On May 19, Oklahoma farmer Jimmy Emmons was sworn in as Assistant Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Emmons, whose slogan is “Long Live the Soil,” has been practicing and promoting regenerative and climate-smart agriculture for 30 years. He was a panelist at the 2022 Eco-Ag Conference and was featured in an Acres U.S.A. interview in October 2023.
Jimmy and his wife, Ginger, have been operating their third-generation, 2,000-acre farm since 1980. They grow 14 different crops — including wheat, soybeans, sunflowers, canola, grain sorghum and sesame — using regenerative practices like no-till, crop rotations, cover crops, pollinator strips and companion planting.
The Emmons farm also includes a 250-head cow-calf operation. They practice management-intensive grazing on 6,000 acres of leased land, using electric fencing and portable shade and water systems.
Emmons received the first-ever Oklahoma Leopold Conservation Award in 2017. In 2023, he became Senior Vice President of Conservation Programs for Trust in Food, the sustainable agriculture division of Farm Journal. He was keynote speaker for the 2025 National No-Till Conference in St. Louis, Missouri and has served on the Oklahoma Conservation Commission and the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts.
During the first Trump administration, Emmons was the regional coordinator for USDA’s Farm Production and Conservation Program. This new appointment places Emmons in senior leadership at NRCS.
“Having someone like this in a position to lead farm policy isn’t just beneficial for Oklahoma, but the entire country and the world,” U.S. Representative Frank Lucas posted on X after the swearing-in ceremony. “I am proud of my longtime friend and fellow Oklahoman for his willingness to serve the nation and his commitment to the American farmer.”
“I think my unique take is that we need to look at agriculture in a bigger scope than we ever have before, especially with all the environmental issues we’re having,” Emmons told John Kempf in 2023 on Kempf’s podcast. “I believe that we’re closer now than ever to a government starting to understand regenerative ag.”
Taylor Henry, owner of Acres U.S.A., called to congratulate Emmons on his appointment. Emmons told Henry during the call, “I’m extremely excited to be working with Chief Aubrey Bentoncourt and the national leadership team. Our focus is on serving farmers, putting farmers first, and implementing sound conservation practices to protect our natural resources.”
Asked if he ever expected to be in this position, Emmons said, “Years ago, I never imagined myself in this position. I’m extremely proud and honored to help farmers, ranchers, and the agency work together to preserve our natural resources with the newfound technology and science available today.”
Emmons’ appointment is seen as an encouraging step forward for ecologically minded farmers nationwide. On behalf of Acres U.S.A., Taylor Henry stated, “Jimmy’s dedication to soil health and farmer-led innovation has long aligned with our mission. His leadership at NRCS is a meaningful win for those committed to a more regenerative and resilient agricultural future.”
We at Acres U.S.A. wish him luck in battling Washington’s bureaucracy to enact policies that improve the quality of American food while conserving (and even regenerating) American farmland.
