An Overview of Dutchess County Agriculture

Agriculture provides open space and scenic views which aid tourism and attract people to our county.

Dutchess County has 600 farms
(300 commercial farms grossing over $10,000 per year)

Agriculture is the largest single user of land. 125,000 acres of land is owned by farmers which equals about 1/4 of the total land in the county.

Agriculture employs about 3,500 people in the county.
1,500 employed on farms and another 2,000 people providing goods and services to farmers.

Annual farm income is approximately $37 million

and this generates over $200 million into the local economy.

Dutchess Agriculture is diverse and changing.

As we lose dairy and beef farms, we are gaining in vegetable and other types of farms.