2019 Conservation Tillage Conference
Tuesday, December 17 - Wednesday, December 18

This conference emphasizes proven farmer experience and applied science. Straight from the fields, learn how heavier, colder soils aren’t necessarily the challenge they’re made out to be.
Conference highlights
- Weed species shift and control.
- Nutrient management in high-residue systems.
- Reduced till and cover crop strategies straight from veteran farmer practitioners.
- Proven cover crop strategies for your system to anchor nutrients, manage moisture extremes and provide free nitrogen.
- Soil health improvements with reduced till systems and cover crops.
- Vendor sessions: Learn about new equipment, products and technology. More than 20 vendors will be on-site throughout both days.
Attendees who stay for the entire conference will be offered 10 continuing education units (CEUs). CEU categories are noted in parentheses for each session. Available categories include:
- CM - Crop management
- PA - Precision agriculture
- PD - Professional development
- PM - Pest management
- SW - Soil and water
Event information
75 S. 37th Ave. N.
St. Cloud, MN 56301
United States
Jodi DeJong-Hughes, Extension educator
dejon003@umn.edu
Cost
Registration for the two-day conference is $180.
A limited number of scholarships are available. Contact Jodi (dejon003@umn.edu) for more information.
Conference agenda
Day 1 agenda
Tuesday's schedule runs from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Time | Topics and speakers | |
---|---|---|
8:00-8:30 | Registration | |
8:30-8:40 | Welcome | Jodi DeJong-Hughes and Dennis Fuchs |
8:40-9:40 | Opening Keynote | The true cost of erosion David Lobb, University of Manitoba (SW) |
Breakout sessions
Concurrent breakout sessions will run from 9:50 a.m. - 1:50 p.m with a break for lunch from 11:40 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
- Impact of small grains in your rotation on soil health
Shannon Osborne, USDA-ARS (SW) - Soil health indicators in your field
Stan Boltz, NRCS (SW) - Nitrogen management for today's environment
Brad Carlson, University of Minnesota (NM) - Soil microbes and soil health
Anna Cates, University of Minnesota (SW) - Economics of it all
Jennifer Hahn and Brian Pfarr (PD) - Reduced Tillage 101
Aaron Daigh, NDSU and Marla Reikman, Manitoba Ag (SW)
- Weed management while shifting to reduced till
Nick Pieske, Centrol Crop Consulting and Bryan Biegler, Minnesota farmer (PM) - Strategies for optimizing P and K application
Lindsay Pease, University of Minnesota (NM) - No-till 101
Carissa Spencer and Olson Family (SW) - Crop Consultant Panel
Sarah Lovas, Dorian Gatchell, Nick Pieske, and Glen Borgerding - Free Money: Don't Let compaction cost you
Dick Wolkowski , University of Wisconsin (SW) - Field productivity, soil health and precision ag: What? Why? How? Wow or Yikes!
Ken Franzky and Ben Prusa, Centrol Crop Consulting (PA)
Time | Topics and speakers |
---|---|
2:00 - 2:50 | Farmer panel Changing your tillage is a big deal and might require trying different things from one year to the next. Farmers with different levels of experience with conservation tillage will discuss what to consider. Zach Johnson, Bryan Biegler and Kari and Rob Olson; Moderated by Zach Johnson, host of Field Work podcast |
2:50 - 3:15 | Break |
3:15 - 3:55 | Industry table talks |
3:55 - 4:10 | Break |
4:10 - 5:20 | Educational table talks - Select from over 10 topics |
5:20 - 10:00 | Beer and Bull |
Day 2 agenda
Wednesday's schedule runs from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Time | Station 1 | Station 2 | Station 3 | Station 4 | Station 5 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
7:30 - 8:00 | Coffee and pastries | |||||
8:00 - 9:30 | Let's Get Dirty: Hands on Demon- strations |
Wind Erosion Carissa Spencer, Kristin Brennan, NRCS |
Water erosion Susan Samson-Liebig & Hal Weiser, NRCS |
C:N explained Marla Riekman, Manitoba Ag |
Cation exchange capacity Aaron Daigh, NDSU |
Water nutrients Lindsay Pease, UMN |
9:30 - 9:50 | Break |
Breakout sessions
Concurrent breakout sessions will run from 9:50 - 11:40 a.m.
- How to prevent herbicide carryover injury to cover crops
Dan Smith, University of Wisconsin (PM) - Manure and cover crops
Melissa Wilson, University of Minnesota, Dan Coffman and AJ Krusemark, Minnesota farmers (NM) - Advanced no-till and cover crops: Putting it all together
Tom Cotter, Minnesota farmer (SW) - Soil microbes and soil health
Anna Cates, University of Minnesota (SW) - Cover Crop impact on in-season nitrogen dynamics
Shannon Osborne USDA-ARS (NM)
- Economics of it all
Jennifer Hahn and Brian Pfarr (PD) - Grazing cover crops and herbicide carryover
Kent Solberg, SFA and Ryan Hough, Minnesota farmer (CM) - Advanced strip till strategies
Jodi DeJong-Hughes and Dick Wolkowski , University of Wisconsin (SW) - Weed management while shifting to reduced till
Nick Pieske, Centrol and Bryan Biegler, MN Farmer (PM)
Time | Topics and speakers |
---|---|
11:40-12:45 | Lunch |
12:45-1:50 | Educational table talks |
2:00 - 3:00 | Stewardship: Economics, productivity and the environment Seth Watkins, Iowa farmer (Sustainability) |
Conference details
Be sure to stop by and visit the exhibitors at the 2019 Conservation Tillage Conference!
- Agassiz Sales
- Albert Lea Seeds
- Arnold's
- Copperhead Ag
- Cross Slot No-tillage Systems
- Dawn Equipment
- ETS - Environmental Tillage Systems
- FieldWork from American Public Radio
- General Grain Cleaning Co.
- Kuhn
- Millborn Seed
- Minnesota Corn Growers
- Minnesota Department of Agriculture
- Minnesota Soil Health Coalition
- Minnesota Soybean Growers
- Montag Manufacturing
- Natural Resources and Conservation Service (NRCS)
- Orthman
- Saddlebutte Ag
- Salford
- Soil Rx Inc.
- Soil Water Conservation District (SWCD
- Strip Till for You
- TIREBOSS™
- University of Minnesota Extension
- Yetter Farm Equipment
Holiday Inn & Suites
75 S. 37th Ave. N., St Cloud, MN 56301
A block of rooms have been reserved for the CTC. Call 320-253-9000 to reserve your room.