Agricultural sales in New York were higher than the national average
By Diego Flammini, Farms.com
Agriculture in the Empire State is as strong as ever with agricultural sales growing at a faster rate than the national average of the United States.
In 2014, agricultural cash receipts were up 36 percent in New York compared to 32 percent nationally. The year also saw farmers set a new sales record with $6.36 billion in cash receipts, an increase of almost $1.7 billion when compared to the $4.7 billion in cash receipts from 2010.
“New York State is home to thriving agricultural businesses known for their high-quality products and award-winning tastes,” New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said. “This administration’s continued commitment to cutting through the red tape, lowering costs and investing in this vital industry is paying dividends today. I congratulate all of New York’s farmers on another banner year.”
The commodities that have seen the largest increases since 2010 are:
- Poultry and eggs have increased 63 percent to $206 million
- Peaches have seen an 80 percent growth to $12.6 million
- Honey’s production is up 59 percent to about $9 million
- Cattle production has jumped 132 percent to $415 million
- Hay has skyrocketed by 173 percent to $147 million
National increases for the same commodities since 2010 include a 39 percent increase for poultry and eggs, a 2 percent increase for peaches, 38 percent for honey, 59 percent for cattle and a 63 percent increase for hay.
The increases in commodity production and cash receipts shows the need for agriculture and rural communities in New York.
“The growth of agricultural sales demonstrates that farming in this state is an extremely important industry to New York’s rural economy,” said Dean Norton, New York Farm Bureau President. “It could not have been possible without the hard work and commitment demonstrated on farms in every region to produce quality products that consumers want. The growth also demonstrates what is possible when the State improves the business climate for family farms and invests in industry promotion.”
Are you a farmer from New York? If so, tell us about some of the factors that helped the state’s agricultural community have the success it did in 2014.