The Northern New York agricultural industry encompasses New York State’s six northernmost counties: Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence. In August 2019, New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli’s “A Profile of Agriculture in New York State,” states that “the north country consisting of Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence, Clinton, Essex, Franklin, and Hamilton counties, ranked second highest in agriculture sales out of all regions in 2017, the most recent data available, at $776.56 million.” (Watertown Daily Times, August 24, 2019)
Click here to see 2002-2017 Census of Agriculture data (see list below) for NNY’s six counties. This quick snapshot shows the scope and importance of the NNY regional agriculture sectors that are so critical to the local, regional, and state economies, and includes:
- more than 1.136 million acres of land in agricultural production
- more than 4,175 farms with more than 61.5% small farms of 179 acres or less
- a farm products market value that exceeds $776.5 million, an increase of more than 23.7 million over 2012 data and ranks 2nd of all NYS agricultural regions, 5 of the 6 NNY saw sales increases 2012-2017
- a farm employee payroll that adds more than $79.4 million to the NYS economy, an increase of more than 12.3 million over 2012 data
- 692 young farmers younger than 35 years old
- female farmers represent approximately 37% of producers by gender in 2017
- a steadily growing local foods industry with fresh and value-added products; farms raising beef locally increased by 112 farms 2012-2017
- a growing season extended through the use of high tunnel agriculture
- 66 community supported agriculture (CSA) farms; more than $26.8 million in organic product sales
- farms selling direct to consumers to meet consumer interest in local foods
- 408 maple farms and land resources that support the steady growth of the region’s $12+ million maple industry, an increase of 26 farms 2012-2017
- 81 honey farms with more than $440,000 in sales
- on-farm bioenergy opportunities in support of local renewable energy needs
- established and new businesses partnering with NNY farmers to grow & process grains and hemp
- a cold-hardy grapes industry with full-fledged distinct winery/wine agritourism regions in the 1000 Islands & Champlain Valley.
Agricultural education is well-represented throughout the NNY region with:
- 6 Cornell Cooperative Extension associations providing technical assistance and outreach in a variety of agricultural, horticultural, youth education and community life program areas
- 19 school districts offering agricultural education
- 15 FFA Chapters with more 675 student-members.
The link above to the NNY Census of Agriculture data summary includes data on:
Acres planted in corn (grain and silage)
Average Value Farm Sales (product, in dollars)
Average # of acres per farm
Berry Farms (farm numbers)
Cow Numbers: Beef
Cow Numbers: Dairy
Dairy Farms (numbers)
Farm distribution by size (acres)
Farm employee numbers
Farm employee payroll
Farm labor (unpaid numbers)
Farm numbers
Farms raising beef (numbers)
Farm sales: Market Value (product, in millions)
Farms with honey sales (farm numbers/sales)
Farms with new and beginning producers: farm numbers, producer numbers
Harvested cropland (acres)
Land in berry production (acres)
Land in farms (acres)
Land in orchards (acres)
Land in vegetable production (acres)
Land Use Practices (% of farms, 2017)
Maple Farms (numbers)
Maple Production (gallons)
Orchards (farm numbers)
Organic Production (farm numbers)
Organic Production (product sales in millions)
Poultry Numbers
Producer Profile by Gender
Sheer Numbers
Swine Numbers
Vegetable Crop Value (in 1000s)
Vegetable Farms (numbers)
Top 10 Rankings for Sales: NNY has more than two dozen listings
Total farm product sales value
Young Farmer Numbers