JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK (April 11th, 2019) -- Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County’s Agriculture Program is currently analyzing 2017 Ag Census Data that was released on April 11th, 2019. The Census of Agriculture is a comprehensive measure of farms, ranches, and farmers and is completed every five years, providing agricultural data at national, state, and county levels.
Preliminary data shows a 19% decrease of the total number of farms in Chautauqua County, down from 1,515 in 2012 to 1,228 in 2017. Comparatively, New York State experienced a decrease of 6% for total number of farms during that same time period. However, the total Market Value of Agricultural Products sold remained relatively stable and was valued at $160,967,000. Additionally, the total acres of land in farms in the county decreased by 5% from 2012 to 2017, currently totaling 223,634 acres. The average size of a farm increased from 156 acres to 182 acres, with a median farm size of 85 acres.
Chautauqua County continues to have a large number of small and sustenance sized farms. In 2017, 45% of farms produced less than $10,000 in sales. The average net farm income for Chautauqua County farms was 23% greater than NYS farms at $52,683/farm.
Our two largest industries, Dairy and Grape, continue to remain the driving forces of our county’s agricultural industry. 159 dairy farms produced $74,993,000 in market value of milk. 342 fruit farms produced $42,556,000 in market value of products. Both of these industries point to improved efficiencies as they both saw a reduction in number of farms by 21%, but an increase in the market value of products by 2.5% for dairy and 12% for fruit. Direct to consumer sales are increasing, and showed a value of $3,501,000, an increase of 63% from 2012 for the county.
Chautauqua County data will continue to be analyzed, and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County Farm Business Management Educator, Katelyn Walley-Stoll, will be preparing a report that will be available on Monday, April 15th by visiting their website, www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua. For more information, contact Katelyn Walley-Stoll at 716-664-9502 ext. 202 or kaw249@cornell.edu.
The Farm Business Management Program is one of many programs offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County (CCE-Chautauqua) in line with the County’s 20/20 Comprehensive Plan. CCE-Chautauqua is a community based educational organization, affiliated with Cornell University, Chautauqua County Government, the NYS SUNY system, and the federal government through the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. For more information, call 716-664-9502 or visit our website at www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua. Cornell University Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.
Katelyn Walley-Stoll
Team Leader, Business Management Specialist
kaw249@cornell.edu
716-640-0522
Last updated April 11, 2019