Cottonwood SWCD Principles of Soil Health: Build Diversity Batalden Farm 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 dedication that Ryan, Tiffany, Phil, and Deb Batalden have undertaken as they work to improve the health of their farm's soils. This story is the fourth in a six- part series of articles on soil health principles in action on farms around Cottonwood County Together, the soil health principles include: Keep the Soil Covered, Limit Disturbance, Build Diversity, Living Root, Integrate Livestock, and Context. In this Ag Edition, we will focus on the soil health principle of building diversity, and the Batalden's have been doing just that. Ryan Batalden is a certified organic farmer in northern Cottonwood County. He has been organic for over 20 years. 21 to be exact! His parents, Phil and Deb Batalden, have been farming organic for the past 25 years. They understand the need for biodiversity. "Soil prefers to have diversity", Ryan Batalden stated. The Batalden family includes variety in their crop rotation each year by planting Buckwheat as one of the crops alongside corn and beans. Buckwheat is a small grain that is a fast growing warm season plant. Ryan Batalden has planted this Buckwheat as a main crop for the last 2 years, but had periodically incorporated it in his fields the past 21 years. The Batalden's learned that incorporating a small grain into their crop rotation helps reduce weed and disease cycles that affect the corn and bean cash crops. Since they are Cottonwood Soil and a certified organic farm, they do not use chemicals to address weeds and pests. "All it takes for us on our farm to break up these cycles is to incorporate a third crop in the rotation". Not only is Buckwheat beneficial for preventing weed and pest cycles, it also provides habitat and a food source for pollinators. As shown in the picture above, bees love Buckwheat and will actually make a honey out of it. While Buckwheat is the main small grain that the Batalden's grow each year, they have grown other small grains as well. These include barley (and field peas as a mix for hog feed), wheat, and oats. Not only does this variety of crops help out the soil, it provides food and a temporary cover for wildlife species. After talking with Ryan Batalden it is clear to see that he is an observant wildlife enthusiast. He gets excited when he observes all the variety of wildlife in his fields. Water Conservation District November 2024 He noticed that each year when he would swathe the small grains, wildlife such as toads, frogs, and mice as well as insects (crickets and beetles) would flush up from the grains. These wildlife and insect species in turn provide food sources for larger wildlife. Ryan Batalden notices that Red-tailed Hawks and Cooper's Hawks wait at the edge of the fields after he swathes the small grain crop. They are scoping out the fields for mice. Swallow species also flutter above the field hunting for insects to eat. Cottonwood Soil and Water Conservation District wishes the Batalden's success as they continue to learn and modify their management activities with the goal of keeping the farm on a strong footing moving forward, with healthy soils, animals, and community connections. 507-832-8287 210 10th Street Windom www.cottonwoodswcd.org CLEAN WATER LAND & LEGACY AMENDMENT Cottonwood SWCD Principles of Soil Health : Build Diversity Batalden Farm 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 dedication that Ryan , Tiffany , Phil , and Deb Batalden have undertaken as they work to improve the health of their farm's soils . This story is the fourth in a six- part series of articles on soil health principles in action on farms around Cottonwood County Together , the soil health principles include : Keep the Soil Covered , Limit Disturbance , Build Diversity , Living Root , Integrate Livestock , and Context . In this Ag Edition , we will focus on the soil health principle of building diversity , and the Batalden's have been doing just that . Ryan Batalden is a certified organic farmer in northern Cottonwood County . He has been organic for over 20 years . 21 to be exact ! His parents , Phil and Deb Batalden , have been farming organic for the past 25 years . They understand the need for biodiversity . " Soil prefers to have diversity " , Ryan Batalden stated . The Batalden family includes variety in their crop rotation each year by planting Buckwheat as one of the crops alongside corn and beans . Buckwheat is a small grain that is a fast growing warm season plant . Ryan Batalden has planted this Buckwheat as a main crop for the last 2 years , but had periodically incorporated it in his fields the past 21 years . The Batalden's learned that incorporating a small grain into their crop rotation helps reduce weed and disease cycles that affect the corn and bean cash crops . Since they are Cottonwood Soil and a certified organic farm , they do not use chemicals to address weeds and pests . " All it takes for us on our farm to break up these cycles is to incorporate a third crop in the rotation " . Not only is Buckwheat beneficial for preventing weed and pest cycles , it also provides habitat and a food source for pollinators . As shown in the picture above , bees love Buckwheat and will actually make a honey out of it . While Buckwheat is the main small grain that the Batalden's grow each year , they have grown other small grains as well . These include barley ( and field peas as a mix for hog feed ) , wheat , and oats . Not only does this variety of crops help out the soil , it provides food and a temporary cover for wildlife species . After talking with Ryan Batalden it is clear to see that he is an observant wildlife enthusiast . He gets excited when he observes all the variety of wildlife in his fields . Water Conservation District November 2024 He noticed that each year when he would swathe the small grains , wildlife such as toads , frogs , and mice as well as insects ( crickets and beetles ) would flush up from the grains . These wildlife and insect species in turn provide food sources for larger wildlife . Ryan Batalden notices that Red - tailed Hawks and Cooper's Hawks wait at the edge of the fields after he swathes the small grain crop . They are scoping out the fields for mice . Swallow species also flutter above the field hunting for insects to eat . Cottonwood Soil and Water Conservation District wishes the Batalden's success as they continue to learn and modify their management activities with the goal of keeping the farm on a strong footing moving forward , with healthy soils , animals , and community connections . 507-832-8287 210 10th Street Windom www.cottonwoodswcd.org CLEAN WATER LAND & LEGACY AMENDMENT