No-Till Learning, Results Take Center Stage at NNTC

Nearly 1,000 no-tillers gathered to swap ideas and learn how to improve their no-till operations at the 28th annual National No-Tillage Conference.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 11:19am

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The 28th annual National No-Tillage Conference was held in January in St. Louis, where nearly 1,000 no-tillers gathered to share knowledge and learn about improving no-till operations. Attendees participated in general sessions, roundtable discussions, and classroom presentations on topics like making cover crops pay, managing pests and diseases, planting green, and utilizing precision technology.

Why it matters

The National No-Tillage Conference is a key annual event for no-till farmers to stay up-to-date on the latest techniques and technologies to improve their sustainable farming practices. As no-till acreage continues to grow, these conferences play an important role in advancing no-till knowledge and adoption.

The details

Key takeaways from the conference included advice on managing the increasing threat of tar spot disease in corn, which thrives in the cool, humid conditions created by higher plant populations and more crop residue. Experts recommended planting resistant corn hybrids, rotating to non-host crops, and applying fungicides early to control the disease.

  • The 28th annual National No-Tillage Conference was held in January 2026 in St. Louis.
  • The conference will reconvene January 12-15, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The players

Phil Krieg

Agronomist for Syngenta.

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What they’re saying

“As producers push populations higher and use more cover crops, more residue is present on the soil surface at all times of the year, which creates a more hospitable environment for overwintering diseases such as tar spot in corn.”

— Phil Krieg, Agronomist (No-Till Farmer)

What’s next

The 29th annual National No-Tillage Conference will be held January 12-15, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The takeaway

The National No-Tillage Conference is a critical annual event for no-till farmers to stay informed on the latest advancements in sustainable farming practices, such as managing emerging disease threats like tar spot in corn that thrive in no-till environments.