Lysander Man Arrrested For Crashing Car in Hafner Blueberry Fields

From the New York State Police:

Cole

A Lysander man has been arrested for crashing his car through the Hafner Farm blueberry fields off Route 370 in the town of Lysander.

State Police arrested Christopher J. Cole, 19, from 1620 South Ivy Trail, and charged him with driving while intoxicated-drugs and criminal mischief, both misdemeanors.

Troopers said that on Oct. 1, they responded to a one-car property damage accident at 1460 West Genesee Road (Route 370). They said Cole admitted to being impaired by illegal narcotics when he drove his 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer through Hafner’s blueberry fields causing about $3,000 in damage to the fruit orchard and irrigation equipment before becoming stuck on a large wood pile.

Cole was issued an appearance ticket for Lysander Town Court and will be back in court Oct. 11.

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.

Sweet Corn Ready to Pick in Central New York

Sweet corn ready to be picked at Emmi farms in Lysander.

Homegrown sweet corn is hitting some local stands this weekend.

A sampling of area farmers say they are close to picking fresh sweet corn.

Brian Reeves in Lysander said he'll have fresh sweet corn in the stands Sunday, July 12. Tony Emmi, also in Lysander, said this weekend also is a possibility for the first picking of sweet corn.

JoAnn Delaney, of Delaney Farm in Onondaga, said she is about three weeks out.