Farm Progress Show Highlights Emerging Trends in Farm Equipment

New chopping corn heads, mulchers, and strip-till tools showcased at annual farm equipment expo

Apr. 18, 2026 at 9:44am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An extreme close-up of the raw, textured metal surface of a corn stalk chopping roller, the intricate details of the blades and gears visible under dramatic lighting.New corn head attachments aim to accelerate the breakdown of crop residue, a key challenge for no-till and continuous corn growers.Decatur Today

The recent Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Illinois revealed several notable trends in farm equipment, including the growing popularity of chopping corn heads, the rise of mulching tools to accelerate residue breakdown, and the continued expansion of strip-till technology.

Why it matters

These equipment innovations are driven by the needs of no-till and continuous corn growers who are looking for ways to manage crop residue, warm up soils, and prepare fields more efficiently for the next planting season.

The details

Chopping corn heads, featuring either rotary flails or chopping stalk rollers, are becoming more common as growers seek to speed up stalk decomposition in corn-on-corn fields. These specialized heads can increase power consumption by up to 50%. Mulching tools, designed to chop and lightly incorporate residue, are also a new product category aimed at the same goal. Additionally, the movement towards strip-tilling continues, with many new products showcased at the event.

  • The Farm Progress Show is an annual 3-day event held near Decatur, Illinois.
  • The 2026 edition of the show took place this past summer.

The players

Gerringhoff

A manufacturer that displayed a 16-row chopping corn head that can fold down to an 8-row width for transport.

Great Plains

A manufacturer of mulching tillage tools, such as the Turbo-Till.

Summers

A manufacturer of mulching tillage tools similar to the Great Plains Turbo-Till.

Case IH

A manufacturer that showcased a new mulching tool using rippled blades instead of concave blades.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Chopping corn heads are gaining popularity among growers who intend to plant corn after corn and need to accelerate stalk decomposition.”

— Phil Needham, Author

The takeaway

The equipment trends highlighted at the Farm Progress Show reflect the evolving needs of modern no-till and continuous corn farming operations, as growers seek more efficient ways to manage crop residue, prepare fields, and transition between successive corn crops.