BOONE, Iowa – About 40 farmers, researchers, industry professionals and students recently gathered at Iowa State University’s (ISU) Sorenson Farm near Boone to explore how relay cropping systems could help improve farm profitability, soil health and crop diversity.

Hosted by ISU and its Iowa Soybean Research Center, the early June field day highlighted ongoing research led by Silvina Arias, ISU plant pathologist with ISU’s Seed Science Center, and Shrishail Navi, ISU plant pathologist and researcher in the center.

Officials said 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 the project were Leonor Leandro, ISU professor of plant pathology, entomology and microbiology, and Mark Licht, ISU associate professor of agronomy and extension cropping systems specialist.

Navi said relay cropping involves planting a second crop into a standing crop before the first crop is harvested, with the system offering multiple advantages: “Having cereals and oilseeds provides multiple benefits. 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.”

Licht told Farm World, “In this particular case, the field day was focused on growing winter (cereal rye, canola, camelina) and spring crops (barley, sunflower, canola), with soybean inter-seeded into them with the intent to harvest two crops in one growing season. This is unique but possible if a farmer is willing to balance practices to benefit the system as a whole rather than being focused on one crop.”

He said relay cropping can bring some very tangible benefits: “The primary benefit is greater overall productivity and profitability through diversification. Using a winter crop such as cereal rye, camelina or canola brings the added benefit of having a growing crop late into the fall, as well as early in the spring. It is an attempt at sustainable intensification.”

Researchers said they are also studying how relay cropping may help suppress soybean cyst nematode populations and reduce the need for herbicide applications. Early findings indicate the system could become an important tool for improving sustainability while maintaining productivity.

At the field day, Jason Russell, a Monticello, Iowa, farmer and president of Big Boulder Farms, LLC, 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. In our best years, we’ve had comparable soybean yields, while also harvesting a cereal rye crop. That’s a win-win.”

He added 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. It soaked in instead of running off.”

Field day attendees also observed a live drone demonstration conducted by ISU’s Remote Sensing and Imaging Lab. Researchers demonstrated how multispectral sensors (on drones) and LiDAR technology can help monitor crop health, assess biomass and evaluate relay cropping systems more efficiently.” LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) is a remote sensing technology that uses pulsed lasers to measure distances and create highly accurate 3D models of environments.

“Technology is getting cheaper and more accessible,” said Fernando Mauri Marcos, ISU research scientist at 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.”

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,” he 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, Cargill novel oilseeds program manager, told attendees 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.

“By adding another crop into the rotation, farmers can increase productivity per acre, while contributing to a growing renewable fuels market,” she added.

As interest in sustainable agriculture continues to grow, researchers said they 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.”