One Fourth of Oneida County Is Farmland And Other Ag Stats – AG Matters

Further proof there is more than a city in New York.  Jim Manning at Cornell Cooperative Extension Oneida County says the most recent USDA Census of Agriculture shows acreage and farms are declining and the average age of farmers are increasing.

Figures from 2012 report show over a thousand Oneida County farms generated more than $113 million in sales.  More than 200,000 acres of land in the County (about 26% of the total) are used by agriculture. However, in recent decades, there have been significant decreases in both the number of farms and the acres of land in farms in the County, while the average age of farmers has increased to over 55.

The Farmland Protection Plan Update Task Force named by Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente has been reviewing statistics like these in preparation for proposing an update to the County's Agriculture & Farmland Protection Plan. The Task Force's goal is to develop a plan that will both protect valuable farmland and support existing and new farming operations with effective local policy approaches.

You can get the latest updates on the Farmland Protection Plan Facebook page or contact Jim Manning at 315-736-3394 extension 129 or email jpm277@cornell.edu.

SOURCE: Cornell Cooperative Extension - Jim Manning