Promoting Soil Health in Harsh Conditions: How One Potato Grower Makes Every Inch of Water Count

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In regions with limited rainfall and short growing seasons, promoting soil health might seem like an impossible task. But this CO potato farmer featured in our How To Soil Health video series sees things differently. Farming in a desert climate with less than six inches of annual precipitation, he considers cover crops not as a luxury, but as a strategic investment.

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“Some people might think of a cover crop as an expense. I look at it as an investment,” he explains.

The farm is located in a high-altitude region at 7,600 feet, where irrigation from mountain snowmelt is essential. Without irrigation, farming would be out of the question. But with water being a precious resource, every drop must be maximized. That’s where healthy soil comes in.

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Investing in Soil Health to Maximize Water Efficiency

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In this extreme environment, soil structure can make or break a potato crop. Rockey Farms emphasizes that when the soil is healthy, water infiltrates more efficiently and is stored longer.

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“Now we have a better infiltration rate because we have good aggregation,” he says. “And we have a higher water holding capacity because we’ve been able to bank more carbon in our soil.”

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We often discuss the multiple functions of soil organic matter, including improving nutrient cycling, reducing erosion, and, perhaps most critically in dry regions, enhancing water retention. Brendon Rockey has seen that firsthand through rising organic matter levels and improved field performance.

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Comparing Water Use on Paper

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In his area, the economics of cover crops are easier to justify because the impact can be measured directly. All irrigation pivots are metered, allowing for side-by-side comparisons of water use between cover crops and traditional cash crops like barley.

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“So it means it’s black and white on paper,” he says. “Barley took this much water. Cover crop took this much.”

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This kind of tangible data is invaluable in convincing farmers to adopt soil-building practices. In areas where water is the limiting factor, showing how soil health strategies can conserve water while supporting productivity makes the case that regenerative practices are not only ecologically sound but economically viable.

Making It Work with Short Growing Seasons

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High altitude has its perks; warm days and cool nights are ideal for growing high-quality potatoes, but the tradeoff is a very short frost-free season. That limits the ability to grow cover crops before or after the main crop. So Brendon got creative.

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Instead of abandoning cover crops entirely, he started integrating companion crops directly into his potato fields. These companion plants grow alongside the main crop, delivering many of the same benefits—such as improved soil structure, pest suppression, and nutrient cycling—during the same window of time.

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“Since I can’t do some of these crops before or after, let’s do it during the cash crop,” he explains. “Let’s integrate the two and get all these benefits during that small window.”

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This kind of innovation is a hallmark of the regenerative producers we highlight in the How To Soil Health series. They don’t wait for ideal conditions. They adapt, experiment, and find ways to promote soil health in even the most challenging environments.

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Soil Health in Every System

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Whether it’s through rotational planning, companion cropping, or measuring water use with precision tools, this grower’s story is a reminder that soil health is not a one-size-fits-all journey. It must be tailored to the conditions of the land and the goals of the grower.

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If you’re facing challenges like limited rainfall, short seasons, or irrigation constraints, don’t count yourself out of the soil health conversation. With the right tools, partnerships, and approach, you can still build soils that are more resilient, productive, and water-efficient.

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To see more stories like this—and get inspired by producers across the country tackling unique challenges with creativity—explore our How To Soil Health video series and watch our How to Promote Soil Health in Harsh Conditions video.

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