How Farmers Can Save Up to $40,000 in New York

Farmers in New York could save up to $40,000 because of a fee that is being waived by the state.

While most people think of "New York" as the largest city in the United States, the reality is New York is a large, mostly rural state with plenty of hard-working farmers. According to the New York Farm Bureau as of 2022, there are over 30,000 farms in the State operating on over 6.5 million acres of land. The top 5 crops and products produced in New York state according to the Farm Bureau are milk, corn (for grain), hay, cattle, and
apples. New York is the second-highest producer of apples in the United States, according to the AgMRC. How do you like them apples?

Farming is a difficult job physically and economically. According to Indeed.com, the average Farm Worker makes $17.60 per hour in New York State. That's not a lot. The owners don't haul in a lot either. The USDA reports the average farm owner will make just over $71,000 this year, which is down a whopping 27.2% from last year.

Cannabis Farming in New York

Cannabis is not legal in New York and farmers are allowed to grow it. Such a crop would be very profitable to, well, everyone. From farmers growing it to dispensaries selling it. The state stands to make over $ 436 million just in taxes and fees for marijuana. The fees, however, are part of the problem as there is a fee for farms to start growing it, which can cost thousands of dollars. However, New York is giving them a break with that cost.