The state of farming in the Hudson Valley

What do they grow?

Large farms may focus on a single crop, sometimes under contract, specializing and gaining an economy of scale. Small farms diversify. Pete Taliaferro of New Paltz told me that he grows a variety of crops and looks for new things all the time. Norm Greig of Red Hook told me that he is constantly seeking new items that his customers will want: “Everybody does pretty much the same stuff, so you have to look for new things that maybe your customers don’t know about.” Product diversity is a key.

Farmers are innovators. In Dutchess County, McEnroe Farms use their organic composting operations and their organic heirloom tomatoes to fund many of their other operations. Some of the farmers have been forced to find value-added products. Sprout Creek Farms have one of the most unusual value-added propositions. Margo Morris had a small herd of cows when she bought a farm just outside of Poughkeepsie. With the help of a benefactor, she went into the cheese business with her cows, and now 72 milking goats. Her cheeses are sold in New York City and are prized as far away as San Francisco.

Not all the innovations are in product. Ray Bradley uses his pigs to help him take care of the land, rotating his crops yearly to land on which his pigs lived the year before. The Armours use “no-till” planting and have tripled their yield. Innovation is a key.

More and more farmers are selling seedlings. Farmers, saving seeds or buying them in bulk, start seedlings in greenhouses and sell them to customers, who use them in their own gardens. Four Winds and Bradley Farms count on that cash infusion yearly to fund other parts of their business.

Others have started CSAs: Community-Supported Agriculture. By selling shares or portions, the farmer gains capital and support. The products are harvested, and each purchaser is given a share of whatever products are ripe, picked and available.

Solutions

With these and other challenges in mind, what is the future for farming in the Hudson Valley? Farmers are not of one mind, but some important trends seem clear. Product diversity, signature products, niche marketing and specialty retailing all seem to contribute to success. Most importantly, agricultural literacy must improve. People, especially urban residents, need to regain a connection to the farm that produces their food. Farmland also needs protection. Many farms in Orange and Dutchess Counties are taxed at the same rate as residential developments. Heavy taxation helps drive the farmer from the land.

What can you do?

There is a growing movement in California, Virginia, New York, Vermont and many other states supporting local agriculture. The movement is as much about food safety and food health as anything. If you know your local farmers, you know what they are doing to their land, how they are managing the pests, what is sprayed and what is not. You can be relatively certain that a local product or crop is wholesome, without added chemicals or materials. You can be confident that the nutritional value is as good as or better than conventionally produced products. You might pay more, but the quality level and nutritional value of the product are worth it.

Join a CSA. The CSA will provide you with a share of the available harvested products weekly. The variety depends on the farm.

Buy from a farm market. Farm markets are usually, but not always, controlled by the farmer who produced the products. Many farm markets buy from other local farmers to supplement their product offerings. I have seen some unscrupulous farm markets buy a national or imported product and market it as local or their own; do your research.

Lastly, become literate about the food you eat and where it originates. Years ago I asked my now-27-year-old son where food came from. He looked and smiled and said, “From the grocery store.” It doesn’t.

Local Farms

These are the fine farmers who took time to answer their e-mail, speak to me or let me come out to their farm; they deserve your support.

Blooming Hill Farm www.bloominghillfarm.com (845) 782-7310

Bradley Farm https://raybradleyfarm.com (845) 255-8769

Dykeman Farm www.dykemanfarm.com (845) 832-6068

Farm at Miller’s Crossing www.farmatmillerscrossing.com (518) 851-2331

Greig Farm www.greigfarm.com (845) 758-1234

Hepworth Farms www.hepworthfarms.com (845) 795-2007

Markristo Farm www.markristofarm.com (518) 325-4261

McEnroe Organic Farm www.mcenroeorganicfarm.com (518) 789-3252

Meadow View Farm www.meadowviewfarmstand.com (845) 255-6093

Migliorelli Farm www.migliorelli.com (845) 757-3276