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Stillman Valley Today
By the People, for the People
Precision Farming Tech Offers Insights for No-Till, Strip-Till Farmers
Cade Bushnell leverages new tools but struggles to fully utilize precision data on his 1,300-acre Illinois farm
Apr. 18, 2026 at 5:45am
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Precision farming technology generates vast troves of data, but effectively leveraging that information remains a challenge for growers seeking to optimize their no-till and strip-till operations.Stillman Valley TodayStillman Valley, Illinois farmer Cade Bushnell has found success in adopting newer precision farming technologies and mechanical changes on his 1,300-acre operation, but he's still working to effectively analyze the growing amount of data generated by his equipment to make more informed adjustments to his no-till and strip-till practices.
Why it matters
As precision agriculture continues to advance, farmers like Bushnell are grappling with how to best leverage the wealth of data their equipment can now collect to optimize their operations. This challenge is particularly acute for no-till and strip-till growers who rely on detailed, data-driven insights to manage complex soil and residue conditions.
The details
Bushnell has implemented a range of precision tools and techniques on his farm, including carefully timed nitrogen applications and close attention to residue management. These changes have helped him achieve strong yields of 200 bushels per acre on his strip-tilled corn-on-corn fields. However, Bushnell admits he struggles to effectively analyze the large volumes of data generated by his equipment, saying 'The amount of data we're generating and have generated over the years requires a lot of time and energy from someone to go through. Quite frankly, I don't do a very good job of it.'
- Bushnell has been implementing precision farming technologies and techniques on his 1,300-acre farm in Stillman Valley, Illinois.
The players
Cade Bushnell
A farmer in Stillman Valley, Illinois who operates a 1,300-acre farm and has found success in adopting precision farming technologies, but struggles to fully leverage the data generated by his equipment.
What they’re saying
“The amount of data we're generating and have generated over the years requires a lot of time and energy from someone to go through. Quite frankly, I don't do a very good job of it. I'm a farmer because I enjoy raising crops, not because I enjoy sitting at a computer.”
— Cade Bushnell, Farmer
The takeaway
As precision farming technology continues to advance, growers like Cade Bushnell are finding that effectively leveraging the wealth of data generated by their equipment is a significant challenge, especially for no-till and strip-till operations that rely on detailed, data-driven insights to manage complex soil and residue conditions. Farmers will need to find ways to better analyze and act on this data to fully realize the benefits of precision agriculture.
