BOONE, Iowa — Around 40 farmers, researchers, industry professionals, and students gathered at Iowa State University's Sorenson Farm near Boone, Iowa, in early June to explore how relay cropping systems could help improve farm profitability, soil health, and crop diversity.
Hosted by Iowa State University and the Iowa Soybean Research Center, the field day highlighted ongoing research led by Dr. Silvina Arias, plant pathologist with the Iowa State University Seed Science Center and Department of Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology (PPEM), and Dr. Shrishail Navi, plant pathologist and researcher in the Seed Science Center and PPEM. The event featured tours of large-scale research plots, demonstrations of precision agriculture technology, and discussions about emerging crops and market opportunities. Co-investigator and collaborator on this project include Leonor Leandro, Professor of PPEM, and Mark Licht, Associate Professor of Agronomy.
"We are trying to implement new agricultural systems in Iowa to bring biodiversity, provide another profitable option for farmers, and improve soil health," Arias told attendees during opening remarks. The project examines relay cropping systems that combine soybeans with winter and spring crops, including cereal rye and winter camelina, to determine their agronomic, plant health, and soil benefits, with the purpose of implementing a sustainable continuous soybean system in Iowa
Relay cropping involves planting a second crop into a standing crop before the first crop is harvested. According to Navi, the system offers multiple advantages.
"Having cereals and oilseeds provides multiple benefits," Navi said. "It helps to minimize weed infestations, reduce soil erosion, improve soil health, and provide additional income opportunities because farmers can harvest two crops from the same piece of land."
Researchers are also studying how relay cropping may help suppress soybean cyst nematode populations and reduce the need for herbicide applications. Early findings suggest the system could become an important tool for improving sustainability while maintaining productivity.
The field day featured Iowa farmer Jason Russell of Big Boulder Farms near Monticello, who shared his experiences with relay cropping cereal rye and soybeans.
"We've seen lower chemical costs, less need for spraying, and additional revenue from both the rye and soybean crops," Russell said. "In our best years, we've had comparable soybean yields while also harvesting a cereal rye crop. That's a win-win." Russell noted that relay cropping can help protect soil from erosion and improve water infiltration, particularly during heavy rainfall events.
"When people ask how much rain we got, I tell them all of it," Russell joked. "It soaked in instead of running off."
Attendees also observed a live drone demonstration conducted by Iowa State University's Remote Sensing and Imaging Lab. Researchers demonstrated how multispectral sensors and LiDAR technology can help monitor crop health, assess biomass, and evaluate relay cropping systems more efficiently.
"Technology is getting cheaper and more accessible," said Fernando Mauri Marcos of the Remote Sensing and Imaging Lab. "The challenge now is making data processing faster so farmers can use the information to make management decisions in real time."
Another major focus of the field day was winter camelina, an emerging oilseed crop being evaluated as part of Iowa State's soybean relay cropping research. Matt Leavitt, agronomist with the University of Minnesota's Forever Green Initiative, discussed how winter camelina could provide farmers with an additional revenue stream while supporting the growing demand for renewable aviation fuel.
"The goal is to harvest two crops in one season while improving environmental outcomes," Leavitt said. "Winter camelina provides cover crop benefits, matures early, and can be relay-cropped with soybeans. We've seen systems that increase total oil production per acre while also delivering soil and water quality benefits."
Anna Teeter, Novel Oilseeds Program Manager with Cargill, explained that growing demand for sustainable aviation fuel is creating new opportunities for crops like camelina.
"Customers are looking for low-carbon feedstocks, and intermediate oilseed crops like camelina can help meet that demand without taking land away from existing food production systems," Teeter said. "By adding another crop into the rotation, farmers can increase productivity per acre while contributing to a growing renewable fuels market."
The event also highlighted the importance of partnerships. Funding and support for the research come from the Iowa Soybean Research Center, which works with industry partners and the Iowa Soybean Association to expand soybean-related research across the state.
"Our goal is to explore systems that maintain soybean production while improving environmental outcomes," said Mark Licht, co-director of the Iowa Soybean Research Center. "These projects help us think differently about how crops can work together in the field."
As interest in sustainable agriculture continues to grow, researchers hope that relay cropping systems will offer farmers new ways to diversify operations, improve soil stewardship, and access emerging markets.
"This is why we do field days," Navi said. "We want to share what we're learning, hear feedback from farmers and industry, and work together to develop systems that can benefit agriculture in Iowa and beyond."
You can hear more from these speakers and get more information in this month’s two-part GermiNation podcast: One Acre, Two Paychecks: The Promise of Relay Cropping
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