Agriculture

Madison County continues as a leader in the dairy industry. With two important dairy processors in the County and many more relocating close by, there are many opportunities for continued growth in value-added agriculture. The sale of milk and milk products are one of the two largest revenue generators (along with cattle and calf sales) for agriculture in the County. New York State is third in the country for milk production, and it is expected that we are first in yogurt production based on the success of Greek yogurt companies that are New York State based like, Fage, Chobani, and Mueller.

Along with a strong dairy industry, Madison County agriculture has witnessed an unprecedented rise in the number of direct-to-market operations: 173 of the 750 farms have been in operation less than 10 years. The number of vegetable operations increased from 28 in 1997 to 40 in 2007. Likewise, the number of orchards increased from 9 in 1997 to 14 in 2007, as did fruit and tree nuts, which grew from 9 operations in 1997 to 25 in 2007. These new types of diversified farms create opportunities for processing and distribution, particularly given Madison County’s proximity to markets.

Madison County has a reputation as a major player in the equine industry, as a leader in horse and farm business degrees, breeding, and rehabilitation schools. (See www.equinealley.com for more information.) This is in addition to its solid base in dairy processing, meat processing, biomass, and related agricultural industries.

Innovative ideas are a big part of why Madison County has a strong and steadily growing agricultural industry.

• Morrisville State College supports Nelson Farms, a kitchen incubator program that helps smaller producers capture more added value from their crops through their state of the art processing facilities and distribution network.
• With a diverse group of products, Madison County has a share in many of the nation’s biggest crop markets.
• It brings the community closer to the world of agriculture by opening up local farms for Agri-Tourism.
• The Madison County Center for Economic Development also helps foster interest and education in the field by partnering with colleges in the area and giving young people the knowledge they need in areas like agricultural science and management.
• For more information on agriculture in Madison County, New York, please visit www.madisoncountyagriculture.com
  
  It’s no wonder that agricultural businesses find a lot of reasons to relocate and expand to Madison County:

• 46% of the land area is agricultural, providing both natural resources and a culture that supports the industry.
• Agricultural labor wages in the Syracuse MSA (which includes Madison County) and Utica-Rome MSA (from which Madison County also draws labor), are up to 40% lower than they are in New York State as a whole.
• Madison County has a greater availability for labor in the field of agriculture than the surrounding counties due to the many surrounding higher education institutions and workforce training programs.
• Madison County has an abundant water supply.
• Logistics are right to serve Central New York, the New York City market, and all of the northeastern United States, based on our access to I-90 (NYS Thruway) with access from boston to Chicago and beyond, or I-81 with access from Canada down the eastern coast.
• Many educational institutions in the area to help train and further educate employees.

Median Hourly Wage of Agricultural Workers
Standard Occupational Classification	Occupation	Syracuse MSA (includes Madison County)	Utica - Rome MSA	New York State
45-0000	Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations	$15.55	$11.63	$11.49
45-2092	Farm workers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery and Greenhouse	$9.45	n/a	$10.34
45-2093	Farm workers, Farm and Ranch Animals	$8.93	n/a	$11.49

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2011 Metropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage estimates

ARE Park Conceptual Plan (PDF - 3.2 MB)
Madison County Land Inventory: An Assessment of Marginal and Underutilized Land for Energy Crop Production

Biomass: A Source of Renewable Energy in Madison County

ARE Park Conceptual Plan

For more information about value-added agriculture, contact:

Ms. Beth McKellips
Agricultural Economic Development Specialist
Madison County/Cornell Cooperative Extension
contact@madisoncountyagriculture.com
(315) 684-3001 x126
www.madisoncountyagriculture.com

Contact us to learn more about the advantages of growing your business in Madison County, New York.