Jimmy Emmons, No-till Producer, Leedey, OK

The third generation on his family’s farm, Jimmy Emmons farms nearly 2,000 acres in Dewey County, OK, with wheat, irrigated dairy alfalfa hay, wheat-canola rotation and a cow-calf operation. He began to use cover crops five years ago to improve soil health. He invested in soil moisture probes to assess how much water the covers were actually using. He is also looking at cover crops as a forage source for cattle and what might be done to heal native grass pastures. He has been on the Dewey County Conservation District board since 2007 and serves as the Oklahoma Association of Conservation District’s president. Since 2000, he has been part of the Farm Credit of Western Oklahoma for the Next Generation of Young Producers. He has been active in soil health monitoring and cover crops since 2012. Jimmy will discuss how important a cover crop-grazing system is on the success of soil health. He will focus on water use by cover crops and variations in water use based on timing and goals. He will also discuss the importance of armor and the height of armor in a snowstorm. Jimmy will share his economic information on the profit that can be achieved from grazing cover crops as a supplement of the total system. Jimmy emphasizes water infiltration and the need to store and keep water in the lower profile. Keeping the soil covered at all times is one of the main goals on land they operate.

Improving Water Retention with Cover Crops

Jimmy will discuss how important a cover crop-grazing system is on the success of soil health. He will focus on water use by cover crops and variations in water use based on timing and goals. He will also discuss the importance of armor and the height of armor in a snowstorm. Jimmy will share his economic information on the profit that can be achieved from grazing cover crops as a supplement of the total system. Jimmy emphasizes water infiltration and the need to store and keep water in the lower profile. Keeping the soil covered at all times is one of the main goals on land they operate.