The critical role farms play in New York cannot be overstated, both as an economic engine for their communities and an essential part of our food supply system. This is especially true in the Finger Lakes where sales of farm products topped $2.3 billion in 2022, leading the state. Some counties in this region also countered statewide trends, seeing growth in the number of acres farmed.
Access to fresh, healthy food also adds to the quality of life in the state, but this local food supply was put to the test during the pandemic, and there are ongoing threats to this industry as outlined in a new report released today by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.
“New York’s diverse farms are an essential part of the state’s economy, but there are increasing challenges that are changing the agricultural landscape,” DiNapoli said. “Volatile commodity prices, labor pressures and extreme weather are adding to the unpredictability of farming that is contributing to the consolidation and the loss of farms. Policymakers must consider the ways in which state programs and policies affect this sector.”
DiNapoli’s report analyzed recent economic and industry data, including the 2022 United States Department of Agriculture Census released this year. It provides a comprehensive breakdown of farming across upstate New York along with Long Island and New York City. The report includes an analysis of state programs and tax benefits for farmers.
Some of the important findings in the Finger Lakes region:
- There were 5,578 farms in the Finger Lakes in 2022, a 6% decrease from 2017. In comparison, the state as a whole lost just over 8% of its farms during the same timeframe.
- There were 1,363,744 acres of farmland in the region in 2022, the largest amount of farmland in the state, representing 46% of the total land in the nine-county area. While this is a 5% loss from 2017, Yates, Wayne, Orleans, and Livingston all saw increases in acres.
- Finger Lakes ranks first in the state with $2.34 billion in agricultural sales in 2022. Wyoming and Wayne Counties ranked second and third in the state for commodity sales, and Wyoming County was also second for milk production.
- There are 131 wineries in this region, the most of any region in the state.
- The region is a leading producer of other commodities including maple syrup; grains, oilseeds, dry beans and dry peas; sheep, goats, wool, mohair and goat milk; hogs and pigs; vegetables, melons, potatoes and sweet potatoes; fruits, tree nuts and berries, as well as cattle and calves.
Statewide, agritourism and recreation in 2022 saw the largest increase in farm income, a 78% jump since 2012.
The overall decline of farmland is troubling, as conversion to other uses, particularly residential, commercial or industrial, may prevent its use for farming in the future. This includes 1,728 acres located in agricultural districts classified as solar electric generation facilities.
While agriculture faces challenges identified in the report, there are opportunities to support the state’s farms. DiNapoli recommends the state:
- Provide additional support for direct to customer or direct to institution marketing, to help farmers increase the share of New York produced food sold in the state.
- Support research and extension services for the development and adoption of climate change resistant crops and measures to mitigate the effects of extreme weather events and hard to predict changes in seasonal weather patterns. While the state has adopted programs to protect farmland, it should continue to evaluate the efficacy of these policies in siting of renewable energy facilities on lands other than productive farmland.
- Promote supportive policies for new farmers that include training programs.