The Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District (CCSWCD) recently honored Jeff Dodson as the 2023 Outstanding Conservation Farmer at its annual awards dinner.

Jeff Dodson, and his wife Brenda, operate the Dodson Family Partners Farm in the Pleasant Hill community. The Dodson Farm was started in 1953 by Jeff’s parents, V.J. and Elaine Dodson when Jeff was 2 years old.

The Dodson farming operation consists of approximately 1,300 acres of crop, pasture, hay, and forest land in Cumberland and White Counties.

Jeff manages a 175-head commercial beef cow/calf operation which consists of Angus and Charolais cattle. In addition to the cattle operation, he also grows corn and soybeans for feed grains. In the past, timber harvesting was a major part of the operation. Jeff still does some logging as time permits.

Some of the Best Management Practices (BMPs) that Jeff incorporates in his farming operation are a pumping plant, alternative watering systems that include pipeline and freeze-proof water tanks, heavy-use protection areas for feeding pads, nutrient and pest management, cross fencing, exclusion fencing, rotational grazing, cover crops and pasture and hay land planting.

Jeff has utilized the cost-share programs and services available through the Cumberland County SWCD and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and most recently contracted into a 5-year Conservation Stewardship Program contract to enhance his operation further.

Jeff and his dad introduced no-till farming to the county in the 1970s as they were the first producers in Cumberland County to incorporate no-till farming into their farming operation.

He has done a tremendous job developing his rotational grazing system and managing his livestock operation. He is an outstanding steward of the land.

All programs and services of the Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) are offered on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, marital status, or handicap.