For many no-tillers, success begins when managing residue during corn and soybean harvest. Residue management can be the difference between uniform stands and uneven stands, and that’s often the reason no-till yields might not be as strong as conventional tillage. Planting and seeding expert Phil Needham emphasizes the importance of spreading residue as evenly as possible with the combine, and shares some of the methods available to optimize the spread. The No-Till Innovator and 4-time NNTC Most Outstanding Speaker also discusses soil warming and what can be done to accelerate faster and more uniform crop emergence.

You’ll Learn: Practical tips for spreading residue evenly & making successful planting more likely.

The 34th Annual National No-Tillage Conference returns to St. Louis, Mo. on Jan. 6-9, 2026. Whether you're new to no-till or refining your system, this event delivers fast-paced learning from top no-till farmers, agronomists and experts. With 2 Pre-Conference Workshops, 13 No-Till General Sessions, 22 No-Till Classrooms and 40 No-Till Roundtables to choose from, plus opportunities to earn CCA credits, the 2026 No-Till Conference is a must-attend event for anyone looking to enhance their no-till farming practices.

View the full speaker agenda and topics here.

For more information about the 2026 National No-Tillage Conference, to register for the event and to book your hotel room visit NoTillConference.com. Use code SPEAKER50 for $50 off your registration.

The Conference extends its thanks to our 2026 sponsors: Ag Leader, Martin-Till, Yetter Farm Equipment, Bio Till Cover Crops, Copperhead Ag, The Andersons, HORSCH, Titan International, Midwest Bio-Tech, Vulcan Equipment and Total Farm Marketing.