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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Cayuga County Provides Access to Agricultural Resources, Fresh Water

Abutting eight lakes, Cayuga County has a rich history of farming and offers food processors access to its many agricultural resources.

2016 Food Processing
Having a good supply chain is an important component of cost management for every manufacturer. Food processors that locate in an area with rich soil and abundant water can maximize the quality of their supply while minimizing their costs.

Cayuga County touches eight lakes, including three of the Finger Lakes and a Great Lake, boasting the most miles of freshwater frontage of any county in New York State (NYS). Additionally, the area enjoys steady precipitation with 147 days with measureable rainfall annually. This access to abundant fresh water and rich soil has gifted Cayuga County with a very long history of farming. According to the 2012 Census of Agriculture, Cayuga County’s 238,444 acres of farmland produced $293.5 million in market value of products sold.

This 2016 aerial view shows the construction of Grober Nutrition (bottom) and the completed Cayuga Milk Ingredients (top).
This 2016 aerial view shows the construction of Grober Nutrition (bottom) and the completed Cayuga Milk Ingredients (top).
Since Cayuga County produces the second-largest amount of milk from cows in NYS, a cooperative of local farmers recently built a milk-processing facility, Cayuga Milk Ingredients, in the Cayuga County Industrial Park. This plant then attracted a second milk processor, Grober Nutrition. Cayuga County is first in soybean production in NYS and has additional land available in the park, leaving an untapped opportunity for soybean processors.

With agricultural-based resources such as Cornell University, a local Cornell Cooperative Extension, the Central New York Technology Development Organization, and an established Soil & Water Conservation District, there are a tremendous amount of informational resources already available. Furthermore, the Cayuga Economic Development Agency is the one-stop for business assistance for any company looking to expand or relocate to Cayuga County, providing access to a host of local, state, and federal incentives.

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