New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker has announced the recipients of the 2007 Agricultural Environmental Management Award, which honors farm families and their county Soil and Water Conservation District for exceptional stewardship efforts. The Jeffres family of R.L. Jeffres & Sons, Inc. in Covington and the Wyoming County Soil and Water Conservation District received this year’s Agricultural Environmental Management Award. The award presentation was made by the Commissioner at the 74th annual Empire Farm Days in Seneca Falls.

This recognition is awarded annually to a farm family that practices sound agricultural stewardship by incorporating Agricultural Environmental Management into the operation of their farm business. The county Soil and Water Conservation District is also recognized for their important role providing necessary technical assistance and resources.

R.L. Jeffres & Sons, Inc. is owned by Robert L. and Shirley Jeffres and is a 7,800 acre cash crop farm that grows corn, peas, dry beans, snap beans, beets, carrots, alfalfa and wheat. In 2006, they started growing organic corn, soybeans and snap beans. The farm has been in operation since 1914 and currently has the third, fourth and fifth generations involved on the farm.