We asked our readers to tell us about their most important tool or piece of equipment on their farm. Here’s what they said.

Rich Follmer didn’t set out to become a businessman. In the 1980s, the corn and soybean farmer from central Illinois — considered by many to be the “grandfather” of strip-till — designed and built a system that would allow him to till the ground and plant soybeans simultaneously. 

Even before Harry Young no-tilled his first corn crops in 1962, researchers were exploring the benefits of no-till and its potential impact on the future of farming.

Long-time ag economist John Ikerd says U.S. agriculture is at a major crossroads with significant changes in the offing, but he says no-till farming will be important regardless of the ultimate future direction of the industry.