Whew!  Great post, there, Wilson!

My info. will pale in comparison to Wilson's, but for our Pullman Clay-type soil, we wait until the ground temp. is below 50*F, and no earlier than the 15^th of October, no matter the soil temp. (because the soil temp. will probably come back up above 50*F if done pre-Oct. 15).

 I am going to do some strip tilling, but I am going to wait until things chill out a bit!

I am new to the strip tilling arena, but folks say that a guy can reduce NH₃ rates by [about] 20%, and still achieve the same goal.

I base rates off of past history, and soil sample data.  The soil analysis guys always ask what my 'yield goal' needs to be entered as.  Milo, for example, I usually enter "3000 lbs/ac.", because if the field yields more than that, it was because of rainfall...not the NH_3.  (maybe I've got it all wrong, but with nitrogen so high ($), on dryland acres, a guy has to shut it down somewhere...)

Regards.