Farms and Farm Acres
What does this measure?
This indicator provides data on the number of farms and total farm acreage in Hudson Valley counties, including Orange, for the years 2002, 2007, 2009, 2012, and 2022. It also reports the average farm size in acres. The data tracks trends in land use and agricultural activity over time.
Summary Statement
Between 2009 and 2022, Orange County experienced a decline in both the number of farms and total farm acreage. The number of farms dropped from 650 in 2009 to 613 in 2022, while farm acreage declined from 80,200 to 65,760. The average farm size also decreased from 123 acres to 107 acres over the same time. Similar patterns were observed in counties like Dutchess and Ulster. Dutchess County saw a decrease in the number of farms, dropping from 660 in 2009 to 620 in 2022. The same trend was observed in farm acres, which dropped from 101,300 to 99,652 during the same period. The average farm size (in acres), however, did have a slight increase in both Dutchess and Ulster counties throughout this period, with Dutchess rising from 153 to 161 and Ulster rising from 147 to 150. Neighboring counties had similar fluctuations, although mostly the number of farms and farm acres decreased as time progressed.
Sources
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Census of Agriculture
U.S. Department of Agriculture
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Census of Agriculture