Market values of crops are up, while the number of small farms continues to decline, according to the latest USDA Census of Agriculture.

State Sen. Patty Ritchie (R-Heuvelton), chair of the senate Agriculture Committee, says the figures indicate to her that North Country farmers have the opportunity to grow.

The 2012 Census of Agriculture “not only indicates that agriculture continues to be a strong and major driver of our state and local economies, it also shows that there are tremendous opportunities for further growth in the industry.”

According to the report, the market values of livestock, crops and total products grown and produced by those in the industry are at an all time high, as farms in the United States saw sales totaling $395 billion in 2012, 33 percent higher than in 2007. Specifically, in New York state, farmers saw sales grow more than 25 percent since 2007, according to the survey.

But small farms continue to disappear. According to the survey, “over five years we continued to lose three farms per week” around the state. “This figure is due to a number of factors including consolidation, competition and lastly, aging farmers. According to the survey, a third of farmers were older than 65 in 2012. Although the farming population is aging, the number of young farmers has increased slightly,” Ritchie said.

“Despite this small increase, we need to continue to work to add more young people to the ranks of our state’s hardworking farmers. As chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, encouraging growth of the industry is a top priority for me, and in the days to come, I plan to unveil an ambitious plan to put New York at the forefront of addressing the issue of our state’s aging farmer population,” Ritchie said.

Data from the Census of Agriculture, taken every five years, is released in pieces over time.

The figures in this stage of reporting the Census data are for the state as a whole. County-by-county data is to be released in due course..

“Responsible for generating more than $5 billion annually, agriculture is New York’s leading industry and it’s poised for explosive growth thanks to an increased consumer demand for food, drink and other products that are high quality, fresh and local,” Ritchie said.