Agriculture

Agriculture in Columbia County is an important part of the economy and heritage.  Farmers raise everything from cattle and sheep to corn, barley and apples, and produce many items like cider,  maple syrup, yogurt, and cheese as well as spirits including wine, whiskey and vodka.  Agriculture is identified as a priority in the regional economy and continues to experience growth in Columbia County.   According to the 2022 Census of Agriculture, Columbia County has 444 farms using 79,391 acres of land. That’s nearly 20% of the land area of the county. The average farm size is 179 acres with an average value of agricultural land and buildings of $1,168,781.

Total commodity sales were  $111,231,000  an average of $250,519  per farm operation.  Farms also employed a total of 1,542 hired workers during that time.