Jason Russell

Contact Information

Jason Russell
234 Prairie Main Rd, Monticello, IA 52310
jasonr424@gmail.com
319-981-6594

Jason Russell started farming 20 years ago on his family’s farm outside of Monticello, IA. His farming operation has changed over the years and today he raises corn, soybeans, cereal rye, and pigs. He also has a few cattle, timber, and custom farms for landowners in the area. He not only enjoys farming, but also enjoys sharing his knowledge with fellow farmers, students of all ages, and his own kids. His wife Sarah is a teacher, and they routinely have classes out to their farm to see and experience the crops and animals.  

Conservation agriculture is important to Jason, and he applies a variety of practices to his farm such as no-till and strip till, cover crops, buffer strips, CRP, and wind and solar energies. Jason first started using cover crops in 2010 after reading an article about their ability to store nutrients. Now with over a decade of growing cover crops, Jason grows his own cereal rye seed and is starting to experiment with relay intercropping, letting cereal rye grow alongside soybeans. “Some of what I custom farm is not cover cropped, and it is reassuring to see how the acres I farm with cover crops have better soil structure, water infiltration, and yield.”

Building a Culture of Conservation: 

“As a hog farmer, cover crops work great in my operation. Having small grains expands the opportunity for applying manure.”