Farmers leading from the field

June 30, 2025 | Kriss Nelson

Through trial and error - with an emphasis on trial - and a passion for conservation, Jason Russell is diversifying his farming operation by implementing relay cropping.

The Monticello-area farmer committed to implementing more relay cropping acres after participating in on-farm trials and researching how relay cropping performs on his farm.

"Our first year of relay cropping was in 2021, and that was a good year to do it. We had enough rain and yielded 30 bushel rye and 67 bushel soybeans," says Russell.

The successful harvest and the realization he could get by using fewer herbicides for weed control led him to explore the practice of relay cropping more.

Russell admits weather has been challenging as dry conditions do not favor relay cropping. He's decided to keep honing the skill and has incorporated other crops into his relay cropping acres, including winter wheat, winter camelina and winter canola.

Beyond the need for seed

With cover crops on 100% of his acres, relay cropping just made sense. They use the seed they raise for their acres and for their custom cover crop planting business.

But it goes beyond the need for seed for Russell. Controlling soil erosion is a top priority.

"Soybeans do not provide enough biomass to stabilize soil," he says."When you relay, you get the financial benefits of growing soybeans with none of the environmental shortfall. The rye straw produces a lot of biomass to stabilize the ground."

He then strip-tills through the biomass, leaving mulch on the ground between the strips, setting up to protect the soil for the following year's corn crop.

"This is putting us light years ahead of controlling erosion," he says.

Trials to truth

Russell says he finds on-farm research enlightening.

"Some farmers do not put enough of their time into innovation," he says. "A successful business prioritizes its money on innovation."

His research reaches more than just his farm. Russell is living by example to his fellow farmer-neighbors.

"I was once told that any product advertised has a 15% success rate of selling the product. The other 85% comes from word of mouth," he says. "The likelihood of a university dictating a practice to us might be 15% effective. When people drive by or come to field day, there is a much higher chance of absorption."

Valuing ISA membership

For 15 years, Russell has been a part of the Iowa Soybean Association's (ISA) Soy Leaders Network (SLN).

SLN offers new engagement opportunities designed to keep members informed on industry news, join exclusive events, network with fellow farmers and other industry professionals, and further promote the soybean industry.

Finding value in his ISA membership by participating in SLN and on-farm trials is helping him be a better farmer.

"It's been good to be a part of legislative and policy meetings," he says. "I feel like I am part of the voice for the soybean farmer. I am better informed on issues and closer to the cutting edge of new and upcoming techniques and technologies that can help make me more profitable as a soybean farmer."

Key Soy Leaders Network

Participants of ISA's Soy Leaders Network engage with ISA through in-person and virtual opportunities. We know not every opportunity will work for everyone - that's why SLN offers a series of events, giving farmers the option to join when it best fits their interests and schedule, including:

• Access to lunch and learn webinars on emerging issues and topics;
• Invites to exclusive events and tours;
• In-person summer lunch meetings;
• Virtual winter sessions; and more.

Written by Kriss Nelson.

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