This video comes to us from our good friend Chris Perkins in Otwell, Ind. When I visited the Strip-Till Innovator a couple years ago, he wasn’t using cover crops. But Chris is an innovator because he’s always willing to try new things. Fast forward to 2026, he’s giving cover crops a try. And so far, Chris likes what he sees.  

“Rapeseed 2 pounds, spring oats at 15 and barley at 15 last fall. We spread it with our John Deere 4045R. It did a fantastic job. We had to make a bunch of adjustments on it, go down to 50 feet for our spread pattern. We let it germinate and we strip-tilled it last fall. She is taking off now. I don’t know what I’m doing here. Me and cover crops, I don’t want to say I put them down, but I never agreed with the philosophies. I’m a fool for it because I never tried it. How can I knock something I never did?”

Chris says the fibrous root system is impressive. And he says if you have any helpful tips or pointers, send them his way. Look forward to seeing Chris at the Strip-Till Conference this August in Springfield, Ill. 

Watch the full Video of this episode of Conservation Ag Update.