Relay Intercropping Field Day Near Coggon on Wednesday

Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D) and the American Flood Coalition, will host a relay intercropping field day near Coggon on Wednesday, June 3rd from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Mike Bretz’s farm. The no-cost event is open to farmers and landowners and includes a complimentary meal.

In a relay intercropping system, where three crops are grown in two years, the benefits include a marketable small grain for use as cover crops and additional revenue for the farmer. Similar to cover crops, a relay intercropping system can provide many benefits to farmers and landowners, including reduced soil erosion, weed suppression, reduced nutrient loads entering water bodies, increased organic matter in the soil, and substantial flood reduction potential.

The field day will feature host and farmer Mike Bretz sharing how he has successfully incorporated cover crops into his operation and has begun adding relay intercropping in the rotation to grow cover crop seed. Ross Evelsizer, Northeast Iowa RC&D natural resources projects director, will share results from a study exploring the flood reduction benefits of relay intercropping in Iowa. The Iowa Learning Farms will also present their Conservation Station rainfall simulator trailer.

Representatives from the American Flood Coalition will attend the field day to discuss the benefits of relay cropping for flood resilience and water quality, and to connect with farmers and landowners on how conservation practices like relay intercropping contribute to stronger, more flood-resilient communities. Weather permitting, the field day will include a field tour of Mike’s relay intercropping field.

The field day will be held at the Bretz Farm, 3162 Washington Ave, Coggon, IA 52218. The no-cost event and open to farmers and landowners, though we require reservations to ensure adequate space and food. For reasonable accommodations and to RSVP, please contact Liz Ripley at 515-294-5429 or [email protected] by May 27.  Attendees will be entered in a drawing for ISU Prairie Strips honey.

Iowa Learning Farms field days and workshops are supported by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. This event is supported by a USDA NRCS Conservation Innovation grant award NR233A750011G012.  For more information about Iowa Learning Farms, visit www.iowalearningfarms.org.

Established in 2004, Iowa Learning Farms is building a Culture of Conservation by encouraging adoption of conservation practices. Farmers, researchers and ILF team members are working together to identify and implement the best management practices that improve water quality and soil health while remaining profitable. Partners of Iowa Learning Farms include the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Iowa Department of Natural Resources, EPA Section 319 Grant Program and GROWMARK, Inc.

photo courtesy of Iowa Learning Farms