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 North Country where sales of farm products topped $1.2 billion in 2022, making it the second highest producing region in the state.
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.”
The new 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 for the North Country:
- There were 3,612 farms in the North Country in 2022, a nearly 14% decrease from 2017. In comparison, the state as a whole lost just over 8% of its farms during that same time.
- There were 1,031,319 acres of farmland in the region in 2022, ranking third in the state, with farms in Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lewis and Saint Lawrence counties.
- The North Country ranked second with $1.2 billion in agricultural sales in 2022. This includes being the state’s leading producer of poultry and eggs in Clinton County. The region is also known for dairy production.
- The region leads the way in other commodities including being the top producer of maple syrup, hay and other crops (which include grass seed, hops and grass silage).
Across the state, 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 throughout New York classified as solar electric generation facilities. In 2022, New York’s farms paid a total of $6.2 billion in expenses, an increase of $1.9 billion from 2017.
In 2022, hired labor expenditures grew by 68%, far surpassing other expenses.
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. Report A profile of Agriculture in New York State