Succeeding with small grains and soybean relay intercropping in Iowa is the topic of the Iowa Learning Farms webinar scheduled for noon May 5.

Small grains and soybean relay intercropping is the next step after using small grains for cover crops. Mark Licht, assistant professor and Extension cropping systems specialist at Iowa State University, will explain this practice and its benefits.

Relay intercropping is a way to extend active plant growth after corn and before soybeans to achieve soil health and nutrient loss reduction benefits similar to soybeans. Growth of the small-grain crop is extended through seed production to provide economic value, which is a missed opportunity when small grains are used solely as a cover crop.

Small-grain seed production can be used for livestock feed rations and niche food markets. While soybean and wheat production considered individually may be slightly lower compared to optimized sole crop production, a relay intercropping system results in greater land-use equivalency.

"Relay intercropping is a system that has potential to be used across Iowa in an effort to diversify and provide resiliency to cropping systems," Licht says. "While relay intercropping can be more risky, using a relay intercropping system can diversify farm income while providing soil health and nutrient loss reduction benefits."

Licht's research focuses on corn and soybean production systems and ways to incorporate conservation practices into those systems.

Webinar access

To participate in the live webinar, shortly before noon May 5, go to iastate.zoom.us/join and enter meeting ID 364 284 172. Or call (312) 626-6799 or (646) 876-9923 with meeting ID 364 284 172. The webinar will also be archived at iowalearningfarms.org.

A certified crop adviser board-approved continuing education unit has been applied for, for those who are able to participate in the live webinar. Information about how to apply to receive the credit will be provided at the end of the live webinar.

Source: Iowa Learning Farms, which is responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and its subsidiaries aren't responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.