Dan Douglas has farming in his blood

In His Blood

By Terry Ropp

Submitted Photo

Dan Douglas continues farming on part of his family’s original 1853 homestead

Dan Douglas of Bentonville, Ark., was raised on a through the years he has been in agriculture in different places at chicken and dairy farm. When he was a youngster, his parents, different times. Five years ago, Dan purchased 200 acres just down Max and Mabel Douglas, had a hatchery which included 60 incubators. the road from his home. Then, very recently, another farm he had

After serving on the quorum court for four years, Dan served as been leasing was sold, resulting and all of his 120 commercial Anan Arkansas State Representative for eight years, where he served gus cows run on limited acreage. as chair of the House Ag, Forestry and Economic Development Dan plans on a herd of 80 females after heavy culling this spring. Committee for six years before deciding not to run again. All of the females will be preg checked first, with any that are open

The years had been good ones, and Dan felt that he had accom- culled and sold. Other culling criteria include age, feet condition plished what he needed to do. However, he grew tired of the po- and disposition. litical infighting and declined to run for reelection last year. He “I’m too old to deal with crazy cows,” Dan commented. finds being able to listen to the feuding on TV a welcome relief Dan runs a black baldie operation and has four registered Herefrom participating in it. One result of his political career was that ford bulls that he switches out every four years to avoid linebreedfall calving became necessary in order to prevent a conflict with ing. While in the legislature, Dan did not raise replacement heifers the Little Rock congressional sessions, which run from but rather purchased young cows as replacements. Now mid-January to mid-April. “I could find help to feed and look over the cattle, Bentonville, Ark. that he’s back home, he’s planning on raising his own replacement heifers again. but handling spring calving was another story,” Dan ex- The herd is worked twice a year, in spring and fall, plained. “I didn’t want a utility room full of struggling using a good vaccination protocol and treating for flies, calves when I couldn’t be there.” with mineral followed by pour on or spray as needed. The

Dan lives on 10 acres that was part of the family’s original acreage since 1853. Farming is in his blood and — Continued on Next Page

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In His Blood

Continued from Previous Page

calves are weaned at 500 to 550 pounds when Just as the number of bushels per acre of corn they are line weaned and retained for 30 to keeps increasing through technology and 45 days before being sold. Dan times weaning science advancements, technology and sciin order to allow cows three to four months ence are going to have to be just as effective to rest before the next breeding season. at increasing livestock production.

From Dan’s viewpoint, the most important Another problem with the future of agricultechnological change since he was a young- ture in general and livestock more specificalster is the round baler. The larger bales re- ly, from Dan’s point of view, is that making a duced labor costs by making feeding and profit, much less a living, is becoming more storage easier, decreasing cattle nutrition and more difficult due to rising input costs. costs, in addition to being able to raise more He cites startup capital, equipment expenscattle per acre. es, repairs, fertilizer and insurance as a few

Culling to 80 cows of many profit-stealing will leave land for hay meadows. Dan’s fields are mostly fescue and Bermuda, with little clover left after combating weeds like hemlock and Canadian thistle with the many years of suc I’m hard on the grandkids as they help me on the farm. I want them to be hands-on with “ factors. Dan loves taking his three grandchildren around the farm. While he enjoys taking them to the creek where they see ducks, herons and an occasional bald eagle, he cessful spraying. On something other than also wants them to the other hand, Dan admits thistles can’t a computer or cell understand how much work is involved in agbe entirely eliminat- phone. They need to ricultural production. ed because the seeds are wind borne. He get their hands dirty “I’m hard on the grandkids as they mixes herbicide and with the manual work help me on the farm,” fertilizer for a one application process, an- that it takes to Dan said. “I want them to be hands-on other labor and cost produce food in order with something othsaving practice. He spot sprays as needed. to truly understand er than a computer or cell phone. They Part of Dan’s future plans is overseeding with clover and orwhere their food comes from.” need to get their hands dirty with the manual work that it chard grass. Dan is deeply con- – Dan Douglas takes to produce food in order to truly uncerned about the derstand where their future of agriculture food comes from.” and has discouraged One day, Gauge was his 15-year-old grandson Gauge from going helping Dan work cattle. Gauge was holdinto farming as a career. According to Dan, ing up the tail while Dan banded the calves. the population in 2050 is expected to be Once Gauge accidentally dropped the tail 10 billion people, which will require more and Dan got kicked in the mouth and had food than has been produced in the previous blood running down his face. Gauge asked, 8,000 years combined. Science and modern “Are you alright, Grandpa?” I told Gauge that production methods need to evolve in or- of course I was all right, and it was time to get der to meet the huge need. Dan believes the another calf because there’s work to be done,” movement toward plant-based meat does not Dan said. “Got to teach these youngsters to take into account that cattle can be raised work hard and be tough.” on marginal land that is unsuitable for crops.