Agricultural Development & Enhancement Strategy

An aging farmer population and the growing cost of labor complicate farm operations and contribute to pressures to consolidate or exit the industry, Further, there are barriers for new farmers to access the industry. Farmland value has increased by 89% since 2002, making it difficult for new entrants to buy land. Additionally, those who do manage to remain in business face a range of challenged, depending on their sector.

Chautauqua County remains the number one grape-producing county in the state. However, changing consumer trends will affect demand for grape juice, which drives most of the current production.
While efficiency is improving, real sales are the sale today as they were in 2007. Expanding away from grape juice and exploring new markets will be important. Opportunities exist for blended and sparkling juices, wines, table grapes, and organic products.

Equine activity makes up a significant part of the local agriculture community. It industry is diverse and growing. THis is driven bby twp main groups. The first is the plan sect community who need about 600 new horses each year just to accommodate teenagers entering into adulthood. The second is an emerging group of your and adult participants who took up riding.

Many consumers are drawn to local food. Farmers can connect to consumers through farmers markets and other direct-to-consumer channels. These opportunities help farms increase revenues. Similarly, farms that offer value-added and organic products can attract more consumers. Consumer demand trends show that this is an area where Chautauqua County can continue to see a growth in sales.

Dairy remains an important industry in the County, with close ties to the grain and animal feed industry. There are challenges as the number of diary farms decrease and the remaining farms face consolidation pressure. Still, there are opportunities for dairy operations to explore full-fat and flavored diary products as consumption of butter, yogurt, cream, and cheese grow. Grass-fed and organic products, along with niche products like locally produced ice cream, also prove promising.

Forestry is an important pat of agriculture. It provides timber, non-timber products, and a variety of ecosystem services. About 52% of the County's and is categorized forest.

Chautauqua County, like the rest of the Southern Tier West region, is experiencing a loss of farmland (especially pastureland and woodland) and a decline in the number of operating farms. This indicated a need for farmland protection and increasing market access and business support for farms to increase profitability.

The hay sector is vital for the livestock and equine sectors. However, farms are shifting to production of soybeans and grains. Although hay remains important, hay acreage has seen a 33% decrease since 2002.

Dairy, beef cow, and cow-calf operations in the County make up the majority of livestock ranching. Other livestock, like poultry, sheep, and goats, make up a small part of the sector bust has been slowly increasing. The biggest barrier in the livestock sector is the limited processing capability.

Agritourism is a vital part of Chautauqua County's economy, and many tourists visit the area to partake in a variety of agriculture-related activities. Craft beverage (most prominently wineries) make up the biggest stream of revenue for agritourism activities. Other popular activities include trails, tours, festivals, and participatory farm operations.