Emmi & Sons Named Conservation Farm of the Year in Onondaga County

From Onondaga County Soil and Water Conservation District:

The outside of the Emmi & Sons farm stand on Route 370 in Lysander

Emmi and Sons, Inc. in Lysander has been awarded the Onondaga County 2016 Conservation Farm of the Year Award for environmental stewardship.

The award is given by the Onondaga County Soil and Water Conservation District.

Tony Emmi is the primary owner of the farm, a third generation, 300 acre fruit and vegetable farm. The farm was started by Anthony Emmi (grandfather of Tony Emmi) who came to the United States in 1921, began work as a ditch-digger, and saved enough money to start the farm north of Syracuse.

Emmi & Sons was incorporated in 1961 as a partnership between Anthony Emmi, Carmen Emmi and son-in- law Sam Mangano. Since 2006, the Onondaga County Soil and Water Conservation District has worked with the Emmi Farm to deliver conservation practices through the state Agricultural Environmental Management Program.

District projects at the farm include an agrichemical mixing facility and a produce process wash water treatment system. The farm has also worked with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service to install micro-irrigation to conserve water and reduce the risk of soil erosion and runoff.

The farm does a significant amount of conservation work on their own, including Nutrient Management to prevent the over-application of fertilizer, Integrated Pest Management to
reduce pesticide and herbicide usage, and Crop Management Practices such as conservation crop rotations, cover crops and leaving fields fallow; all of which improve soil function and viability, leading to healthier soils and crops.

Tony Emmi was presented with the award at the Onondaga County Farm Fest Sept. 24.