Strip-Till Award nominations are open

Jan 03, 2024

Nominate someone for the 2024 Strip-Till Innovator Awards.

By Andrew Joseph, Farms.com; Image via Strip-Till Farmer

With the new year comes new nominations, and you can help recognize a strip-tiller for their hard work.

Strip-Till Farmer and Montag Manufacturing are seeking 2024 Strip-Till Innovator Award nominations from farmers, equipment and input dealers, manufacturers, and other agribusinesses to honor outstanding leaders of the conservation-tillage industry.

The awards are open to individual growers in the US and Canada who have made a significant contribution to the advancement of strip-till farming, regardless of crops grown or brand of equipment, seed, or crop protection products used.

The deadline for nominations is Wednesday, January 31, 2024.

The award winner will be recognized at the 11th annual National Strip-Tillage Conference, to be held August 8–9, 2024, in Madison, Wisconsin.

To nominate someone, click HERE.

Video: Independent Seed, National Impact | On The Brink: Episode 9

A survey of 200 independent seed businesses reveals what Canada's seed sector actually contributes — and what it stands to lose.

On the Brink, Justin Funk, a third-generation agri-marketer, shares the findings of a national survey conducted in early 2026. The numbers reframe the conversation: independent seed companies in Canada represent upwards of $1.7 billion in dedicated seed infrastructure, approximately 3,000 full-time equivalent jobs in rural communities, and an estimated $20 million in annual community contributions. And roughly 90% of Canada's cereals, pulses, and other small pollinated crops flow through them.

The survey also asked how dependent these businesses are on public plant breeding to survive. The answer was unambiguous. For policymakers evaluating the future of publicly funded breeding programs, Funk argues the economic case for this sector and the case for public plant breeding are the same argument.

On the Brink is a cross-country video series exploring the future of plant breeding in Canada. Each episode features voices from across the industry in an open, ongoing conversation about innovation and long-term investment in Canadian agriculture.