Just back from driving across Ohio on the turnpike. While most ground is still not obviously in a crop, I saw many large fields covered in what appeared to be a grassy plant, and yellow. What was it?

Another huge field was virtually in green stripes. Long green strips about 24 inches wide, a green 3 inch plant densely planted in the strip, then 3 or 4 inches of dirt, then the same pattern over and over in a 200 acre field. What was it and why the strips and breaks between them?? Thanks.

I'm not a farmer but the wide strips planted with narrow dirt strips sounds like their planter was not working and was leaving an open row.

Those yellow fields may have planted to a cover crop last fall and sprayed with roundup this spring.
The strips may have been a form of no-til.

Probably a cover crop or possibly just weeds and the dirt strips could also be from knifing in anhydrous ammonia in which case would be in 30in rows