New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets
Even though most New Yorkers are several generations removed from the farm, agriculture remains important to the quality of life in our communities. It provides fresh, wholesome products, creates jobs and economic activity, and keeps farmland open and productive.
Agriculture is a $3.6 billion industry in New York State. With more than 35,000 farms, New York is a leading producer of numerous products, ranking 1st in cottage cheese, 2nd in apples and cabbage, and 3rd in milk, grapes, wine, maple syrup and cauliflower.
New York farmland covers 7.8 million acres, or approximately 25 percent of the State’s total land base. Our land consists of fertile soils and receives adequate rain, making it ideal to grow a wide diversity of crops from fresh fruits and vegetables, to forage and grains for livestock.
In addition to taking great pride in living off the land and producing an abundant and wholesome food supply, New York farmers live in harmony with the State’s 19 million consumers. This dynamic presents both challenges and opportunities, however, being within a day’s drive to over half of the United States’ and Canada’s population and wealth, New York farmers have an inherent advantage of access to markets for their local farm products.
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Top 5 agriculture commodities, 2006
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|
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Value of receipts
thousand $
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Percent of state total
farm receipts
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Percent of US value
|
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1. Dairy products
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1,609,742
|
45.9
|
6.9
|
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2. Greenhouse/nursery
|
408,976
|
11.7
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2.4
|
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3. Apples
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203,976
|
5.8
|
9.7
|
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4. Cattle and calves
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157,204
|
4.5
|
0.3
|
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5. Hay
|
108,743
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3.1
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2.2
|
|
|
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All commodities
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3,509,003
|
|
1.5
|
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Farm income and value added data
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|
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2005
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2006
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|
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Number of farms
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35,600
|
35,000
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|
|
|
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Thousands $
|
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Final crop output
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1,289,185
|
1,539,344
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+ Final animal output
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2,319,001
|
2,015,037
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+ Services and forestry
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394,271
|
368,082
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= Final agricultural sector output
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4,002,457
|
3,922,462
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|
|
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- Intermediate consumption outlays
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1,738,620
|
1,817,138
|
|
+ Net government transactions
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-64,850
|
-101,450
|
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= Gross value added
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2,198,987
|
2,003,874
|
|
|
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- Capital consumption
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459,133
|
474,516
|
|
|
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= Net value added
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1,739,854
|
1,529,358
|
|
|
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- Factor payments
|
627,974
|
660,620
|
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Employee compensation (total hired labor)
|
429,424
|
441,588
|
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Net rent received by nonoperator landlords
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15,935
|
12,098
|
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Real estate and nonreal estate interest
|
182,615
|
206,934
|
|
|
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= Net farm income
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1,111,880
|
868,738
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http://www.agmkt.state.ny.us