The present invention is a superimposed standing valve and related method of harvesting oil and gas using a conventional rod pump equipped with the superimposed standing valve. The superimposed standing valve includes a donut disposed between a top cylinder and a main standing valve such that the donut can slide along the top cylinder a fixed valve stroke. A plurality of openings are sealed and unsealed by the movement of the donut. The superimposed standing valve isolates the pump from the head pressure of the oil and gas inside of the tubing thereby enabling the standing valve of the pump to remain open on both the upstroke and the downstroke. As a result, the superimposed standing valve increases pump efficiency and reduces the risk of gas locking.