Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plans

Cover of the 2025 Ulster County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan - Adopted June 2025

In 2025, Ulster County finished updating its agricultural and farmland protection plan. 

Much has changed since the last Ulster County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan was adopted in 1997. Local development pressures, various macroeconomic trends, and more major storms have an impact on agriculture in the County.

The updated plan focuses on understanding the current needs of farming and farm-related businesses in Ulster County and devises strategies to increase the economic viability of the agricultural industry, encourages farmland protection, and increases public interest and awareness of the importance of agriculture in Ulster County.

2023 Ag Survey 

A survey of farmers, members of the public not involved in farming, and those who rent land to farmers was conducted from late summer into late fall of 2023. This survey is part of the development of the updated Plan.

Infographic: Sales of agricultural products from farms in Ulster County increased 87% from 2002 to 2022 (inflation-adjusted dollars)

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Infographic: Pie Chart of Farms by Principal Product, Ulster County, 2022. Mixed Crops - 20%; Fruit - 19%; Mixed Livestock - 17%; Nursery & Greenhouse - 16%; Vegetables & Melons - 8%

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Infographic: How and Where Our Farms Are Selling? 50 Farm Stands and On-Farm Markets. 12+ U-Pick Orchards and Farms. 6 Farmers' Markets. 15-20 Ulster County farms travel to NYC Green Markets.

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Infographic: Approximately 12% of Ulster County's farms produce and sell processed or value-added products

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Infographic: Average sales of value-added products are about $160k/year, considerably higher than in neighboring counties!

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Plan Library

1997 Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan

Published on October 06, 1997

The Ulster County Legislature formally adopted the Ulster County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan by resolution on September 11, 1997.

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