When it comes to rejuvenating worn fields and pastures in the southern Plains, there were plenty of ideas shared among the nearly 200 people attending the Southern Soil Health Conference this week in Ardmore, Okla.

In the world’s driest rain-fed wheat region, Washington State University researchers have identified summerfallow management practices that can make all the difference for farmers, water and soil conservation, and air quality.

I must admit to playing a little catch-up after spending all of last week in Springfield, Ill., working with my colleagues at No-Till Farmer to host the 22nd annual National No-Tillage Conference. Our second-largest crowd ever with 1,024 attendees took in 4 days of no-till learning at the Springfield Hilton. While there were plenty of familiar faces, we still saw 408 first-time attendees. More than 500 first-timers were on hand last year at the NNTC in Indianapolis.