Highs lows of relay intercropping covered at field day

   Relay intercropping – the practice of producing multiple crops with overlapping growing seasons – was discussed, and witnessed, during a field day held at the Jason Russell farm west of Monticello.

   About 70 people attended the event to listen to speakers, then take a tour of a relay intercropping field Russell has planted.

   The practice is designed to improve soil health and reduce nutrient losses while increasing productivity and profitability.

   The positives seem to be extending traditional growing seasons by producing two crops that generate income, improving soil health, reducing the need for chemical weed control, and reducing nutrient losses.

   The biggest negative is lower soybean yields, which the second or “relay” crop may or may not compensate for.

   On hand were several speakers, including Mark Licht, associate professor and Extension cropping systems specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

   Licht gave an example of a relay intercropping management practice: “planting a small grain in the fall, then in April or May, planting soybeans directly into that living small grain.

   “Then, harvesting the small grain in early to mid July, and then harvesting the soybeans when you normally would.”

   Ross Evelsizer, Northeast Iowa RC&D natural resource projects director, discussed how relay intercropping can reduce a farmer’s soybean yield, but there are advantages that can make up for it, including weed reduction, soil protection and the ability to harvest a second grain.

   Evelsizer said more than 25 trials that have been conducted throughout the state, mostly in the eastern half, that have shown an average of a $50.90 per acre higher profit than fields with soybeans only.

   He cautioned, though, that “again, that’s an average.” Some farmers have shown higher profits, some have lost on the deal.

   Russell spoke about the success he had the first year he tried relay intercropping on a 20-acre field.

   “The relay areas (produced) 31 bushel rye, 67 bushel beans, and used very minimal herbicide,” Russell said. “The area next to it was 77 bushel beans and no rye, and quite a bit of chemical costs.

   “We had a really good result; 87 percent of the regular (soybean) yield. Financially it was a huge win. That’s why we’re still fooling around with it.

   “Now, is everybody going to have that result? No.”