What Hudson Valley Farmers Grow

Farms in the Hudson Valley may not be large, but they produce a dazzling array of products.

• 28% of farms produce grains, soybeans, and hay

• 25% raise animals, including beef and dairy cows, sheep, goats, pigs, and poultry

• 21% breed, raise, or board horses

• 14% grow a wide variety of fruits and vegetables

• 12% are involved in greenhouse/nursery production

Currently, production trends indicate a very clear shift away from traditional food production to more economical uses of agricultural land. Between 1997 and 2002, the Valley lost more than 450 dairy and beef farms and almost 100 orchards and vegetable farms. There was a corresponding increase in the number of farms engaged in more profitable “non-food” ventures such as horse farming, hay production, and greenhouses.