Q. Has there been an increase in small farms in NYS since 2005?
Small Farms represent 92% of the farms in NYS. There has been an increase in the very small farms ($1000-$10,000 income), up 4.3% in since 2005. But overall, there has been a slight decrease in the total number of farms in NYS (-1.7%, from 35,600 in 2005 to 35,000 in 2006), with a similar decrease in small farms (using USDA definition of farms with income less than $250,000): -1.7%, from 32,650 in 2005 to 32,100 in 2006.
Q. Has there been an increase or decrease in the number of CSA's since 2005?
Definitely an increase. This year, NOFA NY has started keeping records of the number of CSA's in NYS, -- 123 farms. There have not been good records kept by anyone in the past, but the general concensus is yes- the numbers are up, every year. The Northeast Organic Farming Assoc. of NY (NOFA-NY) has just created a directory of CSA's in the state, which can be explored at: http://nofany.org/dbapplet/csadirectory.html
Q. Has the number of farmer's markets in NYS increased or decreased in the last five years?
This growth has been HUGE!! According to Diane Eggert of the NY Farmer's Market Federation, back in 2000 there were 240 farmers markets in NYS. In 2006 there were 350. The number Ag & Markets has estimated around 400, but not confirmed yet. The growth in Green Markets in NYC is a part of this.
Lieutenant Governor Mary O. Donohue, Chair, New York State Qualities Task Force
Report
Recommendations on protecting New York's agriculture and farmland based on the
Quality Communities initiative. The initiative provides an opportunity to assist
communities in recognizing and planning for agricultural growth in their local
economies.
Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Factsheets for each state. Information on population, employment, income, farm characteristics, and farm financial indicators.
U.S. Department of Agriculture
The so-called "fact finders for agriculture." NYNASS offers statistics reports, press releases, special surveys, county estimates, crop weather, census reports, an estimates database, a kids' page, and e-mail subscriptions.
New York Agricultural Statistics Service
1 Winners Circle
Albany, NY 12235
Phone: (518) 457-5570 or 1-800-821-1276
Fax: 1-800-591-3834
E-mail: nass-ny@nass.usda.gov
