Soybeans are planted into cereal rye for a relay crop planting trial. Learn more about this concept July 12 at noon during the next Innovation To Go Webinar. (Photo: Joseph Hopper/Iowa Soybean Association).
Upcoming learning opportunity: Relay cropping in Iowa
July 7, 2022 | Kriss Nelson
Is it possible for Iowa farmers to successfully raise two crops in the same field in the same year?
With the assistance of the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) Research Center for Farming Innovation (RCFI) team of agronomists, farmers have been testing the relay cropping of cereal rye and soybeans through replicated strip trials.
In the next Innovation To Go webinar, scheduled for 12-1 p.m. Tuesday, July 12, Theo Gunther, ISA senior research program development coordinator, will discuss how relay cropping works and the situations to consider before implementing them on your farm.
Gunther will also summarize research trials comparing sole cropping and relay cropping in Iowa from 2020 and 2021.
“Relay planting can gain the benefits cover crops have for soil and can be more profitable than sole crops under some circumstances,” says Gunther. “When introducing additional complexity to the system, management and weather challenges can be exacerbated. Trials help generate replicated comparison data on the system to help understand the potential and risk of this method.”
2022 Innovation To Go Webinar series
ISA’s Innovation To Go Webinar series continues throughout the summer with the follow opportunities:
Drainage Water Recycling for Crop Production and Water Quality
Tuesday, Aug. 2 | 12-1 p.m.
Drainage water recycling captures and stores drainage water for reuse as supplemental irrigation. This practice can improve crop production and benefit water quality. This webinar will cover what ISA researchers have learned about this practice and some of the remaining questions about the potential feasibility of this practice in Iowa. Register here for this event.
Keys to Improved Soil Health, Water Quality and Profitability
Tuesday, Sept. 13 | 12-1 p.m.
Join ISA RCFI conservation agronomists as they discuss their role in assisting farmers and landowners in adopting conservation practices. An interactive panel discussion will highlight the value of cover crops and edge-of-field practices in improving soil health and water quality and increasing farmer profitability. Engage with our network of conservation agronomists to learn about available cost-share resources and more. Register here for this event.
Visit this page for more information.
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