This year the field demo took place on one of the warmest days of the summer in Burley, Idaho. Nonetheless, attendees were pleased with the presentations and panel discussions. The Amalgamated Sugar Company coordinated with NRCS and offered an open forum for questions and answers on the benefits and challenges with strip-tillage.
Seeding beets directly into grain or corn stubble is a method that allows growers to reduce soil erosion, make fewer passes over the field and reduce the amount of fuel used. Glyphosate-resistant beets require a lot less chemical application which combined with the above mentioned benefits give growers better use of strip-tillage.
Attendees nearly all agreed that this method continues on a learning curve and several voiced the need to have GPS with strip-till equipment. Robert Downard, Amalgamated agriculturalist plans on offering another strip-tillage field demo for the coming year. He advises any grower to call him with any questions or concerns.
Field demonstrations took place at 100 S. 700 W., Paul, Idaho. Those participating in the demos were Magic Valley Equipment, Schlagel, Twin Diamond's Strip Cat, Orthman and Northside Welding with their new Omni-Trac by Wootan Enterprises.
In the next issue of Sugar Producer there will be a more in depth discussion on strip-tillage and a special introduction on the Omni-Trac.