What is the current state of food production in the region?
Jan 19, 2015
What is the current state of food production in the region?
Digging deeper• Land
• Farms & Farmers
• Products
Land
Source: USDA Cropland Data Layer, 2012
Land and soil
Prime farmland20%
Farmland of statewide
importance26%
Prime farm-land if
drained34%
Not prime farmland
21%
Land resources
Source: National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), 2012
LandPrime Farmland Uses Acres % of land
Residential 69,712 35%
Agricultural Land 54,921 28%
Vacant 30,219 15%
Commercial 5,811 3%
Wild, Forested, Conservation Lands And Public Parks 3,740 2%
Other 32,335 16%
Total 196,739 100%
Source: National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), 2012,NYS Tax Assessor Parcel File, 2012
Land
214,097 acres of farm-quality soil is currently developed.
Source: National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), 2012,USDA Cropland Layer, 2012
Land
Source: USDA Cropland Layer
Land
Source: USDA Census of Ag, 2007
1978 1982 1987 1992 1997 2002 20070
50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
250,000
300,000
350,000
400,000
860,000,000
880,000,000
900,000,000
920,000,000
940,000,000
960,000,000
980,000,000
1,000,000,000
1,020,000,000
1,040,000,000
Acres of Farmland
Erie-Niagara U.S.
Total land (acres)
1,002,240
Farmland (acres)
2002: 309,788 (31%)
2007: 291,992 (29%)
Change 2002-2007: -17,796 acres
Land
1 to 49.9 50 to 99.9 100 to 259.9
260 to 999.9
1,000 to 1,999.9
2,000 or more
47%
23% 20%
9%1% 1%
Share of Farms by Size (acres operated)
Acres operated
Source: USDA Census of Ag, 2007
Land
Source: USDA ARS, 2012
Average extreme temperatures increased by 5 degrees between 1986 and 2005
Temperature
1981-2010 Average (ºF)Growing Degree Days (base 50 ºF)
Erie County 48.5 2,667
Niagara County
48.3 2,647
Land• Temperature: could increase by 3F by 2020
and 8F by 2080.• Precipitation: projected to increase by 15%
in spring and 10% in summer.
Source: NYSERDA ClimAID, 2011
LandUrban Farming & Community Gardening• No comprehensive inventory of urban
farming and community gardening in the region
Grassroots Gardens• 73 gardens on 135 lots• 78 lots are vacant city-owned parcels
Greenprint Niagara• Two gardens in Niagara Falls
Barriers• Acquiring land and guaranteeing tenure• Marketing goods
Farms & Farmers
Farms & Farmers
Source: USDA Census of Ag, 2007
Farms 2002 2007 Change % change
Bi-County Region 2,090 2,080 -10 0%
Erie Cnty 1,289 1,215 -74 -6%
Niagara Cnty 801 865 64 8%
Farmers 2002 2007 Change % change
Bi-County Region 3,192 3,252 60 2%
Erie Cnty 1,978 1,898 -80 -4%
Niagara Cnty 1,214 1,354 140 12%
Farms & Farmers• Over 2/3 of farmers are 45 and over• 35 percent of farmers are women• 96 percent of farmers are white• 48 percent list farming as a secondary
occupation
Under 25
25-34
35-44
45-54
55-64
65+
0%
3%
14%
27%
28%
28%
Age
Source: USDA Census of Ag, 2007
Farms & Farmers• 98 percent of ag land is owner-occupied• 2 percent is tenant occupied• 10 percent farmed by corporations• 25 percent farmed by partnerships• 65 percent farmed by families,
individuals, or other organizations
Source: USDA Census of Ag, 2007
65%10%
25%
Farm Type by Acres Operated
Families, in-dividuals, or otherCorporationsPartnerships
85%
7%
8%
Farm Type by Number of Farms
Farms & Farmers• Over 25 percent of ag land is treated
with herbicide
Source: USDA Census of Ag, 2007
Ag land treated with… Acres % of Ag Land
Chemicals
Fungicide 9716 3.3
Herbicide 73553 25.2
Insecticide 40899 14
Other chemicals 4123 1.4
Fertilizer 119036 40.8
Manure 48509 16.6
• 4909 acres of organic ag land with 22 organic operations
Farms & FarmersEnergy & Emissions
Usage:• Between 2000 and 2004,
energy use by ag producers in New York State rose 2 percent, while the average U.S. state saw a drop in energy use by over 1 percent.
• Food system energy consumption ranking (most to least):• Processing• Household use• Agriculture• Packaging, transport, food
servicesEmissions:• Ag accounts for 8% of all
emissions in the U.S.
8%
35%
30%
27%
1%
U.S. GHG Emissions
Agriculture Commercial & Residential
Industry Transportation
Other
Source: USDA ERS, 2012
Farms & Farmers• 281 of 2,080 farms are irrigated
• 1.09 billion gallons of public water drawn/day for all uses• 0.47%, or 5.09 million gallons/day, drawn for
agriculture• Irrigation: 4.01 mg/d • Livestock: 1.04 mg/d • Aquaculture: 0.04 mg/d
Source: USGS, 2005, USDA Census of Ag, 2007
Source: Erie County Water Authority
20.3%
0.5%0.4%
0.1% 0.
0%2.7%0.1%
75.8%
Public Water Use
Public Supply
Domestic (Self-supplied)
Irrigation
Livestock
Aqua-culture
Industrial
Mining
Thermoelectric
Farms & FarmersRevenues
(top 5)($1,000) %
Expenditures (top 5)
($1,000) %
Total 239,856 100 Total 176,366 100
Animal sales 118,297 49.3 Hired labor 33,615 19.06
Crop sales 102,379 42.7 Animal feed 25,211 14.29
Farm sources 9,974 4.2Supplies and
repairs19,207 10.89
Government & insurance payments
4,779 2 Depreciation 17,676 10.02
Patronage and co-ops
1,809 0.8 Seeds and plants 10,358 5.87
Source: USDA Census of Ag, 2007
Products
Source: USDA Census of Ag, 2007
ProductsLand Acres %Total 1,002,240 100
Cropland 212,211 21
Harvested Cropland 173,217 100%Hay 58,627 34%
Corn grain 31,233 18%
Haylage 24,378 14%
Corn silage 23,338 13%
Soybeans 13,165 8%
Oats 4,744 3%
Wheat 3,579 2%
Apple 3,187 2%
Grape 2,945 2%
Sweet corn 2,408 1%
Other 5,613 3%Source: USDA Census of Ag, 2007
Products
Source: USDA Census of Ag, 2007
Not for human consumption
Solely for human consumption
For both human and animal consumption
Solely for animal consumption
1,164
17,888
53,929
100,236
Acres of harvested cropland grown…
Products
Source: USDA Census of Ag, 2007
Farm products Sales ($1,000) %
Total sales 220,675 100%Livestock & poultry 118,297 54% Milk and dairy 88,569 40% Cattle and calves 11,108 5% Hogs and pigs 307 0% Other animals and products 1,461 1%
Crops 83,678 38% Fruits, tree nuts, and berries 28,776 13% Vegetables (including soybeans) 27,262 12%
Nursery, greenhouse, floriculture, and sod 19,293 9%
Grain, oilseeds, dry beans, dry peas 18,701 8%
Policies
Agricultural districts
The Agricultural Districts Law creates a favorable operating environment for producers and helps large tracts of land stay in active production.
Source: New York State Agricultural Districts Mapping Program, Cornell University Geospatial Information Repository, 2012
PoliciesFarmland Protection Plans
Policies• Local, state, and federal
economic development opportunities
• Farmer education and workforce development
• New-farmer programs
• Incentives for sustainable growing practices
• Land acquisition for urban growing
• Permitting and licensing