HMI was saddened to learn of the passing of long-time Holistic Management practitioner, ranching consultant, and writer, Walt Davis of Calera, Oklahoma. Walt spent over fifty years ranching in west Texas and in southeast Oklahoma and was a fifth-generation rancher. He attended Texas A&M College where he completed a BS degree in animal husbandry
After almost going broke following the advice of high tech agriculture experts, he learned about Holistic Management, which he implemented successfully on the Walt Davis Ranch with amazing results. With planned grazing, biodiversity exploded with an increase of dung beetles and earthworms and a decrease of pest organisms. The ranch became consistently profitable as expenses dropped and production increased.
Walt generously shared his knowledge and experience as speaker and educator at many Holistic Management and regenerative agriculture events around the country. He also worked as a management consultant and provided leadership for numerous organizations including Holistic Management of Texas, HRM Oklahoma, and the Oklahoma Land Stewardship Alliance. He also served on the Board of Directors for the Dixon Water Foundation.
Walt also loved to write and was the author of numerous articles published in the Farm Progress family of magazines, HMI's IN PRACTICE, and in The Stockman GrassFarmer. He also published five books, Cerebral Ranching, Do Your Strawberries Taste Red, How to Not go Broke Ranching, A Gathering at Oak Creek, and The Green Revolution Delusion.
HMI offers our condolences to the Davis family.