Iowa Learning Farms is hosting a relay intercropping field day on Thursday at a rural Monticello farm.
This is a free event open to all farmers and landowners. It’ll run from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm at the Jason Russell farm at 234 Prairie Main Road west of Monticello.
The field day aims to equip farmers and landowners with best management practices for establishing and managing a relay intercropping system designed to improve soil health and reduce nutrient losses while increasing productivity and profitability. The relay intercropping system begins following corn with the seeding of winter wheat or rye. The soybean crop is planted into the winter wheat/rye the next spring and the winter wheat/rye is harvested for grain in June. Following soybeans, oats are planted as a cover crop ahead of corn.
The field day will feature a field visit with farmer & host Jason Russell to take a closer look at his relay intercropping system. Mark Licht, associate professor in agronomy and extension cropping systems specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach, will discuss how relay intercropping systems can be integrated into existing rotations and highlight how to successfully manage the system based on current research. Ross Evelsizer, Northeast Iowa RC&D natural resource projects director, will share results from local relay intercropping cereal rye and soybeans trials. Erin Erickson, Maquoketa River Watershed Management Authority watershed coordinator, will share opportunities to get involved, and staff from the Center for Rural Affairs will provide resources and updates related to crop insurance and relay intercropping.
The event is free, with a complimentary meal. If you haven’t already sent your RSVP, contact Liz Ripley at 515-294-5429 or [email protected].
photo courtesy of ISU Extension & Outreach
