ROOM AT THE TABLE - Intersight - University at Buffalo

I. Farm Expenditures
In 2007, the average production expenses were $78,618 per farm.
Aggregate expenses for all farms totaled $95.52 million in 2007. The four
categories where farmers spent the most were, respectively, (1) hired labor,
(2) animal feed, (3) supplies and maintenance repair, and (4) depreciation of
assets (See Table 2.5).
Erie County farmers spend the most on hired and contract labor. A
hired worker is closer to a full­time employee, versus a contract worker that
may only work on a seasonal or project basis. Hired workers are used more
frequently by Erie County farmers, and farmers spend 15 times more on
hired than contract labor in 2007. The number of farms with “hired labor”
has decreased since 1997, yet there were still increases in expense amounts
for hired labor. For example, the combined total of contract and hired labor
since 1997 has grown by 38 percent to a total of $18.65 million in 2007.
There are 277 farms (23%) that use hired labor, 37 percent fewer farms
than the 441 farms in 1997. Furthermore, 60 percent of hired workers are
employed for 150 days or less during a given year (See Table 2.5).
Contract labor, as measured by the amount of dollars expended, has
grown by $822 million since 1997. In 2007, Erie County farmers spent over
$1.14 million, higher than $319,000 spent by farmers in 1997. The state
average during the same time frame grew by more than 46 percent to a total
of $18 million in 2007. Likewise, the number of farms utilizing migrant
laborers jumped from 18 to 31 farms (over 72%) during the period from
2002­2007.
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Table 2.4 – Farm Product Sales, Erie County
Erie County New York
$1,000
% of
Total
$1,000
% of
Total
Livestock & poultry 75,404 64.43 2,856,706 64.65
Milk & dairy * Cattle & calves
51,451 43.96 2,280,218 51.60
* Other animals &
products
6,302 5.38 318,080 7.20
* Hogs & pigs
968 0.83 25,101 0.57
* 210 0.18 28,302 0.64
Sheep, goats & products * 84 0.07 10,246 0.23
Aquaculture * 23 0.02 20,417 0.46
Crops, including
nursery & greenhouse
Nursery, greenhouse,
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41,627 35.57 1,561,927 35.35
* 17,690 15.12 389,117 8.81
Vegetables & melons * 9,590 8.19 338,037 7.65
Fruits, tree nuts &berries * Grains, seeds, dry beans
& dry peas
6,317 5.40 363,295 8.22
* Corn
5,322 4.55 329,626 7.46
* 3,434 2.93 210,169 4.76
Total Sales 117,031 100 4,418,634 100
Products sold directly
to individuals
1,703 1.46 77,464 1.75
(Source: USDA Agricultural Census, 2007)
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