If you've driven just north of Monroe and seen what appears to be two different crops growing side by side in a field, you weren't mistaken — that's exactly what's going on. They're cover crops, and their use with a creative planting technique has gained momentum in recent years thanks to area farmer Greg Keller.
Greg Keller gestures toward his field full of rye and corn, with the rye being taller than the corn at the moment. The rye is a cover crop, adding structure and nutrients to the soil and preventing runoff as the corn grows.
Greg Keller's no-till drill seeder, seen above, uses a unique configuration to plant twin-row rye between rows of corn on his farm, which drew a crowd of farmers from Practical Farmers of Iowa on June 4, 2026.
Two rows of rye, a cover crop, grow between every row of corn on Greg Keller's farm near Monroe. This method of planting, using a no-till drill planter, allows for less soil erosion and consistent nitrogen in the soil, eliminating the need for crop rotation and improving yields.
Greg Keller gestures toward his field full of rye and corn, with the rye being taller than the corn at the moment. The rye is a cover crop, adding structure and nutrients to the soil and preventing runoff as the corn grows.
Two rows of rye, a cover crop, grow between every row of corn on Greg Keller's farm near Monroe. This method of planting, using a no-till drill planter, allows for less soil erosion and consistent nitrogen in the soil, eliminating the need for crop rotation and improving yields.
Greg Keller's no-till drill seeder, seen above, uses a unique configuration to plant twin-row rye between rows of corn on his farm, which drew a crowd of farmers from Practical Farmers of Iowa on June 4, 2026.
