Provided photos: Assemblyman Steve Hawley is shown with Bessie the Cow and Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard Ball.
Press Release, Assemblyman Steve Hawley
ALBANY – Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) attended the New York Farm Bureau’s Taste of New York Reception in Albany on Monday.
The event was hosted in the Empire State Plaza Convention Center and attended by Farm Bureau members and public officials from around the state. During this time, Hawley met with local farmers and members of the Farm Bureau about the importance of New York agriculture.
New York is one of the leading states for agriculture, the fifth-largest producer of dairy in the nation and has roughly seven million acres of farmland. The industry has also created nearly 200,000 jobs, with the vast majority of farms in the state being family-owned. Hawley is proud to have been able to attend this event and hopes it will bring more awareness to one of the state’s largest industries.
“It was great to meet with so many New Yorkers yesterday who share a passion for local agriculture,” Hawley said. “As a farmer once myself, I have a special appreciation for this industry. From the grocery store to the food in your pantry, we all rely on local farms like the ones we have here in Western New York. Holding this event in Albany will shine a light on this vital industry and bring more attention to our family-owned farms.”
Photos by Tom Rivers: Roy-Hart FFA students work on their float for the Parade of Lights in Medina on Nov. 25. Roy-Hart’s FFA chapter is among the 89 in the state that have started since 2016. Its members are involved in many community projects, as well as competing in FFA contests.
Posted 23 February 2024 at 8:55 pm
Number of ag teachers has grown by 75 percent in NYS since 2016
Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office
During National FFA Week, Governor Kathy Hochul today announced significant growth in New York State’s agriculture education and FFA Programs. Since 2016, the number of agricultural teachers has grown to 412 in 2023, a more than 75 percent increase from 2016.
In addition, New York’s FFA chapters and membership continue to grow, with 36 new FFA chapters created since 2022 and 89 since 2016, making for a total of 200 FFA chapters established across New York today. The Governor’s 2024 State of the State and FY 2025 Budget both prioritize agricultural education, with the creation of a youth agriculture leadership conference and the dedication of $1.25 million to support the FFA, an increase of $250,000 from last year.
“As a former 4-H kid, I know firsthand how important agricultural education is to developing a generation of leaders that understand where our food comes from, value the work of our farmers, and are committed to supporting our agricultural communities,” Governor Hochul said. “There are endless opportunities for our students to build a career in agriculture, from farming to food science, bio-technology, engineering, veterinary medicine, and so much more. New York will continue supporting our passionate educators and grow these critical programs across the state.”
The increase in agricultural teachers, through programs such as Cornell University’s Agriculture Education and Outreach Program, New York Agriculture in the Classroom, and the New York State FFA Association, is allowing more schools and students to participate in a formal agricultural curriculum, providing a direct boost to the pipeline of students who will go on to enter into the agricultural industry as a future career.
Alongside this growth in teachers, the number of FFA charters and members has also increased. With 200 chapters established in 53 of New York’s 62 counties, there are now nearly 12,000 FFA members in New York State, an increase from 9,300 in 2022. In 2016, State Agriculture Commissioner challenged the FFA to increase its number of charters across the State by 100; the FFA is nearing that goal with 89 created since then.
Albion FFA students march in Medina’s Parade of Lights on Nov. 25.
The New York FFA Association is a youth organization that helps middle and high school students become leaders in a variety of career fields, including agriculture. In the FY 2024 Budget, $2 million was invested to support the New York FFA, Association of Agricultural Educations, and New York Agriculture in the Classroom, and $50,000 was allocated to support the Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS) program.
The Governor’s 2024 State of the State address and FY 2025 Budget builds on this work, with the Governor continuing to prioritize investments in agricultural education to support workforce development and ensure that agriculture remains a viable industry in New York State.
She has proposed a youth agriculture leadership conference, increased support for the FFA in the Executive Budget by $250,000 for a total of $1.25 million and dedicated $1 million to support the New York Agriculture in the Classroom program and increase the number of certified agricultural educators in the state. In addition, $250,000 is included in the Executive Budget in support of Urban Agricultural Education and $50,000 for the MANRRS program. Together, these programs help meet the growing demand for agricultural education across New York.
National FFA Week, which is celebrated from February 17 – 24, honors the positive impact that FFA and agricultural education programs have on students across New York and the nation.
State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “Our agricultural teachers and FFA leadership are so passionate about building the future of this industry. They are the driving force behind these powerful programs that are helping our young people to learn about the industry and obtain the skills they need to be successful in agriculture and its related industries. When I look at our schools’ ag programs and our FFA students, I’m optimistic and excited about the future of our industry. I want to thank our existing ag teachers and FFA leaders for their dedication and welcome our newest teachers, who are embarking on this significant work of educating our young people. I also want to thank our Governor, and our Legislature, for their continued support of these critical programs that are making a lasting impact on agriculture and will continue to for generations to come.”
The Medina FFA also had a float in Medina’s big lighted parade.
New York State FFA Director Juleah Tolosky said, “Whether it’s chapters starting in new communities or students starting their journey toward relevant, personal success, the story of New York FFA is growth. I am so proud of the work of our teachers to cultivate environments where students have the opportunity to thrive. We know just how much work it takes to go beyond the classroom and beyond the school year to move our communities forward through agriculture.”
New York State FFA President Ella Underberg said, “In New York FFA, we are offered the opportunity to witness so much growth within our members, communities, and chapters. FFA has helped me see new perspectives on what it means to lead and truly be passionate.”
About NY FFA
Administered by Cornell University, NY FFA develops premier leadership, personal growth and career success through activities and opportunities nationwide. FFA was founded by a group of young farmers in 1928. Their mission was to prepare future generations for the challenges of feeding a growing population. They showed that agriculture is more than planting and harvesting – it’s a science, it’s a business and it’s an art.
In 5 years, NY down 364,000 acres of farmland and 2,800 farms
Photo by Tom Rivers: A farmer harvests soybeans on East Barre Road in Barre on Oct. 13, 2019.
Press Release, NY Farm Bureau
The U.S. Department of Agriculture released its 2022 Agriculture Census revealing a cause of concern for New York agriculture.
While 98-percent of farms remain family owned in the state, the overall number of farms declined by nearly 2,800. That is about a 9 percent drop from the previous 2017 Agriculture Census and the steepest decline in the past three decades. The state also lost 364,000 acres of farmland over the past five years.
A significant portion of the decline is in dairy farming, the largest commodity value in New York State. New York saw a decrease of nearly 1,900 dairy farms, though the total number of dairy cows slightly increased. This reflects the market consolidation that has been happening in the industry. Others that also saw losses include vegetable, berry and organic farms.
The census did reveal some bright spots, including an increase in the number of orchards as well as oyster producers. Market value also rose significantly, topping $8 billion. This is in large part due to temporary increases in major commodity prices during the pandemic, which have since fallen in the past year.
USDA predicts farm income to be down another 25% in 2024. There is also a significant climb in farms using conservation practices like no-till and cover crops with an increase of about 200,000 acres statewide.
Another significant increase is farm costs. Every production expense saw a rise, from fertilizer and fuel to seed and lease prices. The biggest increase in production expenses is labor, which saw an astounding 41 percent jump in five years. This is not surprising with the surge in wage rates and overtime expenses on farms in New York. Employment increased slightly with about 1,000 new farmworkers in the state totaling 56,678 employees.
“The numbers do not come as a surprise but should be a renewed wakeup call for the state,” said David Fisher, president of New York Farm Bureau. “As we continue to see the decline in the number of farm families, we must do all that we can to reduce regulatory costs and expand market opportunities. New York Fam Bureau has stressed that the costlier it is to do business in this state, the harder it is for farms to stay in business. The loss of farmland and food production has major impacts on the economy and quality of life for all New Yorkers. We must work together to reverse this trend, include passing a strong Farm Bill that supports New York’s diverse agriculture.”
Additional NYS numbers in the 2022 USDA Ag Census:
30,650 farms in New York, down from 33,438 in 2017.
6,502,286 acres in production, down from 6,866,171 in 2017.
Average farm size is 212 acres, up from 205 acres in 2017.
The average net farm income of $76,281 per farm is slightly below the national average.
21,894 female producers and 35,664 male producers
The average producer age is 56.7 years old, up from 55.8.
6,335 farmers under the age of 35, a drop from 6,718 producers in 2017.
Editor’s Note: In Orleans County, sales for farm products totaled $233.6 million in 2022, up 50.4 percent from the $155.3 million in 2017, a growth of $78.3 million. That includes sales of fruit, vegetables, milk, livestock and other farm products.
A snapshot of Orleans County’s ag economy in 2022 includes:
444 farms (498 in 2017)
130,055 land in agriculture (129,573 in 2017)
average size of farm – 293 acres (260 in 2017)
estimated value of land and buildings – $1.416 billion
33 farms at more than 1,000 acres, but 140 are 10 to 49 acres, and 131 are 50 to 179 acres.
132 farms sold less than $2,500, while 126 sold $100,000 or more.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 February 2024 at 1:06 pm
Cayuga dethrones Wyoming County as state’s top ag producer
Photo by Tom Rivers: Farm equipment heads down Route 31 in Ridgeway on Sept. 19, 2023. Agriculture is a huge economic driver in Orleans County.
Orleans County saw a big jump in farm revenue in the 2022 census, and the county’s $233.6 million puts it as the 15th-leading county in the state for ag revenue.
The county’s revenue for farm products sold totaled $233.6 million, up 50.4 percent from the $155.3 million in 2017, a growth of $78.3 million
The county’s ag bounty is only about half of the state’s top county for agricultural revenue. Cayuga tops the 62 counties at $461.9 million. Cayuga also dethroned Wyoming as the state’s agricultural king.
The ag census is done every five years. During the previous census in 2017, Wyoming was the top ag producer at $307.5 million, followed by Cayuga at $287.9 million, Genesee in third at $234.9 million, Suffolk at fourth $225.6 million and Wayne in fifth at $221.3 million.
With the new ag census, Genesee drops from third to fifth, while Wayne jumps up two spots to third place.
Overall, statewide ag revenue was $8.04 billion in 2022, up by 49.7 percent from the $5.37 billion in 2017.
The 2022 Ag Census was released on Tuesday by the National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Here are the ag revenues for the 62 counties in NYS:
Albany – $47.9 million
Allegany – $69.8 million
Bronx – D (withheld)
Broome – $54.1 million
Cattaraugus – $144.8 million
Cayuga – $461.9 million
Chautauqua – $242.0 million
Chemung – $34.5 million
Chenango – $123.0 million
Clinton – $325.8 million
Columbia – $111.2 million
Cortland – $108.1 million
Delaware – $66.8 million
Dutchess – $45.1 million
Erie – $192.0 million
Essex – $11.8 million
Franklin – $149.0 million
Fulton – $9.4 million
Genesee – $359.7 million
Greene – $25.0 million
Hamilton – D (withheld)
Herkimer – $93.1 million
Jefferson – $238.9 million
Kings (Brooklyn) – D (withheld)
Lewis – $178.6 million
Livingston – $288.1 million
Madison – $190.7 million
Monroe – $101.1 million
Montgomery – $126.1 million
Nassau – $8.8 million
New York (Manhattan) – D (withheld)
Niagara – $156.9 million
Oneida – $190.1 million
Onondaga – $271.5 million
Ontario – $293.6 million
Orange – $95.6 million
Orleans – $233.6 million
Oswego – $68.9 million
Otsego – $62.6 million
Putnam – $1.5 million
Queens – $285,000
Rensselaer – $61.9 million
Richmond (Staten Island) – $79,000
Rockland – $4.0 million
St. Lawrence – $270.4 million
Saratoga – $115.5 million
Schenectady – $6.4 million
Schoharie – $63.5 million
Schuyler – $68.1 million
Seneca – $110.4 million
Steuben – $251.8 million
Suffolk – $364.2 million
Sullivan – $37.5 million
Tioga – $67.0 million
Tompkins – $89.8 million
Ulster – $105.5 million
Warren – $2.5 million
Washington – $263.0 million
Wayne – $381.5 million
Westchester – $11.6 million
Wyoming – $421.0 million
Yates – $152.4 million
Note: “D” is used in the ag census for a county with few farms to avoid disclosing information on individual producers.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 February 2024 at 2:14 pm
Orleans County sees 50% jump to $233 million; Statewide farm economy at $8 billion
File photo by Tom Rivers: The mucklands in Barre and Clarendon provide fertile soil for onions, one of many crop grown in a diversified agricultural economy in Orleans County.
The federal ag census, which track’s the farm economy every five years, came out today and the numbers for 2022 and much bigger than the previous census for 2017.
In Orleans County, receipts for farm products sold totaled $233.63 million, up 50.4 percent from the $155.28 million in 2017, a growth of $78.35 million. That includes sales of fruit, vegetables, milk, livestock and other farm products.
Statewide the ag revenue was $8.04 billion in 2022, up by 49.7 percent from the $5.369 billion in 2017.
The revenue went up dramatically, and so did farm expenses. In Orleans County, production costs went up about $60 million from $119.00 million in 2017 to $179.90 million in 2022, a 51.2 percent hike, according to the ag census.
Statewide production costs increased by $1.85 billion from $4.33 billion in 2017 to $6.18 billion in 2022, up by 42.7 percent.
A snapshot of Orleans County’s ag economy in 2022 includes:
444 farms (498 in 2017)
130,055 land in agriculture (129,573 in 2017)
average size of farm – 293 acres (260 in 2017)
estimated value of land and buildings – $1.416 billion
33 farms at more than 1,000 acres, but 140 are 10 to 49 acres, and 131 are 50 to 179 acres.
132 farms sell less than $2,500, while 126 sell $100,000 or more.
Orleans County saw a big jump in farm revenue in the 2022 census, and the county’s $233.6 million puts it as the 15th-leading county in the state for ag revenue.
