With fuel, fertilizer, labor, and equipment costs where they are today, farmers can't afford to make field passes just because that's how they've always done it. Kurt and Derrick from KUHN join Farm4Profit at the Farm Progress Show to dig into the ROI of tillage, strip-till, and precision fertilizer application—and why every pass across the field needs a reason to be there.
Does tillage make money? The answer isn't simply yes or no. The KUHN team explains why the industry is moving away from “recreational tillage” toward more calculated, specialized passes designed to solve specific problems. From managing heavy residue and correcting compaction to creating a seedbed, the goal is to understand what the field needs and then determine whether the fuel, labor, equipment, and time required can generate a return.
The conversation also challenges the idea that broadcast fertilizer is simply “slinging it.” Garrick explains how modern precision spreaders control drop points, spread patterns, application rates, section control, and border spreading. KUHN's EMC system measures torque on the spinner discs every second and can respond to changing material flow, clogs, and over- or under-application to maintain the target rate.
Then the guys get into strip-till and KUHN's new 24-row 1210 Gladiator XL. Beyond reducing passes, strip-till can combine targeted tillage with concentrated fertilizer placement in the root zone. KUHN discusses trials where an 8- to 10-bushel yield gain across enough acres could potentially create a roughly two-year equipment payback, while more efficient nutrient placement may offer opportunities to rethink fertilizer rates.
Ultimately, this episode isn't about convincing every farmer to till—or not to till. It's about knowing why you're making the pass. Soil type, compaction, residue, fertility, pH, equipment, labor, timeliness, and management style all matter. The right system is the one that solves a problem on your farm and can justify its cost.