Agriculture in Onondaga County

Onondaga County is one of the most divergent counties in New York State. Production agriculture in the county is influenced by the unique intersection of the ancient lakes which receded leaving sandy and clayey soils in the northern portion of the county. Much of the agriculture in this area is devoted to fruit and vegetable production. The southern portion of the county is influenced by the retreating glaciers with gravelly soils on the valley floors and loamy soils on the side hills. The geography and soils support dairy farms and fruit production. There are 44 soil associations within the county boundaries.

Even though Onondaga County is classified as a metropolitan county, approximately 35% of the land or 150,000 acres is owned or rented by farm operators. The 2007 Census of Agriculture reported that there were 692 farms managed by 1,109 farm operators. In 2007, farm sales totaled over $135 million. Milk sales and sales of cattle and calves accounted for 89% of gross farm sales. Onondaga County ranks in the top 4% of all counties with dairy cows nationwide. Within NYS, Onondaga County ranks first in acres of strawberries, fourth in poultry and eggs, seventh in wheat for grain, ninth in corn for grain, and tenth in grain production and fruits and berries.

For more information about agriculture in Onondaga County click here.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County was founded in 1913. Through the generations of farms in the county, CCE has transferred the research of Cornell University and the land grant system to local farmers and their families. The mission of the CCE Agriculture program is to provide researched based information and learning opportunities that integrate environment, economics, and social issues that result in profitable farm businesses, which enhances the lives of farm families, and their employees and enriches the communities in which farm businesses are located.

Cornell Cooperative Extension supports consumer’s desires to purchase local foods through the Turnpike Market Trail. For a list and location of local farm markets click here. 

CCE of Onondaga County partners with the City of Syracuse and the Skaneateles Lake Watershed Agricultural Program to assist with whole farm planning which has resulted in the City of Syracuse maintaining its NYS Department of Health Filtration Avoidance Waiver. CCE of Onondaga County has also partnered with the Onondaga County Soil and Water Conservation District to provide technical assistance through the Graze NY program for those land owners who intensively manage their pastures. CCE of Onondaga County also works with the Syracuse-Onondaga County Planning Agency to recertify agricultural districts within the county.