Farming in Cheshire County
Farmland in New Hampshire declined from 830,000 acres in 1967 to 420,000 acres in 1995. However, recently the amount of farmland has actually started to increase, rising to 470,000 acres in farmland in 2007 (3). Of these farmland acres, 48,241 are in Cheshire County (4). Based on the 2007 Agricultural Census, Cheshire County is home to 419 farms--30% more farms than in 2002 (4). The average farm size 115 acres; however, almost 34% of these farms are 10-49 acres (4).
In 2007, $15 million of farm products were sold in Cheshire County, 25% more than in 2002 (4). Of this, $4.4 million (29%) were in crop sales and $11 million (71%) were from livestock and products sales (4). In the state of New Hampshire, top products include greenhouse/nursery, dairy, chicken eggs, apples, cattle and calves, hay, maple products, sweet corn, hogs, aquaculture, honey, and turkeys (4). Cheshire County is among the top 5 counties in New Hampshire in number of farms producing: tomatoes, cantaloupe, dairy, beef, aquaculture and other animals, honey, and maple syrup (2). Based on 2010 data, 272 acres of vegetables were harvested in Cheshire County (5).
In 2007, New Hampshire farms had the second lowest average net income of New England farms with positive net income, at $56,467 (3). However, farms with positive net income account for only 30% NH farms; this was the lowest percentage in the region and was much lower than U.S. average (3). This was made evident in a 2011 study of Cheshire County farms, where farmers expressed their concern about their inability to afford adequate (or any) health insurance for themselves or their workers (1).
Also in 2007, New Hampshire Farms provided employment for 9,000 full and part-time workers, only 1.7% of total non-governmental employment (3). Average annual wages for farm proprietors were $4,985, and $7,206 for hired farm workers ($15,522 for those who worked 150 days or more and $2,845 for those who worked less than 150 days) (3).
In 2007, $15 million of farm products were sold in Cheshire County, 25% more than in 2002 (4). Of this, $4.4 million (29%) were in crop sales and $11 million (71%) were from livestock and products sales (4). In the state of New Hampshire, top products include greenhouse/nursery, dairy, chicken eggs, apples, cattle and calves, hay, maple products, sweet corn, hogs, aquaculture, honey, and turkeys (4). Cheshire County is among the top 5 counties in New Hampshire in number of farms producing: tomatoes, cantaloupe, dairy, beef, aquaculture and other animals, honey, and maple syrup (2). Based on 2010 data, 272 acres of vegetables were harvested in Cheshire County (5).
In 2007, New Hampshire farms had the second lowest average net income of New England farms with positive net income, at $56,467 (3). However, farms with positive net income account for only 30% NH farms; this was the lowest percentage in the region and was much lower than U.S. average (3). This was made evident in a 2011 study of Cheshire County farms, where farmers expressed their concern about their inability to afford adequate (or any) health insurance for themselves or their workers (1).
Also in 2007, New Hampshire Farms provided employment for 9,000 full and part-time workers, only 1.7% of total non-governmental employment (3). Average annual wages for farm proprietors were $4,985, and $7,206 for hired farm workers ($15,522 for those who worked 150 days or more and $2,845 for those who worked less than 150 days) (3).
Local Farms
Monadnock Farm and Community Connection (MFCC) Inventory Committee has surveyed Cheshire County farms, including farm products produced, where they can be purchased, and farm locations. This information is forthcoming in print and on the internet to be made available to local food consumers and advocates.
Additionally MFCC's Inventory Committe is working with GIS to create maps of existing farmland. These maps will be compared with other maps that show where good growing conditions exist. The goal will be to determine priority land to conserve and protect for agriculture. |
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Information on local farms is currently available on several sites, including:
Information on local farms is currently available on several sites, including:
- the Monadnock Table website--view or download the Local Farm Directory for the Monadnock region, which contains Cheshire County.
- The Valley Farm & Food
section of the Vital Communities website. This directory focuses on
the Upper Valley region, which includes Cheshire County.
_Sources cited
1. Sullivan, S. with Cheshire County Conservation District. (2011) Cheshire County, New Hampshire, Farm Needs Assessment: Farm Labor and Infrastructure. Cheshire County Conservation District.
2. Locavore Network, New Hampshire Locavore Overview: New Hampshire Locally Grown Product. Website can be found at http://www.locavorenetwork.com/content/new-hampshire-locavore-overview.
3. Magnusson, M., R. Gittell and J. Carter. (2010) Home Grown: the economic impact of local food systems in New Hampshire. Food Solutions New England, University of New Hampshire Office of Sustainability. Durham, NH. Found at http://www.nh.gov/agric/publications/documents/HomeGrownReport_final.pdf.
4. Meter, K. (2010) Great Falls Region (Vermont and New Hampshire) Local Farm & Food Economy.Crossroads Resource Center. Minneapolis, MN. Found at http://www.postoilsolutions.org/documents/Ken_Meters_Regional_Farm__Food_Economy_Study.pdf
5. US Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. (n.d.) Your Food Environment Atlas. Website can be found at http://ers.usda.gov/foodatlas/.
1. Sullivan, S. with Cheshire County Conservation District. (2011) Cheshire County, New Hampshire, Farm Needs Assessment: Farm Labor and Infrastructure. Cheshire County Conservation District.
2. Locavore Network, New Hampshire Locavore Overview: New Hampshire Locally Grown Product. Website can be found at http://www.locavorenetwork.com/content/new-hampshire-locavore-overview.
3. Magnusson, M., R. Gittell and J. Carter. (2010) Home Grown: the economic impact of local food systems in New Hampshire. Food Solutions New England, University of New Hampshire Office of Sustainability. Durham, NH. Found at http://www.nh.gov/agric/publications/documents/HomeGrownReport_final.pdf.
4. Meter, K. (2010) Great Falls Region (Vermont and New Hampshire) Local Farm & Food Economy.Crossroads Resource Center. Minneapolis, MN. Found at http://www.postoilsolutions.org/documents/Ken_Meters_Regional_Farm__Food_Economy_Study.pdf
5. US Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. (n.d.) Your Food Environment Atlas. Website can be found at http://ers.usda.gov/foodatlas/.