Agriculture in New Hampshire
ZIP codes in our New Hampshire data
USDA hardiness zones present
Agriculture in New Hampshire is built around small, diverse family farms rather than large-scale commodity production, with dairy, greenhouse and nursery products, and specialty crops forming the backbone. Direct-to-consumer sales through farm stands, farmers markets, and pick-your-own operations are a major part of how growers reach customers. This mix makes the state a good fit for gardeners and small producers who value locally grown food and a strong farm-to-table tradition.
Farming in New Hampshire
New Hampshire's farm economy is led by dairy, greenhouse and nursery products such as bedding plants and ornamentals, and hay grown to feed livestock. The state is well known for its maple syrup, produced from sugar maples tapped in late winter and early spring, and for apple orchards that also draw fall agritourism. Vegetable growers raise sweet corn, pumpkins, squash, and mixed produce, while livestock includes dairy and beef cattle, poultry for eggs, and sheep. Christmas trees and other forest products round out a farming character defined by small acreage, diversity, and direct marketing to local buyers.
Climate and growing conditions
New Hampshire has a humid continental climate with cold, snowy winters and warm summers, and conditions vary sharply from the milder seacoast to the cold White Mountains in the north. The frost-free growing season generally runs from about 90 days in northern and higher-elevation areas to roughly 150 days along the southern seacoast. USDA hardiness zones range from about 3b in the far north and mountains to around 6a in the warmer southeastern part of the state.
Major agricultural products
- Dairy and milk
- Greenhouse and nursery products
- Maple syrup
- Apples
- Hay
- Sweet corn and vegetables
- Cattle
- Christmas trees
Hardiness zones in New Hampshire
Growers in New Hampshire fall across these USDA plant hardiness zones (by number of ZIP codes in our data):
Local weather & frost dates in New Hampshire
Open any location for its live forecast, frost dates, and planting calendar:
Counties in New Hampshire
Browse local growing conditions, hardiness zones, and weather by county (10 counties):
Market prices & data for New Hampshire
State overviews combine hardiness-zone data from our ZIP database with public USDA market reports and NOAA climate normals. For farm-level decisions, consult your state's Cooperative Extension service. Page updated Aug 4, 2026.