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New York Farm Jobs

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Directory of Farms, Orchards, etc

Working in New York

The New York agricultural industry comprises a vast majority of the overall state economy. In total, farms and other farming-related enterprises pull in close to $4.25 billion in annual revenues. Top commodities include livestock, dairy products, sweet corn, floriculture, grapes, apples, hay, soy, and cabbage. Wyoming, Suffolk, Cayuga, Genesee, and Wayne represent the most lucrative counties in the state agricultural industry, each drawing more than $149 million worth of business. Four of the five top producing counties reside in northern portions of the state, with the lone southern county (Suffolk) residing in the pastoral areas of Long Island, which maintains notoriety for lavish wineries comprising eastern portions of the region.

In terms of area, New York ranks as the 27th largest state in the U.S. Around 35,000 farms comprise the state agricultural industry accounting for roughly 20% of the total landmass available in the territory (7.1 million acres). Each farm averages roughly 200 acres in size. While the average U.S. farm spans around 450 acres, The Empire State contains several major metropolitan areas spread across the area limiting the availability of land. Systems of mountains, including the northern Adirondack Mountains upstate, also hinder the use of land for farming.

Despite geographical and sociological obstacles, New York contains plentiful farmlands offering widespread access to meaningful employment opportunities in various fields. The state agricultural industry ranks as a leading producer of grapes for wine production, berries, and maple syrup. Farmers also use land to promote agritourism, lease property for mining, and establish energy partnerships to build wind turbines for power harvesting. In 2007 alone, Empire State farms hired close to 60,000 workers, with an additional 56,000 employees already stationed in various capacities throughout the industry.

Nearly two-thirds of areas designated as farmlands support traditional crops, while a quarter of agricultural lands remain wooded. Ranchers claim roughly 10% of available farmland for livestock grazing. Migrant workers, aspiring farmhands, and fruit and vegetable pickers regularly find jobs harvesting crops, caring for domestic animals, and processing raw materials. The state minimum wage for farmhands rests at $9.00 an hour. Picking jobs and other farming employment may offer allowances for meals and lodging, as well. Workers regularly enter into individual contracts with farms, especially for seasonal picking or agricultural jobs, or join cooperatives and/or partnerships. 10,000-acre Torrey Farms represents one of the largest family-owned farming operations in the state, with around 110 employees. Wineries like Casa Larga near Rochester, NY, employ hundreds of workers to maintain grape fields, process wine, and oversee tastings and other special events catered by the 35-acre property. Refer to the list of available farming jobs below to find lucrative employment options in the New York agricultural industry now: