Inspired by a Tradition of Growing for the Future

2023 Cotton Achievement Award Recipient Bart Davis: Born Farmer, Natural Leader, Perpetual Thinker

By Jim Steadman

The University of Georgia

Bart Davis is part and parcel of the South Georgia land he and his family owns and farms. It’s where he grew up. It’s what he has carefully nurtured and built over the past 43 years — growing from 800 acres in the early 1980s to nearly 7,500 diversified crop acres and about 300 head of cattle today. He is a testament to perseverance and hard work, to overcoming personal tragedy and obstacles, to stepping into leadership roles to help improve his community and the cotton and peanut industries, to accepting and adapting new farming practices, and to always asking, “What can we do to make it better?”

2023 Cotton Grower Cotton Achievement Award recipient Bart Davis. (Photo: Jim Steadman)

Yet, he still admits, “All I wanted to do was farm.”

In recognition of his farming success, leadership and industry involvement, and continued vision and drive for agriculture’s future, Cotton Grower magazine is honored to recognize Bart Davis, Jr. of Doerun, GA, as the recipient of the 2023 Cotton Grower℠ Cotton Achievement Award.

Read the full article HERE.

Bart Davis named 2023 Georgia Farmer of the Year

By Amanda Budd

The University of Georgia

Bart Davis doesn’t seek out accolades or praise, but through an impressive dedication to his farm and the industry, honor found him at this year’s Georgia Ag Forecast presentation, where he was recognized as 2023 Georgia Farmer of the Year.

University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Dean Nick Place awarded Davis at the annual outlook event Jan. 27 on the UGA Tifton campus.

UGA Extension has recognized Bart Davis, right, of Davis Family Farms as the 2023 Georgia Farmer of the Year. Pictured with UGA CAES Dean Nick Place at the annual Ag Forecast on Jan. 27. Davis will go on to represent Georgia as the state nominee for the Swisher/Sunbelt Ag Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year. (Jay Jones/GDA)

“It’s a great honor to be nominated as Georgia’s farmer of the year. I’m not one that’s ever been real big on recognition. I’m sure there’s farmers out there that deserve it more than I do,” Davis told Southeast Ag Net. “But me and my family are honored about it.”

Davis began farming 41 years ago in Doerun, Georgia, following the loss of his mother and father during his senior year of high school. Since then, he has grown the then-500-acre operation to encompass 5,000 acres. Today, he focuses on cotton, peanuts and corn, while also managing a cattle operation.

“Farming’s been my life. As a child, that’s all I ever wanted to do is farm and farm for my father,” said Davis. “Of course, I lost him about the time I was graduating. I have got to farm, got married early in life. Me and my wife together have built a farm; a row crop farm and cattle operation. We’ve got three kids that are really involved. It’s just an honor to do every day what you love to do.”

Davis has made impressive strides in using precision agriculture technology to ensure the efficiency of his farm, including the use of soil moisture sensors and irrigation in the majority of his fields. Because of his work with precision agriculture and wildlife stewardship, Davis was recognized as Quail Forever and Pheasants Forever’s Precision Farmer of the Year in 2021.

In addition to the work on his own farm, Davis has given back in various industry leadership roles. He has served on the Georgia Cotton Commission Board for the past 10 years and is the current chairman. He also serves as chairman of the Georgia Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation. Nationally, he serves as a voting delegate to the National Cotton Council and represents Georgia on Southern Cotton Growers and Cotton Incorporated.

His outlook and advice to other farmers for the next year is to adjust operations for inflation and increased costs. He’s hoping for prices and input costs to decrease, but in the meantime, planning is key.

“We’ve got to hope for the best going into this crop and try to figure out which crops will fit you better for your cash flow and your budget this year,” he said.

In the next year, Davis will serve as a representative of Georgia, further showcasing his commitment to industry leadership, environmental stewardship, marketing innovation and the adoption of cutting-edge technologies. He will also represent Georgia as the state nominee for the Swisher/Sunbelt Ag Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year.

“The recognition of the Georgia Farmer of the Year allows us the opportunity to celebrate the ‘cream of the crop’ in Georgia agriculture,’” said Mark McCann, assistant dean for University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. “These farmers are innovators, early adopters and entrepreneurs who are both lifelong learners and environmental stewards.”

Article and photo sourced from Farmers and Consumers Market Bulletin

INSPIRED GROWTH

Inspired by a tradition of growing for the future, the Davis Family has put a continued emphasis on being early adopters of both technology and business practices - planning for the next generation of their family and agriculture.

Davis Family Farms - 2021 Farmer of the Year

A FAMILY AFFAIR

BART DAVIS

LAKYN DAVIS

JEDD DAVIS

TREY DAVIS

GROWING FOR THE FUTURE

Today, Bart and Paula Davis, in collaboration with their three children, raise cotton, corn, peanuts, wheat, and cattle in Southwest Georgia. Their vast operation focuses on innovative cost-effective farming and minimizing the

industry's effect on the environment. In 1982, at only 18 years old, Bart Davis began his farming career managing the operation his late parents established. Through his love of farming and dedication to raising cattle, Bart was able to turn loss into a true success story.

Bart and Paula were married in 1984. They raised their children, Trey, Jedd, and Lakyn, and immersed them in the farming and ranching world. From a young age, the children worked on the farm and showed both cattle and hogs at a state and national level. Through these activities the children found that, like their parents, their passions were to be involved in agriculture.

Bart and Paula Davis, along with their three children - sons Trey and Jedd, and daughter Lakyn - have made Davis Family Farms a true family business focused on implementation of sustainable farming practices. Their agricultural operations (registered beef cattle, cotton, peanut, winter wheat, oat hay, sorghum and corn production) are centered on the adoption of Precision Agriculture Technology along with the use of expert resources to improve efficiency, profitability, and wildlife resources across each acre. Employing 15 farm staff, ranging from field operators to on-farm data analysts, Davis Family Farms offers a visionary approach for growing delicious beef, healthy crops, and bountiful wildlife.

OPERATION
GROWING FOR THE FUTURE

For the past 15 years, Davis Family Farms has been implementing a unique approach to farm management known as Precision Agriculture (Precision Ag). This is done by integrating information technology into our processes that constantly measures, observes, and responds to the needs of the soil and crops. This ensures that our fields are receiving exactly what they need for optimum health and productivity. This method also enables Davis Family Farms to sustain and protect the environment by optimizing returns on inputs while preserving resources. Precision Ag allows us to attain our goal of yielding quality crops while protecting the environment and maintaining profitability.