D&D Land and Livestock

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Horse Branch, KY
D&D Land and Livestock

D&D Land and Livestock is a first generation operation striving to produce cattle in a manner that is regenerative and sustainable.

Address

1929 State Route 2713
Horse Branch, KY
42349

Telephone

(270) 287-7985

Website

http://www.danddfarms42349.com/

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Our Story

D&D Farms consist of both broiler poultry and cattle operations. D&D Farms is owned/operated by Nathan "Bub" and Lakayah Daugherty with the hopes that their two children want to carry on the tradition when the time comes. D&D Farms manages both operations with sustainability and profitability as key performance indicators for success. To be sustainable and profitable in the business the environment will always be a key resource that must be protected. A goal of D&D Farms is to leave the land in better condition than when we first received it. D&D Farms was established in 2012 (even though Bub has been raising cattle since 2006) with the purchase of a 120 acre cattle farm, later expanded with an adjacent 120 acres in 2015, again in 2017 with 4 leased poultry houses, in 2018 again with the purchase of 2 additional poultry houses and the latest expansion in 2020 with an additional 30 acres of adjacent pasture.

The land that we purchased to run cattle on was improperly managed and the soil and grass had been neglected for several decades. Poultry litter was one ideal solution for us and our poorly managed pastures along with properly grazing our cattle. The pastures were very low in fertility and pH. Early on (prior to 2016) we would take soil test every year and apply commercial fertilizer and it seemed every year we needed the same amounts or more. We knew this practice was not sustainable. After leasing 4 broiler houses we have been able to utilize the litter on our pastures and see the fertility that we needed to produce a quality grass for our cattle to consume at a lower cost. When spreading litter on the farm we take extra caution to ensure we do not spread to close to waterways and streams on the farm to prevent runoff and protect the water quality. To help us better utilize our litter we worked with the local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to develop a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP) for our farm. This allowed us to have our litter tested to identify the available nutrients of the litter and develop an application schedule based on the farm’s needs. Of course, this will change once the soil has been returned to a better state; at that time we will conduct annual soil samples to determine the amount of litter needed to maintain the desired soil fertility.

Another thing that we have done to help with soil fertility is change the way we graze our cattle. When we first began we would split the farm into 2-3 bigger fields and let the cattle graze the grass until it was almost nonexistent. This practice was also not sustainable and allowed for a multitude of issues for our grazing operation. By grazing the grass so short when it would rain the water would runoff and cause erosion. Also when grass is overgrazed it allows for invasive weeds to thrive in the pasture. So between, runoff/erosion, lack of water retention and weeds in our pastures we knew we needed to make a change. In the fall of 2016 we submitted an application for the NRCS EQIP Program (Environmental Quality Incentive Program). Through this program we were able to sit down with the local Natural Resource Specialist to develop a specific plan for our farm. This plan included fixing existing erosion issues, installing water tanks, and fencing, replanting pastures and restoring 18 acres of cropland back to pasture. When we first purchased the farm the cattle were able to roam wherever they wanted, in the woods, ponds and a stream that passes through the farm. Through the EQIP program we have installed county waterlines across the farm and installed freeze-proof water tanks that allowing the cattle access to fresh, clean water throughout the year. A companion practice to the water tanks was to fence off the stream and ponds so that the cattle could not access them. Additionally, the area between the fence and stream now serves as a buffer zone for nutrient runoff. This allowed for a better ecosystem for the aquatic life in the ponds and everything down stream of the farm. All pasture replanting and restoration was completed using no-till practices so that the soil was only slightly disturbed and erosion and runoff potential would be minimized.

In the fall of 2018 we completed all our projects and have implemented a controlled grazing practice that is more environmental sustainable therefore making our operation more sustainable, regenerative and profitable.

In 2019 we reaped many benefits of these new practices. The installed grass water ways have retained the majority of the water shed on the farm and not allowed the soil to be washed away. The access to fresh water has allowed the cattle to be healthier and lastly the controlled grazing implementation has allowed us to graze more cattle and have more grass than ever before. Unlike before we now limit the cattle to only a few acres at a time and rotate them to a new paddock of the pasture daily. By doing this we have increased the utilization of the grass ate in that area, distributed the nutrients of the cattle manure and urine more evenly across the field (therefore less fertilizer needs) and allow the grass more time to regrow before it is grazed again. When we rotate the cattle to a new paddock we leave a minimum of 5 inches of grass behind, this practice provides a buffer for the soil so when it rains the raindrops are slowed down and do not directly impact the soil first in return majorly reducing run off. This practice also increases water retention of the soil because there is no direct sunlight, another sustainable practice. Lastly this practice allows the grass to regrow quicker because there is more surface area for photosynthesis to take place unlike that on 1-2 inches of grass residue.

We at D&D Farms believe that it is ultimately the producers responsibility to be good stewards of the land and to protect the environment that has been given to them. Without the environment and land we live on we could not produce the resources we need as the human race to survive. Because of our dependence on the land and natural resources we need to care for it so that it can continue to provide us what we need to live and survive. If we can leave the land better than when we received it and teach our children to do the same we can and will produce poultry and cattle in a way that is responsible, regenerative and in the end profitable. D&D Farms strives to meet the goals of: Happy family, Healthy land and Profitable business.