Farm & Ranch
Dennis Charolais: Heritage and Hard Work
Every family farm has a story to tell. Some are generations deep, rooted in tradition, while others see younger generations diversify from its beginnings.
Some maintain modest-sized businesses, while other have turned into sprawling corporations. Too many times in this day and age, others see farms fade away with the generations that came before.
The Dennis Charolais Farm in Saint Jo, Texas, nestled among rolling hills and surrounded by wineries, a pizzeria and soon a bed and breakfast, is an accumulation of five generations in the Dennis family. Today, Eric Dennis operates the farm that was a piece of his heritage he took and made his very own.
Old signs can still be found dictating where the Dennis Farm once sprawled across thousands of acres, but as each generation took possession, the land slowly dwindled. “You can see signs where Dennises used to own it from the bluff all the way to the river,” said Dennis, as he points far off in each direction. “Sadly enough, what happens in most instances when land is passed down to the next generation is the kids don’t have use for the land or haven’t been around, and they will sell their parts off and gradually everything gets sold down and chipped away.”
Fortunately, Dennis’ father, Richard, refused to let go of any more of his family’s legacy. The elder Dennis had graduated from Texas A&M with his masters and doctorate, had a veterinarian license and was working as a professor at Ohio State University when he was informed his kinfolk were preparing to sell the family land.
To read more pick up a copy of the February 2019 NTFR issue. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.
By Barry Whitworth, DVM, MPH
With the prolonged drought, most pastures in Oklahoma end up in poor condition. With the lack of available forage, animals may go in search of alternative foods.
If oak trees are in the pastures, acorns may be a favorite meal for some livestock in the fall. This may result in oak poisoning.
Oak leaves, twigs, buds, and acorns may be toxic to some animals when consumed.
To read more, pick up a copy of the November edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By: Tony Dean
There are a handful of grasses on North Texas grazing lands ranchers need to know, not because they are highly desirable, but rather because they are not of much value. I call them “decom” plants, which is am acronym for “Don’t Ever Count On Me.” Silver bluestem is a “decom” grass.
Silver bluestem is a perennial which grows in all areas of Texas. It can survive in almost all soil types, and in full sun conditions or in semi shade. It grows up to three feet tall and is easily recognized with the presence of the white fuzzy seed head. Also, one of the identifying characteristics of Silver bluestem is a bend in the stems at each node, causing the plants to take on a rounded shape as they mature.
To read more, pick up a copy of the November edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By: Rayford Pullen
Fall is here which means winter is closing in on us and before we officially get into winter, we need to make sure our factories are either producing or will be producing in a few months.
We have been pregnancy testing our cows this fall and if they are not bred or nursing a calf, we are bidding them adios. With annual costs somewhere between $900.00 and $1,000.00 per cow, those cows not producing a live weaned calf are costing us quite a bit.
To read more, pick up a copy of the November edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
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