Agriculture has a long and proud history in Columbia County. Perhaps unique in its contribution as a business, agriculture is both a key component of the County’s economy and a molder and shaper of the character of our people, our rural communities and the working landscapes we enjoy. There are few areas in the country where agriculture is not experiencing change, but in a region of rapid change, such as the Hudson River Valley, Columbia County agriculture stands out as a testament to the innovation and resiliency of the farming community. Columbia County agriculture is in transition, but the opportunities for entrepreneurship and success are all around us.
Number of Farms
495
Acres in Farms
119,500 (29 % of county land area)
Average Acres per Farm
241
Market Value of All Agricultural Products Sold from County Farms
$52.2 million
Leading Agricultural Products (percent of total sales)
Dairy products
43
Fruits & Berries
14
Cattle & Calves
10
Sheep & Goats
8 (Ranked No. 1 in NYS)
Nursery & Greenhouse
7
Other Products
18
Key Characteristics:
1. Natural assets
Columbia County is fortunate in having a combination of prime farmland soils and a climate that allows for the production of a wide variety of commodities.
2. Heritage
Agriculture has been a significant part of the County’s economy and community from the 18th century up to the present. It has helped shape transportation routes and the growth and development of the city of Hudson and numerous villages, towns, and hamlets. President Martin Van Buren spent his retirement years at his farm in Kinderhook, taking an active interest in experiments with crops and agricultural practices. The County has been a leading dairy and fruit area for the last 100 years. Before the advent of rapid transportation in the 20th century, Columbia County was an important supplier of food to the New York City market. In the 21st century, many County farmers are once again discovering the opportunities in supplying high-quality fresh and prepared foods to our nearby urban markets.
3. Innovation
Challenges to profitability spur innovation. Entrepreneurial ideas have long flowed from the County’s farming community, including greater value-added commodities, direct marketing and sales, and new commodities such as large-scale sheep and dairy goat operations, as well as embracing new and improved varieties, livestock and agricultural practices. For example, County farmers were among the first in the Northeast to use refrigerated bulk milk tanks on the farm.
4. Diversity
The County has a reputation as a dairy and fruit region, but over time, many diverse niches have been explored by the farming community. These include high value specialty vegetables and berries, horticulture, equine, llamas and alpacas, and sheep and goat cheeses. Also, compared to many farming regions, Columbia County farms are diverse, with representation from retail all the way to wholesale enterprises.
5. Economics and Agri-Business
Agriculture is a multi-million-dollar enterprise in Columbia County, with significant impacts through the wider economy as a result of the relatively high multipliers common to ag products. The economic contribution includes the direct effect of sales of all farm products, business-to-business purchases from agribusiness, i.e., those that support the farm (seed, fertilizer and pesticide suppliers; equipment sales and service; and ag financial services), and the purchasing power from the earnings spent by all ag-related businesses. Columbia County is currently an important center for agribusinesses not merely for the Hudson River Valley, but for a large part of the Northeastern United States.
6. Proximity to Markets
No other place can claim the unique global real estate that is Columbia County. That means that the County has access to a huge and diverse market throughout the Northeast, with the New York City metro area less than a three hour drive away. Demographic changes will bring new tastes and new demands for farm products that the County’s farmers can help satisfy.
7. Stewardship
Farmers were the first environmentalists. They understand that wise stewardship of their land-based natural resources helps to ensure a successful farm operation. But the very act of farming provides invaluable benefits to the entire community. Benefits such as scenic, pastoral views, preservation of environmental quality, and promotion of wildlife diversity stem directly from the agricultural working landscape. The rural landscape produced by viable and productive agriculture is one of the outstanding attractions of Columbia County. And in spite of its location in a rapidly changing Hudson River Valley, the farmers’ stewardship of the land and their contribution to the overall economy are increasingly appreciated and supported by their non-farming neighbors.
Columbia County has nearly fifty country farm markets and orchards, many of them specializing in organic produce.
The Old Chatham Sheepherding Company is the largest sheep dairy farm in the United States.
Census/Demographics
The estimated population of the County is 63,668.
Hudson, once a busy port city frequented by whalers, is the Seat of Columbia County.
Arts & Culture
PS/21 - Performing Spaces for the 21st Century, is a new venue under the direction of Gwen Gould, offering classical sings under an open-air tent in Chatham. www.ps21chatham.org.
What's New
Migrant Farm Workers Get New Housing Through Innovative Program
Migrant workers on several farms in Columbia County are receiving new living quarters thanks to a unique program created by the Columbia Hudson Partnership.
