Cottonwood SWCD Principles of Soil Health: Living Roots Triple Silo Meats The Cottonwood Soil and Water Conservation District is thrilled to witness the hard work and in- novative practices that Brandon and Nicole Mattison and their family have undertaken at Triple Silo Meats as they learn about improving their farm's soil health through grazing management on the landscape with their cattle operation. This is the second in a 6-part series of articles on soil health principles in action on farms around Cottonwood County In the previous edition, we explored the ways in which Dean, Elizabeth, and Ethan Johnson are working to implement the principle of Keep the Soil Covered at their dairy. In this article we'll look at how the Mattisons at Triple Silo Meats are working to promote plants with Living Roots in their grass-fed beef operation. When talking with Brandon and Nicole Mattison, it is easy to see their enthusiasm for learning about and implementing strate gies to increase their farm's soil health through maintaining living roots in the ground for as long as possible throughout each grow- ing season and from one year to the next. One of the many reasons why living roots are so important to soil health includes the interac tions between plants and microor ganisms living in the soil around plant roots. In effect, many soil microorganisms use compounds secreted by plant roots as a source of energy and nutrients. Having a wide variety of plants growing for as long as possible during the growing season, and from one year to the next, enables a diverse mix of microorganisms to live and prosper in the soil. This creates a multitude of benefits for soil quality, growing plants, and the animals and people that depend on them. One of these benefits is some- thing Brandon and Nicole have already seen since beginning to in- corporate trees into their pastures in 2023. Even though the trees they planted in the pastures last spring May 2024 are still quite small, the Matti- sons are already seeing a positive growth response in the pasture grasses surrounding the trees" root zones. Going forward, the Mattisons plan to continue plant- ing trees in their pastures and managing the timing and intensity of cattle grazing to promote over- all plant health and long-lasting root-soil interactions. Conservation District wishes the Mattisons 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, plants, animals, and commu- nity connections. Cottonwood Soil and Water Cottonwood Soil and 507-832-8287 210 10th Street Windom Water Conservation District www.cottonwoodswcd.org CLEAN WATER LEGACY AMENDMENT Cottonwood SWCD Principles of Soil Health : Living Roots Triple Silo Meats The Cottonwood Soil and Water Conservation District is thrilled to witness the hard work and in- novative practices that Brandon and Nicole Mattison and their family have undertaken at Triple Silo Meats as they learn about improving their farm's soil health through grazing management on the landscape with their cattle operation . This is the second in a 6 - part series of articles on soil health principles in action on farms around Cottonwood County In the previous edition , we explored the ways in which Dean , Elizabeth , and Ethan Johnson are working to implement the principle of Keep the Soil Covered at their dairy . In this article we'll look at how the Mattisons at Triple Silo Meats are working to promote plants with Living Roots in their grass - fed beef operation . When talking with Brandon and Nicole Mattison , it is easy to see their enthusiasm for learning about and implementing strate gies to increase their farm's soil health through maintaining living roots in the ground for as long as possible throughout each grow- ing season and from one year to the next . One of the many reasons why living roots are so important to soil health includes the interac tions between plants and microor ganisms living in the soil around plant roots . In effect , many soil microorganisms use compounds secreted by plant roots as a source of energy and nutrients . Having a wide variety of plants growing for as long as possible during the growing season , and from one year to the next , enables a diverse mix of microorganisms to live and prosper in the soil . This creates a multitude of benefits for soil quality , growing plants , and the animals and people that depend on them . One of these benefits is some- thing Brandon and Nicole have already seen since beginning to in- corporate trees into their pastures in 2023. Even though the trees they planted in the pastures last spring May 2024 are still quite small , the Matti- sons are already seeing a positive growth response in the pasture grasses surrounding the trees " root zones . Going forward , the Mattisons plan to continue plant- ing trees in their pastures and managing the timing and intensity of cattle grazing to promote over- all plant health and long - lasting root - soil interactions . Conservation District wishes the Mattisons 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 , plants , animals , and commu- nity connections . Cottonwood Soil and Water Cottonwood Soil and 507-832-8287 210 10th Street Windom Water Conservation District www.cottonwoodswcd.org CLEAN WATER LEGACY AMENDMENT