Results of New Ulster County Farm Breakdown Has Some Surprises

Growing up in Ulster County, I thought I had a pretty good handle on what was happening in the farms surrounding my home. Turns out I was very, very wrong.

Whether it's 4H clubs or working farms, agriculture is part of the DNA of the Hudson Valley. Recently, Ulster County released a comprehensive breakdown of what local farms produce, and the results were surprising to many people, including myself.

For Ulster County residents, massive cornfields are a common sight in warmer months (Google Maps)

Agriculture in Ulster County, NY

I grew up in Accord, NY and spent my early mornings trying to feed grass to the cows across my street as my sister and I waited for the bus (below). It turns out there aren't as many cows as I suspected, however, as dairy and beef cattle production only made up a combined 5% of the county's agricultural output.

There are still beef and dairy cows in Ulster County, but they only amount to 5% of farm production (TSM Poughkeepsie)

Most Popular Crop Productions of Ulster County Farmers

What made perfect sense, however, was that the biggest agricultural export was crops like corn and hay, which was a full 20% of total farm production. Check out the entire pie chart below.

Ulster County's Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan

Currently, the county is working the Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan, a document meant to help ensure future decades of successful farming. Local residents are encouraged to submit feedback by January 31st, 2025.

Get our free mobile app

While Ulster County residents might primarily think of farmers as crop producers, many local farms are also a draw for local tourism. Businesses like Kelder's Farm in Kerhonkson, for example, have added countless attractions in addition to their agricultural offerings (have you visited their record-breaking gnome yet?).