Beadle Conservation District
Clean. Clear. Conservation.
The John and Cheryl Dale Soil Health and Wetland Conservation Farm was established in 2020 thanks to the Dale family’s generous support and visionary conservation leadership. The Dale family, Ducks Unlimited and Beadle Conservation District partnership recognizes the value of small wetlands embedded in agricultural land for the betterment of the soil, water, air, animals and plants. The project partners also recognize the value of working together with agricultural producers on sites like these across the Prairie Pothole Region to promote soil health and regenerative agriculture. This unique demonstration farm will be used for outreach and educational purposes to co-promote wetland conservation and sustainable agriculture. We are forever grateful to the Dale family for their conservation leadership and dedicate this site in their honor.
Previously degraded prairie pothole wetlands on the Dale Demonstration Farm have been restored and marginal cropland (saline or saturated) has been planted to perennial species. The crop rotation includes minimum tillage, small grains, cover crops for grazing, and interseeding into corn. Future practices at the Dale Farm will include companion cropping at planting and multi-species cropping. The sooner the five principles of soil health are adopted, the sooner land managers will see results. The Dale Farm has been newly transitioned to sustainable land management practices, and with annual soil testing, it offers a chance to study the restorative capabilities of regenerative agriculture in action on a productive farm and promote the benefits to local growers
Farm Tour 2023
Interseeding cover crops
into 60" corn rows
