Middletown's Emerson Farms Honored with 2026 Environmental Stewardship Award for Dairy Operations
Emerson Farms in Middletown, a fifth-generation dairy farm, has been recognized as the 2026 Environmental Stewardship Award winner. The farm, established in the early 1940s and operated by Robert and Sarah Emerson, their son Lee, and grandson Robbie, milks approximately 180 cows daily. The award acknowledges their commitment to top environmental practices, including injecting manure, strip tillage to reduce fertilizer needs, fenced ditches and waterways, and a recently constructed dyked and enclosed chemical mixing and storage building. They also prioritize animal health through RFD ear tags to monitor milk production and quality of life. Emerson Farms actively engages with the community by hosting 4-H meetings, local high school visits, and University of Delaware honors classes, and by leasing animals for students to show. The farm received $1,000, an Environmental Stewardship recognition plaque, and a lane sign for their achievement.