Federal farm-bill fight affects big portion of state's economy

Source: The Poughkeepsie Journal

Written by: Brian Tumulty, Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON — The percentage of New Yorkers who own or operate a farm is pretty small, yet agriculture is a big part of the state’s economy.

About 23 percent of the state’s land – 7 million acres – is used for 36,300 farms that produced $4.7 billion in revenue in 2010. The 2007 Census of Agriculture, the most recent report, counted 656 farms in Dutchess County. Farms occupied 102,360 acres. Types include dairies, orchards, vineyards and horses.

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