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SOIL HEALTH IN PRACTICE - REAL SOLUTIONS FROM REAL FARMERS

Biotic Farming Cover crop species are selected to bloom throughout the
growing season, giving season long forage for bees, butter-
“Biotic Farming”, a phrase coined and adopted by Brendon flies, wasps, beetles and other beneficial.
Rockey, is all about observing and working with nature
and taking care of the soil. Rockey’s San Luis Valley, CO Companions
potato farm has undergone some radical changes over the Never one to be complacent, and after witnessing the benefits
past 20 years as they took a hard look at what wasn’t work- of plant diversity in his cover crops, Rockey decided to attach
ing on the farm, and opted to change things. The result— two Gandy boxes to their Grimme potato planter to seed com-
the birth of Biotic Farming. panion plants like chick peas, field peas, chickling vetch, fava

Rockey states, “Soil health is imperative and the fundamental beans, and buckwheat, right into the seed potato crops. The
legume heavy companion
principles are universal, regardless of the crop being grown.” mix fixes nitrogen, supports
In conventional agriculture, weeds, diseases and insects are phosphorus mobilization,
attacked with a “let’s kill it” mentality, but eventually resis- and the flowers create addi-
tance develops, effectiveness is decreased, and the natural tional beneficial insect hab-
living systems which could have helped solve the problem itat, which is crucial for suc-
has been decimated. Rockey reflects, “We realized that we cessful biotic integrated pest
could either be pro-biotic, or anti-biotic. We chose to wipe management (IPM). Colora-
the slate clean and start again with being pro-biotic.” They do State University research
are now chemical-free with less weeds, disease, and insects, on this practice concluded
and improved soil fertility and structure, all while decreasing that the companion plants
water usage and harvesting high quality potatoes. provide the potato crops with

Flowers a Potato Virus Y defense.
Aphids and thrips are a serious pest problem in potatoes, When not in potatoes, the traditional rotation crop was
but conventional insecticide control is harmful to all insects barley, but today it is a diverse cover crop mix of nearly 20
and will ultimately negatively impact soil health. Leveraging species of plants. This green cover menu feeds the soil and
beneficial insects is a big part of the biotic strategy. Rockey the soil biology as a carbon fixing green manure buffet. “We
plants flowering strips of annual cover crops in and around get the benefits of each of these species every single year,”
fields to serve as insectary strips for both beneficial insects Rockey said of the diversity of plants in his green manure
and pollinators (even though pollinators are not necessary mix. “Each of the green manure crops has a specific benefit,
for potato production). Beneficial insects are attracted and and the plants collaborate, not compete and these covers
provided with habitat for nutrition and reproduction. These have made huge changes in our soil-borne pathogens and
“good guys” are the defense force against the “bad guys” like soil fertility.” This soil health translates to increased potato
aphids, a disease spreading vector, and thrips, a tiny spud plant health with higher brix level and makes these healthy
leaf feeding critter. The insectary strips have eliminated the plants less attractive and susceptible to insects and diseases.
need for insecticide applications, and while pests are not While it has taken Brendon and his crew 20 years to make
entirely eliminated, the predator/prey insect population is
in balance and damage is kept below economic thresholds. the changes and implement their Biotic Farming system,
he thinks it can be done
much quicker for those with
a passion to change. “It’s a
choice between promoting,
enhancing, and nurturing
life into the system, or being
‘anti-biotic’ and killing ev-
Photos by Brendon Rockey make the choice to change,”
erything—and anyone can

concludes Rockey.

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