E-mail: nass-ny@nass.usda.gov
(518) 457-5570

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact:  Bryan Combs
Wednesday, August 5, 2009

www.nass.usda.gov/ny

                    NEW YORK DAIRY FARMS EXAMINED BY AGE
                           OF PRINCIPAL OPERATOR

The 2007 Census of Agriculture found the average age of principal dairy
farm operators in 2007 to be 52.5 years old for the state of New York,
according to Steve Ropel, Director of USDA’s National Agricultural
Statistics Service, New York Office. Operators between the ages of 50 to 54
represented the largest concentration at 889 out of a total of 5237
operators.  The second largest age category of operators with 849 was in
the 35 to 44 age group.   All age groups declined from 2002 with the
exception of the 65 to 69 age group which increased slightly.  The largest
decrease was displayed in the 35 to 44 age group declining from 1,520
operators in 2002 to 849 in 2007.  The average age of New York dairy
farmers increased by 1.5 years from 2002 to 2007.

The Census, which is conducted every five years, provides facts and figures
on virtually every aspect of U.S. agriculture, including number and types
of farm operations, the economic aspects of farm production and the
demographics of U.S. farm operators.

Details on this and other Census data can be found on-line through the New
York NASS web site: www.nass.usda.gov/ny/. U.S., State and County tables
are available in PDF, Text, and CSV files. Printed copies will be available
along with the CD-ROMS and a searchable database. For further information
or assistance, please call the New York office at 800-821-1276 or send an
e-mail to: nass-ny@nass.usda.gov.

#

8-5-09