Cottonwood Principles of soil health: Keep the soil covered Johnson family dairy Maintaining a healthy soil is key to keeping production running at an optimal level in farming. At the Cottonwood Soil and Water Conservation District, we work to support producers in Cottonwood County to make the best decisions possible to enhance the health and quality of their soils. We're happy to see the hard work and experi mentation that Dean, Elizabeth, and Ethan Johnson have undertak en as they learn about improving the health of their farm's soils. SWCD This story is the first in a six- part series of articles on soil health principles in action on farms around Cottonwood County Taken together, the soil health principles include: Keep the Soil Covered, Limit Disturbance, Build Diversity, Living Root, Integrate Livestock, and Context. We'll begin by exploring the ways in which the Johnsons are working to implement the principle of Keep the Soil Covered. If you drove by the Johnson farm this last fall and snow-free winter, you might have noticed that all their tillable acres are planted with a growing cover crop of cereal rye. Following an intro- duction into cover crops through online research and later partici pation in the Soil Health Academy program, they included cereal rye cover crops on their farm over the past few years. They've noticed that cereal rye gives them more flexibility in their rotations, and that the rye contributes to having a healthier soil, which helps raise the quality of their cows' milk. The cereal rye they have grow- ing on a part of their fields over winter is planted at a higher rate, with the plan for harvesting rye grain from that area to have for replanting later this fall. They are considering overseeding that rye this spring with a mix of annual forage species for summer grazing. which takes pressure off their pe rennial pastures. On other parts of the farm, the cereal rye is planted at a lower rate, with the idea that it will be terminated in the spring at an optimum time to allow the following corn or soybean crop to be planted and develop well. Besides the growing cover crops, the Johnsons also use no-till for beans and strip-till for their corn, which lets them keep an increased level of crop residues on the soil surface. This helps reduce crusting on the soil surface from the impact of heavy spring rains and erosion from strong winds during months when crops aren't actively growing. February 2024 The Johnsons mention that one of their key assets in the family operation is making observations of what's happening at different times across their farm. It's easy to see how they have developed a number of observational skills to manage the complexity of their operation with the work they have done with grazing, cover crops, and reduced tillage systems. Cottonwood Soil and Water Conservation District wishes the Johnsons success as they continue to learn and modify their manage- ment activities with the goal of keeping the farm on a strong foot- ing moving forward, with healthy soils, animals, and community connections. 507-832-8287 210 10th Street Windom Cottonwood Soil and Water Conservation District www.cottonwoodswcd.org CLEAN WATER LEGACY AMENDMENT Cottonwood Principles of soil health : Keep the soil covered Johnson family dairy Maintaining a healthy soil is key to keeping production running at an optimal level in farming . At the Cottonwood Soil and Water Conservation District , we work to support producers in Cottonwood County to make the best decisions possible to enhance the health and quality of their soils . We're happy to see the hard work and experi mentation that Dean , Elizabeth , and Ethan Johnson have undertak en as they learn about improving the health of their farm's soils . SWCD This story is the first in a six part series of articles on soil health principles in action on farms around Cottonwood County Taken together , the soil health principles include : Keep the Soil Covered , Limit Disturbance , Build Diversity , Living Root , Integrate Livestock , and Context . We'll begin by exploring the ways in which the Johnsons are working to implement the principle of Keep the Soil Covered . If you drove by the Johnson farm this last fall and snow - free winter , you might have noticed that all their tillable acres are planted with a growing cover crop of cereal rye . Following an intro duction into cover crops through online research and later partici pation in the Soil Health Academy program , they included cereal rye cover crops on their farm over the past few years . They've noticed that cereal rye gives them more flexibility in their rotations , and that the rye contributes to having a healthier soil , which helps raise the quality of their cows ' milk . The cereal rye they have grow ing on a part of their fields over winter is planted at a higher rate , with the plan for harvesting rye grain from that area to have for replanting later this fall . They are considering overseeding that rye this spring with a mix of annual forage species for summer grazing . which takes pressure off their pe rennial pastures . On other parts of the farm , the cereal rye is planted at a lower rate , with the idea that it will be terminated in the spring at an optimum time to allow the following corn or soybean crop to be planted and develop well . Besides the growing cover crops , the Johnsons also use no - till for beans and strip - till for their corn , which lets them keep an increased level of crop residues on the soil surface . This helps reduce crusting on the soil surface from the impact of heavy spring rains and erosion from strong winds during months when crops aren't actively growing . February 2024 The Johnsons mention that one of their key assets in the family operation is making observations of what's happening at different times across their farm . It's easy to see how they have developed a number of observational skills to manage the complexity of their operation with the work they have done with grazing , cover crops , and reduced tillage systems . Cottonwood Soil and Water Conservation District wishes the Johnsons success as they continue to learn and modify their manage ment activities with the goal of keeping the farm on a strong foot ing moving forward , with healthy soils , animals , and community connections . 507-832-8287 210 10th Street Windom Cottonwood Soil and Water Conservation District www.cottonwoodswcd.org CLEAN WATER LEGACY AMENDMENT