Producer Profiles

D. H. Brewster

D. H. Brewster was raised in Spur, Texas. During World War II, he trained men to use dive bombing electronic equipment. D. H. and Ruth, his wife of 60 years, moved from Amherst to Wildhorse Valley near Van Horn, Texas in 1952. In 1970 he purchased the gin near his farm. Today he oversees about four and a half sections of land. Much of the land is now enrolled in the CRP Program. The operation includes land farmed by his son, Lane, and son-in-law, Forrest Perry, who usually grow about three hundred acres of organic cotton and gin it themselves.

Wildhorse Valley is located to the northwest of Van Horn, Texas. Mountains border the flat dry floor of the valley. Irrigation is essential in the valley. The valley grows a great deal of alfalfa to sell to dairies in the area. Many of the wells in the valley are drilled to about 500 feet, but draw water from about 260 feet. The wells will produce from 1,000 to 3,000 gallons per minute. D. H. has leased a laser land level and spent many hours in preparing the land for irrigation. Some of the land is irrigated by row watering. Each year the Brewster family is able to water more efficiently due to the work done with the level.

Normally, D. H. likes to plant in early to mid April. He plants two rows in and one out on 34” rows. He uses BioFlora and seaweed creame to improve the soil and is very happy with the results. D. H. also believes that the carbon in the BioFlora has helped to reduce the salt problem that they have.

D. H. believes strongly in farming the way he does, talking excitedly about the bacteria in the soil and the number of earthworms.