Current Trends in Adirondack Agriculture – 2017 Census of Agriculture

In April of this year, the National Agricultural Statistics Service released the 2017 census of agriculture, which includes data specific to New York State. This report, released every five years, shows emerging trends in agricultural practices across the country. Based on the most recent census, the Park region accounted for about 11 percent of the market value of all agricultural products in New York state. There are also about 5 percent fewer farms in the Adirondack Park in 2017 than in 2012 although total cropland has increased by about 2 percent. In both 2012 and 2017, about 50 percent of farms in the Adirondack Park have experienced net losses. Below is an in-depth look at current trends in Adirondack agriculture.

Agriculture Districts are a planning tool that define areas within a local jurisdiction where farming is the preferred economic activity. Districts may be voluntarily created by landowners or they may be designated in a local land-use plan. The map below is a proxy tool to show what land in the Adirondack Park is currently available and suitable for farming. This proxy represents a minimum, not a maximum

Source: Adirondack Council

Food Network Resources

The map on the right shows locations for food pantries, backpack programs, etc. and farming and food related organizations that support and promote the food network system.

Population Density

• This map also contains shading to show population density.
• The darker the shading, the higher the number of households in that zip code.
• Please refer to the legend on the map for estimates of the number of households for each shaded color.

SNAP/WIC Vendors

All vendors in the nine-county region who accept the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and/or Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) are designated by a dot on the map.

The dots are color coded based on produce availability:

Green - High
These vendors have a full selection of fruits and vegetables for sale.

Yellow - Intermediate
These vendors have a small limited selection of fruits and vegetables for sale.

Red - None
These vendors offer almost no fruits and vegetables for sale.

Population Density

This map also contains shading to show population density. The darker the shading, the higher the number of households in that zip code. Please refer to the legend on the map for estimates of the number of households for each shaded color.

Source:

https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/retailer-locator
https://health.data.ny.gov/Health/Women-Infants-Children-WIC-Vendor-Information/4az8-5hx6

Food Insecurity

One in four food-insecure children lives in a home that is likely ineligible for Federal Nutrition programs, underscoring the critical role of both the public and private sector in addressing child food insecurity.

Projected Food Insecurity Rate (Overall)*
Food insecurity refers to USDA’s measure of lack of access, at times, to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members and limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate foods.

Annual Food Budget Shortfall*
The total calculated amount of money per year that would be required to meet all the food needs of food-insecure people in the county.

Average Meal Cost*
The national average dollar amount food-secure people report spending per week on food per feedingamerica.com.

Food Insecure Children
Number of children that are food insecure (Calculated from the child insecurity rate* x population of children**)

Food Insecurity Rate (Children)*
The percentage of children living in household in the U.S. that experience food insecurity at some point during the year. The child food-insecurity estimates in this study are derived from the same questions used by the USDA to identify food insecurity in households with children at the national level.

Food Insecurity Rate (Adults)*
The percentage of adults living in household in the U.S. that experience food insecurity at some point during the year. The adult food-insecurity estimates in this study are derived from the same questions used by the USDA to identify food insecurity in households at the national level.

Income Eligible for Nutrition Programs*
Percentage of the food insecure population that is likely eligible for federal nutrition assistance

Likely Ineligible for Nutrition Programs*
Percentage of the food insecure population that is likely ineligible for federal nutrition assistance

Population of Children**
Total number of children in the county

Sources:

* https://map.feedingamerica.org/
** https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs

Food Environment Atlas

Food environment factors—such as store/restaurant proximity, food prices, food and nutrition assistance programs, and community characteristics—interact to influence food choices and diet quality. These interactions are complex and more research is needed to identify causal relationships and effective policy interventions.

The objectives of the Atlas are:

• to assemble statistics on food environment indicators to stimulate research on the determinants of food choices and diet quality, and
• to provide a spatial overview of a community's ability to access healthy food and its success in doing so.

Expenditures per Capita, Fast Food 2007*
Expenditures per Capita, Fast Food 2012*
Expenditures per Capita, Restaurants 2007*
Expenditures per Capita, Restaurants 2012*
Fast Food Restaurants (% Change), 2011-16*
Fast-Food Restaurants, 2011*
Fast-Food Restaurants, 2016*
Full-Service Restaurants (% change), 2011-16*
Full-Service Restaurants, 2011*
Full-Service Restaurants, 2016*

*Source: https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-environment-atlas/

Free Lunch Eligible Children

% of Children Eligible for School Lunch
(Number of children) Free Lunch Eligible (Public School) *

Total Population of Children (6 to 18 years)**

 Source:
*National Center for Education Statistics   http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/elsi/
**Source: https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs

SNAP Household Characteristics

Given the variation in food insecurity and income and asset limits for certain programs, our census data indicates that the share of food-insecure individuals not eligible for public food assistance is very high. Over 47% of households below the poverty level are not receiving federal food assistance in the North Country.

This map has two sets of radio buttons. You can only select one button from the top list and one button from the bottom list at the same time.

For example, if you select “Below the poverty level” from the top list and “Not receiving food stamps/SNAP” from the bottom list, you can see that Clinton County has 1,730 households that are below the poverty level and not receiving food stamps.