Genesee County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan

Summary
Agriculture in Genesee County, New York, is a large and extensive industry consisting of 500 farm
enterprises on over 170,000 acres of farmland. In 1997, Genesee County’s farm output totaled over $140
million and employed nearly 1,200 people on the farm. Along with the direct impact to the economy,
Genesee’s farm economy contributed an additional $63 million and employed another 900 workers through
related industries.
While much of the U.S. farm economy has been adversely impacted by declining real prices, increasing
production costs, and dwindling farm incomes, Genesee County’s farming sector has largely overcome
these pervasive trends. Between 1987 and 1997, real farm receipts in Genesee County increased by $19
million while expenses increased only $4 million. As a result, average farm income in Genesee County has
increased 130 percent between 1987 and 1997. By comparison, U.S. farmers as a group have seen
average farm income increase only 30 percent over this same time period.
However, not all of Genesee County’s farming sector remains immune from problems. Dairy farming, in
particular, has been adversely impacted by rising costs and declining real milk prices. Since 1987, 35
percent of all Genesee County dairy farms went out of business accounting for half of all farms lost. Some
of these dairy farms likely switched to alternative crops. Especially pronounced has been the increase in
vegetable production in Genesee County. Between 1987 and 1997, vegetable acreage has increased 40
percent while cash receipts from vegetable sales have increased nearly 70 percent. The shift away from
primary commodities like dairy to higher valued products like vegetables has been a primary factor in
improved farm profitability for the County.
(continued)
Agricultural Trends Profile for Genesee County, New York 4