Agriculture in New York
ZIP codes in our New York data
USDA hardiness zones present
Agriculture is a cornerstone of New York's economy, spread across tens of thousands of family farms from the Hudson Valley to the western Great Lakes plain. Dairy leads the way, but the state is also nationally important for fruit, vegetables, and maple syrup, giving both commercial growers and home gardeners a rich, diverse foundation to work from.
Farming in New York
Dairy is by far New York's largest agricultural sector, and the state ranks among the top milk producers in the country, supporting a strong yogurt and cheese industry. New York is a leading apple state, generally second only to Washington, and its Finger Lakes and Lake Erie regions are well known for grapes and wine. Field and vegetable crops such as sweet corn, cabbage, snap beans, onions, and potatoes are widely grown, along with hay and silage corn to feed livestock. The state is also one of the nation's largest maple syrup producers, tapping sugar maples across its northern and central forests.
Climate and growing conditions
New York has a humid continental climate with cold, snowy winters and warm summers, moderated near the Great Lakes, Lake Ontario, and the Atlantic coast. The frost-free growing season ranges from roughly 100 days in the cold Adirondack highlands to over 200 days on Long Island. USDA hardiness zones span about 3b in the northern mountains to 7b on Long Island and parts of the New York City area, so gardeners should match plant choices to their local zone.
Major agricultural products
- Dairy and milk
- Apples
- Grapes
- Maple syrup
- Cabbage
- Sweet corn
- Snap beans
- Onions
Hardiness zones in New York
Growers in New York fall across these USDA plant hardiness zones (by number of ZIP codes in our data):
Local weather & frost dates in New York
Open any location for its live forecast, frost dates, and planting calendar:
Counties in New York
Browse local growing conditions, hardiness zones, and weather by county (62 counties):
Market prices & data for New York
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.