our prayers are with them. Photo the Courtesy of: Mark Griffith
	4/2/2007 New Ethanol Plant in the Works - Yuma, Colorado The steady changes in the ag landscape offers another Ethanol Distillation Plant to be in production late 2007 for the western Corn Belt. This one is being built just east of Yuma, Colorado on the High Plains in the heart of Colorado's corn county.
	3/26/2007 Irrigation Research Farm Ride'N Drive Day 3/26/2007 The Irrigation Research Foundation teamed with Trimble, Red Hen Systems, AutoFarm, Case-IH, John Deere, Orthman, and Agri-Inject to offer area growers in Eastern Colorado and Western Nebraska hands-on experience with precision tillage and guidance at the RTK level. The day was a success even after a weekend of beautiful rain. Growers heard about the variances in RTK for precision tillage, fertilization and planting from the major Agricultural GPS companies including John Deere. Growers rode the machinery with rep's offering valuable information in the tractor cab. A total of 48 people partook of the days activities.
	3/17/2007 Rapid Snow Melt - Streams Overflow with Runoff As mid-March gave way to 60 degree weather, the snow melted equally as fast. Runoff has been prolific and streams are swollen. Signs of fields barren of residue? Combination of saturation and frozen ground? Something growers can minimize - yes/no?
	3/15/2007 Winter is starting to leave the Northern Corn Belt - FINALLY! After winters harsh grasp, ice and slick roads and long days standing at the window wishing for spring... there is melting and water and mud!
	3/1/2007 Orthman 1-tRIPr Strip-Till in the Delta In the Delta, Orthman Mfg., Inc and Taylor Farms are joining efforts to study the season of corn following 2006 cotton near Helena, Arkansas. A triticale cover crop was drilled into the furrows for erosion protection. Mr. Taylor is placing fertilizer in two locations below where the seed will be planted with the 1tRIPr to precisely feed the forthcoming corn crop in a supplemental irrigated field. Follow along with Mr. Taylors' progress as this systems approach maximizes his 2007 corn crop. Watch right here on Precision Tillage.com. We will be having updates and comments from them as this crop goes to harvest.
	2/26/2007 Mycorrhizal Fungi - Small Plants of the Root Zone Mycorrhizae have been part of the rhizosphere for millions of years and now soil ecologists and mycologists are determining the real benefits of these fungi. Nearly all higher plants live in association with these fungi to more fully extract water, phosphorus, nitrogen and some micronutrients for plant growth. In Strip-Till and No-Till systems, mycorrhizal fungi are of great benefit. In some soils in South America where farmers have been into No-Till practices for 25+ years, fungi are a very large component to the uptake of nutrients. Are you taking care of your soils to promote better fungal assistance to the plant root?
	2/10/2007 Winter Frost & Fog - It's Beautiful! With the recent cold air inversions and fog, the fog creates a coating of hoare frost on the trees. Up close one can see delicate ice crystals on the needles. Winter can look dreary with thick fog and gray skies, but the trees dance with intricate beauty.
	2/7/2007 If this Old Prairie School Could Talk Located in northeastern Colorado this old school housed children of the 1920's to the 1950's. Sitting on a quiet short grass prairie site on a summer day it caught my eye,so to save a little bit of the past the shutter went click.
	1/31/2007 Hallett Peak - Calendar Perfect The world above timberline may differ greatly from the plains and row crops and here is gorgeous proof to lift the spirits of those tired of dirty snow.
	1/17/2007 From 20,000 ft. Looking Towards the Front Range & Palmer Divide are Very White --- January 17th, 2007 The big snows of 2006-07 may last way into April. After nearly 8 years the country is welcoming the moisture these snows have left. Who knows there may be spring flowers? Farmers and ranchers will see some soil profiles filled and ready for a better year.
	1/15/2007 New Year 2007 - Ice Storms The ice storms of late 2006 and first few days of 2007 were tough on more than just fences. In some places in the Southern Great Plains, moisture with the storms topped 4 inches. This will be great for the winter wheat and rangelands.
	1/7/2007 Blizzards of 2006 Change Wildlifes Perspective At a office in the Golden, Colorado area a good friend of mine snapped this photo of a Mule Deer interested in what was up with those two legged critters in the window. Courtesy: Dennis Murphy
	1/4/2007 Final Days of 2006 Delivers a Blizzard to Central Nebraska Even after the nasty ice, howling winds and lost power the sunsets with beauty to remind us there is hope in tomorrow. Courtesy Mark Griffith
	12/27/2006 Days Warmer & Prior to Blizzards of December 2006 Morning sunrays greet participants like Mike Petersen and riding partner Jon (foreground) of the Moab Century as they climbed higher and higher into the Manti LaSal mountains east of Moab, Utah. Near 3,000 started and just under 1,000 finished the ride first weekend in October, the crux - the "Big Nasty" a hill approaching 15% grade. And yes, we finished.
	12/17/2006 Western Corn Belt - Post Harvest Stalks Grazed Numerous cattlemen and farmers arrange for stalks to be grazed with temporary electric fencing for a period of 10 to 90 days. This is a common scene for westerners to see steers, heifers or older cows wandering pivot fields gleaning corn. Strip-tillage systems function well in this approach growers use.
	12/8/2006 Texas Plant Protection Conference - December 5&6th, 2006 Some interesting facts about cotton and its growth, acreage in the South, how growers are seeing some gaining trends in yield due to breeding were shared. At the Hilton Hotel in downtown College Station, Texas the Texas Plant Protection Association put on a great meeting for folks to hear some of the new breeding, weed control issues, disease and pest controls, climate outlook and water management concepts. Did you know that cotton likes to grow best at 79 degrees F.? We at Orthman offered a 30 minute presentation on the advantages of strip-till in irrigated corn and cotton production. Afterwards, good questions came fast and furious.
	11/25/2006 Wet Conditions in Central Indiana - 1tRIPr Goes Through It!! Farmers are trying out the Orthman strip-till implement (1tRIPr)in some pretty wet conditions in a late afternoon demo. Running in heavy wheat stubble just prior to Thanksgiving 2006.
	11/20/2006 Colorado Sunrise Can Be Inspiring Colorado has some of the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets to catch ones breath - this one was no different when temperatures hovered around 15 above.
	11/12/2006 Post-Harvest Root Studies Yield Tons of Information -- Nov. 2006 Field agronomist for Servi-Tech in NE Colorado explores how roots were fed in deep placed phosphorus zone. This information offers producers a better understanding of how corn-on-corn needs a more managed fertilization program.
	11/7/2006 Evening on a Dusty Road at Harvest Central Nebraska is in full swing to cut corn and get it to market. A serene scene driving down a road in the Platte River Valley of Nebraska. Courtesy John Bell
	11/2/2006 The 1tRIP-AR Works in Far Eastern Indiana --- November 2, 2006 In association with Smith's Implement in Richmond, IN the 1tRIP-AR ran in wet conditions and rocks. Here as you look closely the row unit on the right is tripping due to rocks.
	10/19/2006 A new trend in Luxury Cars? In the Central Valley of California we were impressed that luxury sedans are getting a higher profile to be better seen maybe? Or are we looking at the next way to pull a Strip-Till implement?
	8/30/2006 August 29th in Idaho - Pioneer Hosts Field Day with Strip-Till Pioneer Seeds hosted a field day to share the 20+ varieties test just west of Jerome, Idaho for the 50+ dairy farmers in the area. Here growers are listening to Tillage Agronomist Mike Petersen, Orthman Mfg.Inc discuss the wise system approach to growing irrigated silage corn in the Snake River area.
	8/24/2006 Root Study - Eastern Colorado YieldGard Corn It's Effects The newer trait of YieldGard+ in corn is showing great promise in fighting corn rootworm of the irrigated fields of the Western Corn Belt. Here a young agronomist with Monsanto is making root measurements to determine the effects earlier larvae damage was to the entire rooting system. With strip-till the corn's root environment has a fighting chance to get going early in the spring and with varieties expressing a protein that will kill young rootworm larvae, farmers have a chance to fight the insects. We are observing root depth improved by 7 to 22% when farmers plant YieldGard corn hybrids.
	8/18/2006 Sunflower Muppets Come to IRF These happy go lucky guys kept showing up in a variety of places at the 2006 Irrigation Research Foundation summertime Farm Show.
	8/16/2006 2006 IRF FARM SHOW Aug. 16, 2006 From a cool, cloudy morning to hot and muggy afternoon the Strip-Till System Educational Seminar and field trials can help irrigated growers improve their bottomline. The on-going GPS guided corn research with Orthman/Monsanto/IRF and John Deere is making some dramatic points to seeing how strip-till and fertilizer placement has their irrigated field sized plots hummin'. Today the Farm Show had much of the field items directly involved with the Strip-Till and Limited water study. There were about 195 people listening to the program offered by Deere crop systems specialist, Yancy Wright from Hayes, KS, Jeff Tichota, TDM for Monsanto from Centennial, CO and Mike Petersen, with Orthman Agronomist from Greeley, CO all pitched in to put on a show and set of talks.
	8/11/2006 RTK Precision Tillage & Fertility Placement Study - August 11th, 2006 In a joint effort at the Irrigation Research Foundation farm near Yuma, Colorado John Deere and Orthman earlier this year began a precision placement study. This replicated study is to observe the value of making sure seed placement and the banding of fertilizer makes sense and the validity of sub-inch accuracy from year to year has merit. Here Yancy Wright, Deere's Crop Systems Specialist explains to a regional Garst Seed Co. event the study with the Orthman 1tRIPr.
	8/8/2006 Deficit Irrigation is a Real Issue The researchers at IRF are on-purpose limiting water via irrigation to gain data and experience what occurs when growers have shortages to a crop in the High Plains. Come and see the field sized plots look like at the IRF, north of Yuma, CO. During the IRF Farm Show the scientists will discuss the entire project now into its 4th year.
	7/28/2006 SW Minnesota Extension Service Exposes Growers to Strip-Till Between the two locations, Lamberton and Waseca, Minnesota over 375 growers heard several speakers offer information about Strip-Till methods and saw several strip-till tools demonstrated in small grain stubble. The 1tRIPr unit of Orthman Mfg. gave a great showing in the heavy textured soils at both sites. The team of Mark Griffith, Warren Coulter and Mike Petersen-Agronomist all three spoke until they were near hoarse to the crowds. Growers in southern Minnesota are excited about what may be the potential of this way of farming row-crops.
	7/26/2006 SW Minnesota Extension Service Strip-Till Field days First morning (7/25/06) near Lamberton, MN before the showers came. Orthmans 1-tRIPr shows well!
	7/20/2006 Strip-Till in 2006 Growing Corn at Channel-Bio Orthman and Channel-Bio Corp. join forces to demonstrate how 1tRIPr works in high residue
	7/20/2006 Long Necked heron enjoys strip-till beets Great Blue Heron checks out Strip-Till Success
	5/30/2006 Rootstudy2 Irrigation Research Foundation - Yuma, Colorado. Notice how the water puddles bad in the adjacent conventionally tilled ground on left side of image compared to much less of puddling condition in strip-till area on the right.
	5/30/2006 Rootstudy1 Yuma, CO - Irrigation Research Foundation. Continuous strip-tilled corn with Orthman 1tRIPr into 220+ bushel/acre corn.
	5/16/2006 Hirai1 Near Wendell, Idaho. Newly harvested on irrigated pivot field of triticale for dairy haylage. New Orthman 1tRIPAR used to prepare the seedbed in one pass prior to planting silage corn. Grower expects to save fuel, time, labor, wear & tear on machinery and plant corn sooner.
	5/16/2006 Hirai2 Mike Petersen, Orthman Precision Tillage Agronomist explains the use of the new 1tRIPAR how it works in hidden rock country, and for this triticale stubble condition to become silage corn for dairy operations near Wendell, ID.
	5/3/2006 Offset3 At Yuma, CO - Irrigation Research Foundation. Blank stake shows where the center of the strip-till zone exists and 4 inch stake shows where the corn emerged when planted off center by 4 inches.
	5/3/2006 Offset1 At Yuma, CO - Irrigation Research Foundation. Emerging corn in RTK Guidance Study. Seed was planted accurately into strip-tilled zone by 1tRIPr with sub-inch accuracy to monitor corn roots and plant health. This image depicts emerging crop when "dead-on" with RTK guidance.
	5/3/2006 Offset5 At Yuma, CO - Irrigation Research Foundation. Blank stake shows where the center of the strip-till zone exists and 8 inch stake shows where the corn emerged when planted off center by 8 inches.
	4/20/2006 plant_4in_offset Planting corn with John Deere crop systems specialist Yancy Wright at the wheel. Planting corn with sub-inch accurate GPS. This is part of study where we are to be planting 4 inches offcenter of where we strip-tilled 1 month earlier.
	3/25/2006 9420T_1tRIPr Near Wallace, NE Franklin Farms working with their properly set up new 12row-30inch 1tRIPr for the first time in irrigated continuous corn.
	3/25/2006 9420T_1tRIPr2 Near Wallace, NE Franklin Farms working with their properly set up new 12row-30inch 1tRIPr for the first time in irrigated continuous corn. Tractor employs the John Deere RTK Guidance system for accuracy and efficiency of farming operations and fertilizer placement.
	3/25/2006 9420T_1tRIPr3 Near Wallace, NE Franklin Farms working with their properly set up new 12row-30inch 1tRIPr for the first time in irrigated continuous corn. Tractor employs the John Deere RTK Guidance system for accuracy and efficiency of farming operations and fertilizer placement.
	3/20/2006 1tRIPr_2 Placing fertility at Irrigation Research Foundation-Yuma, CO. Orthman 1tRIPr 8 row-30inch unit is only tillage tool used for this 3 year study.
	3/20/2006 1tRIPr_1 New 3 year study at Irrigation Research Foundation-Yuma, Colorado. Orthman-John Deere-Monsanto Project to monitor agronomics of corn root development, inputs, and yield. RTK Guidance is sub-inch for seed and fertility placement.

PrecisionTillage.com

Strip till results - Illinois and Indiana

Top 10 Strip Till videos

Abraham Lincoln's Words Still Ring True Today

Fall Strips - The Process is Good to Go!

Fall Strip-Tilling - Snow Did not Stop Us!

It's not a return to the Dust Bowl, but...

Fall Corn Harvest at Orthman Research Farm

Finishing Orthman Research Farm Soybeans

Corn Harvest 2011 - Eastern Corn Region Reports In

Mike Petersen presentation

Nearing maturity at the Orthman Research Farm

Husker Harvest Days

Carbon Boost-S product has promise

Orthman Agronomist Still Digs 'em Deep

What's Happening?

There's more than just diggin'!

Orthman Research farm

Evaluating how Precision Tillage Affects Roots, year after year - June 14, 2011!

The heat is on!

Majestic, powerful... and scary

Beans are on the way!

Soybeans are in ... All's well!

New efforts with UN-L Extension

Waitin' on the corn

Orthman Research Farm Wraps Up Planting - 5/07/11

We're finally planting!

Sewing the seeds of precision tillage

RowCommand system installed on research planter

Orthman Resarch Team Creates Beautiful Strips

Fall Strip-Tillage Awaits - 2011 Planting Season...First week of April 2011

Orthman Asks the Questions and Seeks Answers with Strip-Tillage Research

Spring is Looking like it is tomorrow - Ready to Strip-Till?

March 9-11, 2011 California Conservation Tillage Workgroup Tour

Orthman 1tRIPr Demo Near Lyon, France ... Week of February 25, 2011

Before the Snows Hit - Precision Ag Solutions Were Strip-Tilling Vigorously

Winter...For 49 States that have Some Snow Cover

Orthman 1tRIPr That Works in Narrow Row Systems December 9th, 2010

Cotton Harvest in High Plains of Texas - Strip-Till is the Difference

Testing out Fall Strip-Till and Dry Fertilizer Application for 2011

Fall Strip-Till from our Partners in South Dakota Get'Er Done!

Finished Harvest at Orthman Research Farm 8th day October, 2010

Husker Harvest Days - 2010 Signals the Time of Harvest is Near!

As Summer Retreats to Harvest Time ... A Different Perspective is Appreciated!

Latest Demo - South Africa Style Time Period: Aug.17-19th, 2010

Widmer & Associates Field Day - Western Ohio August 11, 2010

Corn is Finally Growing Despite the Wet Season .. July 14th

Early Root Studies at Lexington, Nebraska Confirm that Strip-Till has and Advantage over No-Till in Corn Rooting - June 28th, 2010

Have you Considered what your Corn Roots are doing Today? June 18, 2010

A Wind Generator/Turbine and Spring Thunderstorm .. May 26th, 2010

In South Africa the Orthman 1tRIPr is a Hit!

2010 Corn at Orthman Research Farm is Planted...May 14th, 2010

May 3rd, 2010 Finished Strip-Tilling & Placing Fertilizer

April 24th, 2010... We Caught Two Days to Strip-Till

It's April 16th, 2010 ... Are you counting the days to plant?

It is Spring! Which one is Ready to Plant?

Soil Samples Tell Us Good News!

More Tillage Research and Data from North Dakota

Winter Blues Got Ya, The Oregon Coast is Waiting for Summer!

Winter Has Not Lost It's Grip February 22, 2010

2010 Nat'l Farm Machinery Show - Louisville, KY

A New Way.... Feb. 4th, 2010 Sano Farms Strip-Till Tomatoes in Central Valley, Calif.

Minnesota With Snowed in Corn January 28, 2010

Winters Grip! Under that snow Strip-Till is beautiful!

The 2010 AG CONNECT SHOW in Orlando, FL was a Success!

Orthman Research Farm Tells of a Portion of the 63 Plots Results

Corn Harvest At Orthman Research Farm Wrapped Up on 12/07/09

Sunbelt Farm Expo and Peanut Harvest Time in Georgia

10/15/2009.......Orthman's Root Digs Find that Precision Placement Makes Big Difference

10/13/09 ... It's Root Diggin' Time at Orthman Research Farm

You've Waited for Part III Article on Soil Compaction Effects - 10/02/09

Husker Harvest was Big for Orthman Manufacturing!

The 32nd Annual Show - Husker Harvest 2009 The Time is Here!

8/27/09 - Amalgamated Sugar - Southern Idaho Features Strip-Till

Colorado State University Teams Up with Ag Industry - August 14, 2009

August 10th -- Field Days and Farm Shows - It's Time!

Fall Strip-Till vs. No-Till in NE South Dakota... July 25th, 2009

55 Days after emergence - Serious Differences with Root Development

CSU Strip-Till Comparison Demo Plots Are Taking Off!

June Root Studies at 25 Days After Emergence