On the farm where I grew up I have found my calling. I am a farmer. However, the farm I work today is a far different place than the farm my father inherited. Modern practices and improved technology have led to a more efficient and productive farm both in terms of workload and economic profitability.

Growing up in a farming home was a wonderful experience. Farm life molded me into the farmer, husband, and father I am today. Like several Tennessee farms, Diamond M Farms was initially a tobacco farm with around 20 crossbred commercial cows on the side. But 1997 found me a married man two hours away from the farm in Nashville, TN, where my wife was in school, and the viability of tobacco as a cash crop was no longer feasible. We were left to explore other options for increasing the cash flow. Clay County is mostly ridge land, and Diamond M Farms is no exception. Grass was about all we could grow without risking the loss of valuable topsoil. Our efforts for increased cash flow immediately turned to making our cattle more profitable. At first this goal was sought by increasing the number of cows; however, more cows means more hay and pastureland. Or looking at the problem another way, since we didn’t have more land, we need to make our land the best it could be for production. This dilemma forced me to put in to action the education I had earned in college and thru NRCS programs, so rotational grazing at 384 Key Road was born.

Once we began to implement our cross fencing program we all became addicted to the results, even the cows like the plan. Immediately we noted an improvement in the weaning weights of our commercial herd where we averaged weaning weights of 646 pounds on steers straight off the cow. Further heard management has left us in 2008 with a 98 percent registered Angus herd, but what I find most satisfying is being able to manage 50 cows with calves on about 50 acres with excellent weaning weights and healthy animals. Once every three days finds our cows lining up to rotate to the next one of seventeen green paddocks. Having the pasture cut up into smaller paddocks allows me to no-till drill in summer annuals, winter annuals, and stockpile fescue for late fall grazing. This past year was hard on everyone’s stand of grass so I drilled more seed back in the pastures to prevent loss of any topsoil. This also allowed me to pull through the winter and still have hay left over to sell to less fortunate farmers, this extra money helped to pay for fertilizer for 2008. My cows have not been able to keep up with the forage growth this spring so I will be saving two paddocks of rye to cut for hay.  

Cross fencing is but one of many environmental issues that I have had to plan for on our farm. Water quality and preservation became the next task to complete. To preserve and protect fresh water quality both for the local fish population and the environment, all ponds at Diamond M Farms have been fenced off from the cattle. This accomplishment brought to completion a task began in early 2004.

The cleaner water in the ponds helps the bluegill and catfish to grow and reproduce. Last summer, my oldest daughter was having fun catching small bluegill when a four and a half pound catfish took her bait; this led to a five-minute battle with a Snoopy reel. Our cattle don’t even seem to miss standing in the ponds, since they now drink from one of 10 frost proof water systems providing them year round access to fresh clean water. Fencing madness continued with encouragement and a small grant thru our local district conservation program allowing all of our cattle fenced out of springs, creeks, ponds, and wooded areas creating a riparian forest with cattle access limited to over 300 feet from any streams on the property. This ensures that the water leaving our farm is cleaner than it was to start with.

It takes a forest approximately 100 years to make one inch of topsoil and with improper management a century of work washes away in a matter of minutes. At Diamond M Farms, we work hard to ensure that our soil remains productive on our farm, not wasted as river silt.

Estimates put average cropland topsoil loss in Clay and Overton Counties at 10 tons of topsoil per acre per year. A major focus of mine upon returning to full time farming was changing that number for my farm. With modern farming practices in use every day on the farm we now lose less than 1.5 tons per acre per year. Being a full time farmer means I survey my land each and every day and when erosion problems start we implement a repair ASAP. Road banks are sloped to better enable tractor and equipment access. Ditches are smoothed out and sewn in grass making pasture out of a problem. Bringing in replacement soil and providing drainage with metal piping addressed an erosion problem at one of our pond spillways.

Water quality, erosion, and forage production aren’t the only issues faced by the modern beef producer. Cattle are living breathing animals and as such produce waste; therefore, as a conservationist planning for waste and odor management became yet another priority. At Diamond M Farms cattle are fed hay under roof so waste can be distributed across all of our pastures, and run-off will be limited. If a roofed feeding area is not yet implemented in a given field, then hay feeders are moved about in a timely manner. These actions, along with our rotational grazing program ensure even manure distribution across our entire acreage.

Environmentalism and conservationism on a working farm in Tennessee means constantly planning for the future. Like all farms there are several areas that I have identified for improvement in the coming years. Current plans for 2008-2009 include building covering for fuel storage and more covered hay feeding areas with lumber harvested from our own land. In order to prevent manure accumulation, cow/calf injury, bacterial infections, and hay loss future plans include moving away from hay ring feeders and using a hay un-roller for daily hay feeding.  I also have my eye on the rocky pond edges of the ponds on our farm, and I am seeking means to get these areas in grass for a better filter zone.

             Environmental improvement has left our farm with an unexpected source of income as well. By better managing the land, which includes our pastureland, CRP lands, hay fields edging, food plots and log yards, the local wildlife population has flourished with numerous trophy bucks and several near-record turkeys being harvested from the farm. So, not only has the productivity improved from 20 cows and tobacco, to a registered 50 cow-calf Angus herd, now we also enjoy extra farm income from the lease monies paid by sportsmen to hunt our land. One of my personal joys has been seeing the faces of my children when I or my parents can take my children and nephew on a “farm tour” and see not only our healthy cattle stock with their calves, but deer, turkey, squirrel and other wildlife.

            Exclusion fences, frost-proof watering systems, heavy-use area implementation, and a host of other improvements to our farm have not been achieved alone. I have actively pursued and been granted funds through Clay County Soil Conservation District, FSA, and TDA. NRCS has further assisted my environmental education and promotion by hosting and participating in activities including field days, grazing schools, and pasture walks. In 2005, Diamond M Farms was pleased to host a Pasture Walk sponsored by USDA-NRCS, Clay County Soil Conservation District, TDA, Clay County Cattleman’s Association and UT Extension Service with over 130 farmers and ranchers in attendance from all across the state. A personal achievement in 2005, which I was pleased to share with my farming partner/father, occurred when we were voted the grassland farmer of the year for Clay County. April 2006 found me obtaining Master Beef Certification to better manage my cow-calf operation.

Environmentalism for me extends beyond the day-to-day chores of farm life. Leadership has become a goal for my farm program as well. If environmental farmers don’t choose to be leaders in our industry then how will the good offered by these policies ever be known?  Currently, I am honored to serve as the Chairman of AgriLeadership 20/20, and on the eve of June 1, 2007, I graduated from Leadership Overton. I am a proud and active volunteer in Farm Bureau’s Ag In the Classroom program in my local county and also serve as the local vice-chair for our YF&R county program. I currently serve on the county Farm Bureau board as the Young Farmer representative.