Today, March 24, is the annual celebration of National Agriculture Day. A day recognized for positive impacts of farmers and Ag businesses that provide healthy organic foods and livestock, which provide a healthier life choice for Americans. (Photo by Bernadette Lewis)  

CHENANGO COUNTY — Today, March 24, is the annual celebration of National Agriculture Day.

A day recognized for positive impacts of farmers and Ag businesses that provide healthy organic foods and livestock, which provide a healthier life choice for Americans.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 2022 Census of Agriculture, farming is practiced in every county in New York State, with 30,650 farms and farmland comprising 21.6 percent of the State’s area.

City of Norwich Assemblyman Joe Angelino said agriculture gets a good portion of his attention as it is the largest industry in New York state and also in his Assembly District, where most of his colleagues are from urban areas.

“The Republican Conference of the State Assembly annually hosts an “Upstate Agriculture Tour” and we invite members from New York City to come to our upstate districts to learn and experience farming,” he continued. “This has been very successful. Chenango County was a portion of this tour two years ago when we visited Chobani in Columbus.”

Angelino said one of the biggest educational opportunities he attends each year is the county Farm Tour, sponsored by the Chenango County Planning Department.

This year, the Farm Tour will be on the same day as Open Farm Day and Dairy Day, July 18.

“Each year several Ag industries, farms, and retailers are highlighted on the bus tour,” said Angelino. "Those attending are legislators at the state level and local elected officials such as Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo, Chair of the State’s Ag Committee, Senator Peter Oberacker, and others.” 

Last year, Angelino and his wife attended Open Farm Day. He said they met some great people and made purchases from a few local farmers, of which they have been back to since to make additional purchases of maple syrup, Christmas wreaths, and other items.

He noted it's a great event for farmers to showcase their products and gain new customers and for local residents to meet their neighbors and see where their food is produced.

Angelino followed with his known mantra, “No Farms, No Food.”

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chenango County celebrates National Ag Day in support of area farmers and reminds farmers to sign up for Open Farm Day.

Ag Economic Development Specialist Rich Taber said farmers and Ag businesses are looking to increase local awareness of their farms and reminds farmers there are limited days to sign up.

Open Farm Day will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., July 18, at surrounding farms in the county. The deadline to sign up is March 31.

“We want the producers and vendors to benefit and to also increase the publics participation,” Taber said.

 He said they have about 10 farms signed up so far and hope to get a few more on the roster.

“It’s important to support local farms and agribusinesses to keep our local economy working,” said Taber. “Locally grown produce is better for the planet and has a much smaller ecological footprint.”

“Six farms were part of our first Open Farm Day in 2025 and had about 150 visitors,” said Taber. “It was our first time ever to hold Open Farm Day and we're hoping to double or triple those numbers this year.”

Taber noted other counties have been doing this for some time and have been very successful, so they want to follow in their footsteps.

Farmers looking to sign up for the Open Farm Day event can go to the website at ccechenango.org/events/2025/09/20/open-farm-day and sent to Craig Brown at cbrown@cornell.edu by March 31.

Angelino said the farm bureau is a grassroots organization where each chapter decides on issues they want to take to Albany or D.C. for lawmaking and repeal of laws, helpful or hurtful to the agricultural industry or state.

He noted he has been a farm bureau member longer than assemblyman, adding, he attends most meetings but especially the fall meetings where their “legislative agenda” is set for the next session year of the legislature.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, in 2022 farming contributed $2.7 billion to the State’s gross domestic product, and research from Cornell University noted farming and related businesses directly supported 163,148 jobs in New York in 2019. 

For more information on Open Farm Day, visit the Cornell Cooperative Extension Chenango County website at ccechenango.org/events/2025/09/20/open-farm-day.

For more information on New York State agriculture, visit the website at osc.ny.gov.