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DAIRY FARMING IN SARATOGA COUNTY
The strongest sector of Saratoga County’s agricultural industry is the dairy industry which produces $ 17.2 million in sales of dairy products, slightly less than half of all agricultural products sold in the county. Much of the farmland in Saratoga County is maintained by dairy farms, which require extensive cropland and support land for their operations.
There are 7500 dairy cows on close to 60 dairy farms in Saratoga County, compared with 177 dairy farms in 1977. These farms range in size from 20 to 500 cows with the average being 100 cows per dairy.
Most farms raise the feed for their cows and heifers. This feed consists of corn planted in May and chopped for silage in September. The silage is stored in bunkers and upright silos. Cows are also fed hay chopped and stored as hay silage, baled into hay bales, or dried in the field as round bales, often covered with white plastic that makes them resemble giant marshmallows.
The average cow produces milk for 10 months per year. According to the NYS Agriculture Statistics Service, the average cow in Saratoga County produces 16,500 pounds of milk per year or roughly equivalent to 1,918 gallons of milk. This average milk production per cow converts to 55 pounds per day, equaling 6.4 gallons of milk.
Many cows however, produce more than this amount. According to a recent Dairy Farm Business Summary by Cornell Cooperative Extension, based on numbers from 30 farms in the North Hudson region, production averaged 22,600 pounds of milk per cow. This converts to 74 pounds per day or 8.8 gallons of milk.
A typical cow produces enough milk to provide milk and cheese for 64 people, (based on a national annual average consumption of 258 lb. of milk per person). The retail price for a gallon of milk is around $2.85. The farmer receives about $1.00 per gallon of milk. The location of dairy processing plants and retail stores within the county, such as Stewart's Shops Inc., means a greater percentage of the dairy dollar remains in the county.
Dairy
Rick & Charles Arnold
State Route 147
Amsterdam, NY 12010
(518) 882-6132
Est. 1914, the 70 cow Holstein herd is a Dairy of Distinction since 1985. Offer custom combining, and raise cash crops for sale.
The David & Connie Wood Family
1253 Eastern Ave.
West Charlton, NY 12020
(518) 882-6684 drwfarm@aol.com
This Dairy of Distinction, milks 370 cows, producing crops on 600 acres. Agricultural speaker available. Host of the 5th Annual County Farm Tour.
The LaRue Family
Charlton Rd.
Ballston Spa, NY 12020
(518) 399-1917
A Dairy of Distinction, and recipient of NYS Agricultural Society Bicentennial Farm award, 250 acres in production for 75 cows. Host of the 3rd annual County Farm Tour.
The Smith Family
4561 Jockey St.
Ballston Spa
(518) 882-6598
This farm milks 150 cows and has an orchard. See orchard listing.
William & Beverly Betts
77 Hayner Rd.
Waterford, NY 12188
(518) 664-8279
Est. 1856, now raising replacement heifers, field corn and hay, and have 2 draft horses.
John & Paul Roerig
255 Ruhle Rd.
Ballston Lake, NY 12020
(518) 899-4386
A family farm established in 1808. 130 acres in production and raise hay and corn for the 75 cow dairy herd.
Kevin, Donald, and Cliff Grupe
3301 Birchton Rd.
Ballston Spa, NY 12020
(518) 885-7831, kevingsr@aol.com
Est. 1914, herd size is 250 animals with 350 acres of corn and hay. Agricultural speaker available.
Tom, Clint, and Chad Barber
492 Rte. 32
Schuylerville, NY 12872
Corn and alfalfa is produced on 1,200 acres to support the 280+ milking cow herd.
The Lawrence & Jean Peck and Kevin & Carrie Peck families
443 Rt. 32
Schuylerville, NY 12872
(518) 695-3831, (518) 695-4838
Est. 1867, currently 500 Holstein cows and heifers and 650 acres in production. Host of the 7th Annual County Farm Tour.
Edgar & Carolyn King, Jan, Jeff, & Becky King
309 King Rd.
Schuylerville, NY 12872
(518) 695-9245, www.capital.net/~jking/kingsfarm.htm, kingsransombb@hotmail.com
A milking herd of over 400 Holsteins with 900 acres of crops, offer custom harvesting, compost and topsoil. Host to the 2nd Annual County Farm Tour, and run a B&B.
William, Bill, and Neil Peck
170 West River Rd.
Schuylerville, NY 12872
(518) 695-3375
A Century Farm designation in 1982, milking 300 cows with 800 acres in production. Host of 4th Annual County Farm Tour.
Lyle and Nancy Purinton
75 Purinton Rd.
Gansevoort, NY 12831
(518) 695-6424, purinton@together.net
A seasonal dairy utilizing rotational grazing. Pick-your-own raspberries, produce, jams, hay rides and tours. Call for appt.
Janice, Wayne, and John Arnold
30 Palmer Ridge Rd.
Gansevoort
(518) 793-5263
A former dairy now custom raising replacement heifers and selling cash crops and firewood.
Charles, David & Clifford Hanehan
207 County Rd. 67
Stillwater, NY 12170
(518) 584-3528, holstein@netheaven.com, Chanehan@aol.com
One of largest dairies milking 600 cows and cropping over 1,000 acres of land for feed production. Site of the 1st Saratoga County Farm Tour.
Marty and Pat Hanehan
220 County Rd. 67
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
(518) 584-3829
Milking over 300 Holstein cows and cropping nearly 1000 acres, located near Saratoga Lake.
Chris and Adam Koval
313 Burke Rd.
Stillwater, NY 12170
(518) 584-3987
Est. 1942, milking 200 Holsteins with over 500 acres in crops. Recipient of Farmer Conservation award.
Joseph & David Peck
178 Wagman's Ridge Rd.
Saratoga Springs
(518) 584-4129, ppeck1@juno.com
A century farm, est. 1806 with 230 acres in production and milking over 100 cows. Joe Peck is a writer and agricultural speaker.
David & Catherine Anusesky
45 Colonial Road
Stillwater, NY 12170
(518) 664-9860
Est. 1966, with 150 acres in production and 70 registered Jersey Dairy Cows and heifers, raising corn, hay, oats, and straw.
Thomas & Wayne Gorsky
16 Putnam Rd.
Stillwater
(518) 587-3073
This farm was established in 1968. Including rental land, they have 800 acres in production and 300 head of Holstein cattle.
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For more information contact:
Saratoga County Cornell Cooperative Extension
50 West High St.
Ballston Spa, NY 12020
Phone:(518)885-8995 Fax:(518)885-9078 Email: saratoga@cornell.edu