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 on Long Island. It was the only region in the state to see the numbers climb for both farms and farmland acres in the most recent United States Department of Agriculture Census.
Access to fresh, healthy food 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 USDA 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 for Long Island include:
- There were 607 farms on Long Island in 2022, a 3% increase from 2017. In comparison, the state as a whole lost just over 8% of its farms during the same timeframe. There are 34,468 acres of farmland in the region, an 11% increase from 2017. Strong growth in farms and farmland in Suffolk County offset losses in Nassau County to make the Long Island region the only one in the state to see growth in both categories. Suffolk added 18 farms while Nassau lost three.
- Long Island farms had nearly $373 million in total agricultural sales in 2022, an increase of 64% from 2017. Farms in Suffolk County lead the state in sales of products directly to consumers, local retailers or local food processors, with more than $268 million in such sales. As a result, local dollars spent on agricultural products remain in the Long Island economy.
- There are 85 wineries in this region, ranking second in the state behind the Finger Lakes.
- Almost 60% of Long Island farms are in the greenhouse, nursery and floriculture category (31.5%) and aquaculture (28%). Together, fruit and tree nut farming (including grapes) and vegetable and melon farming represent an additional 29.5% of all farms.
- Per-acre farmland market values on Long Island are much higher and increasing at a faster rate than the state average. Nassau’s average value of farmland is just over 15 times the state average and increased dramatically from land prices in 2017. Suffolk’s average farmland value is well over four times the state average and increased at almost twice the state’s rate between 2017 and 2022.
- Costs continue to rise for farms on Long Island. Property taxes climbed around 51% between 2017 and 2022, nearly twice the state average. Labor expenses also jumped, up 131% in Nassau County and 52% in Suffolk County.
Top Commodity Sales and Statewide Rank, 2022
| Crops | Sales | Rank Among State Counties |
|---|---|---|
| Nassau | ||
| Aquaculture | $5,342,000 | 2 |
| Vegetables, Melons, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes | $1,659,000 | 36 |
| Other Animals and Animal Products | $506,000 | 18 |
| Horses, Ponies, Mules, Donkeys | $134,000 | 36 |
| Poultry and Eggs | $19,000 | 53 |
| Suffolk | ||
| Nursery, Greenhouse, Floriculture, Sod | $239,845,000 | 1 |
| Fruits, Tree nuts, Berries | $53,613,000 | 5 |
| Vegetables, Melons, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes | $44,471,000 | 3 |
| Aquaculture | $9,196,000 | 1 |
| Horses, Ponies, Mules, Burros, Donkeys | $1,507,000 | 12 |
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture
While agriculture faces challenges identified in the report, there are opportunities to support farms in the Hudson Valley and across New York. 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. Report A profile of Agriculture in New York State