Jimmy Emmons, No-till Producer, Leedey, OK

Jimmy is a long time resident of Leedey, OK. He is the third generation on the family farm in Dewey County. He and his wife Ginger have been farming and ranching together since 1980. They have a diverse 2000 acre cropping operation growing wheat, soybeans, sesame, sunflowers, irrigated dairy alfalfa hay, canola, grain sorghum and several cover crops for seed.

Jimmy and Ginger also have a 250 cow/calf herd and take in yearling cattle for custom grazing on the nearly 6000 acres of native range. Ginger is the primary cattle manager in the operation. The Emmons’ utilize their range and forage resources grown on the crops ground to keep the native grasses and soils healthy to maximize biological diversity and animal health.

Jimmy has been monitoring soil health with soil testing since 2012 utilizing cover crops to enhance soil health. He is currently involved a multi-year water holding capacity study examining water use of cover crops. Jimmy is also using companion crops with sorghum, pollinator attracting strips, and adaptive multi-paddock grazing.  

Regenerating Our Soil; Rejuvenating Our Farming and Ranching Life

In his general session at the No-till on the Plains 2018 Winter Conference, Jimmy shares how regeneration of their soils led to rejuvenation of their lives. When he and his wife, Ginger, began the path of soil health, he says they never dreamed how it would change their soil, much less their lives. They used to ride tractors for thousands of hours every year, which translates into things like depreciation, wear and tear, parts and lots of money. Their lifestyle and family time suffered just as much with so much work to do all of the time. Jimmy shares his life-changing story of their soils and their lives.