Starting Your Farm Journey in Dutchess County

Thinking about farming? Here are the first steps, key resources, and local contacts to help you get started.

Agriculture is New York State’s largest industry and the third largest in Dutchess County. While our farms are often smaller in size compared to other regions, they are increasingly diverse and innovative. Starting a farm here means matching your land and resources with the right enterprise, building a solid plan, and connecting with local support networks

Key Topics for Beginning Farmers

Finding Land
Business Structures
Financing
Insurance & Risk Management
Marketing & Sales Channels

First Five Steps

Check your soil
- Ensure that the soils on a potential agricultural parcel are appropriate for your proposed operation. Dutchess County Soil & Water Conservation District offers soil mapping or use USDA Web Soil Survey.
If you have any technical questions about starting an agricultural business or unsure about what type of venture:
- CCEDC Staff
- Cornell Small Farms Program
- Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture Program
Check to see if your property is in the Agricultural District: Link to map. See Link for more info on Ag Districts Note: you do not need to be in the Ag District to start agricultural practices, but you do need to follow your municipalities code
If you have no plans to do the farming yourself, either contact the current farmer or see these resources à (link to section in the Ag Directory, Landowner/Farmer Match Programs)
Draft a Business and Marketing plan, even a simple plan can help chart your path

PLEASE NOTE: If you plan to lease your land to a farmer, understand that the reduction in your applicable land tax (Agricultural Assessment) should be applied towards the whole or part of the farmer's lease. Learn More about Agricultural Assessment