The Economic Impact

of New York State

Deer & Elk Farms

"Homer" ~  Highest Scoring Hard Antler Elk Bull in the World.

SCI score of 601-5/8 inches at 4 years old.
A proud resident of New York State.

Prepared for:

New York
Deer & Elk Farmers
Association
www.nydefa.org

April 2008
Prepared by:
Shepstone Management Company
Another proud resident of New York State.
SCI score 316 inches at 4 years old.

New York ...A Powerhouse in the Cervid Industry

Home to some of the “Best in the World”
 ECONOMIC IMPACT OF NEW YORK DEER & ELK FARMS
NEW YORK AMONG TOP 10 STATES
A Fast Growing Agricultural Niche Industry
• No. 6 in total deer and elk kept
• No. 7 in deer and elk sold
New York 20+ Years
• No. 9 in total deer and elk farms
0-4 Years
Deer & Elk 15-19 Years 6% • No. 10 in commercial deer & elk farms
6% 24%
Farms Deer & Elk Kept by State in 2002
By Years in
Texas 154,400
Business
Wisconsin 36,396

Michigan 26,902

Minnesota 22,492
10-14 Years
Pennsylvania 21,617
32%
New York 11,148
5-9 Years
32% Colorado 10,266

Missouri 8,479
New York’s deer and elk farms constitute a burgeoning element of New York State’s rapidly
Maine 7,926
growing niche agricultural sector. They represent a rapidly growing niche industry that accounted
for 211 farms in the 2002 Census of Agriculture (latest official data available from USDA). The New Ohio 7,375

York State Department of Agriculture and Markets reported there were 564 entities raising deer and 0 50,000 100,000 150,000 200,000
elk as of 2005. Surveys conducted for this study, moreover, indicate fully 56% of New York
•• 11,148 deer and elk kept in 2002
State’s deer and elk farms have been created since 1998, illustrating the strength of the industry
• 211 deer and elk farms in 2002
as a new branch of the niche agricultural sector.
• 66 commercial farms in 2002
The cervidae species include elk, fallow deer, mule deer, red deer, reindeer, sika deer and white- • 2,610 deer and elk sold in 2002
tailed deer, among other sub-classifications. New York deer and elk farmers raise these other • NY has 5% of U.S. commercial farms
cervids and exotic animals (i.e., bison, boar, rams) for use in breeding, meat production, animal • Deer & elk farms in 45 of 62 counties
watching, private hunting and other commercial activities. This diversity of species serves to create
New York Deer & Elk Farms
year-round visitation to deer and elk preserves. Specialty products such as antlers, deer urine and By Acres of Land
hides are also being sold commercially. Some deer and elk farms also offer lodging, nature 500+ Acres
< 25 Acres
8%
photography shoots and other visitor services, making them important tourist attractions. 24%
200-499 Acres
18%
The deer and elk farm industry has been strong in Europe and places such as New Zealand and
Canada for many years. It is now growing throughout the U.S., New York State being among the 25-49 Acres
8%
top ten states by every measure of the industry. Indeed, Census of Agriculture data from 2002
indicates that New York ranked No. 6 in total deer and elk kept on farms (11,148) and No. 7 in total 50-99 Acres
8%
commercial deer and elk sales (2,610). It ranked No. 9 in total deer and elk farms and No. 10 in 100-199 Acres
34%
the number of commercial deer and elk farms. There are deer or elk farms in 45 of 62 counties
throughout New York State, including numerous facilities in locations such as Columbia, Dutchess • Deer & elk farms average 282 acres in
and Suffolk Counties where farmland preservation is a priority due to suburban growth. The preserved open space per farm
average deer and elk farm occupies and, therefore protects, 282 acres of land – open space • 32% of farms under 50 acres
valuable to all New Yorkers. • 60% of farms over 100 acres

New York Deer & Elk Farmers Association 716-685-4019 (www.nydefa.org)

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 ECONOMIC IMPACT OF NEW YORK DEER & ELK FARMS
DEER FARMS ABOUND WITHIN NY
Growing New York’s Agricultural Economy
Deer and elk farms are found throughout
New York State’s deer and elk farms constitute a young industry, but one already contributing in a
New York State. The 2002 Census of
major way to the State’s niche agricultural economy. Surveys of farmers conducted for this study
Agriculture found deer or elk farms in 42
indicate they represent a $14 million industry at a minimum. There are an estimated $5.4 million in
New York State counties. More recent data
direct sales and another $8.4 million of added output from multiplier effects of these sales rippling
gathered in the course of this study
through the economy. The 2.55 multiplier is based on a 1998 Center for Rural Pennsylvania study
indicates such farms are now located in
(Economic Values and Impacts of Sport Fishing, Hunting and Trapping Activities in Pennsylvania)
three more New York State counties.
and is consistent with other agricultural economic impact studies.
Combining information from these sources
indicates the top producing counties were as Deer & Elk Farm Economic Output Deer & Elk Farm Employment
follows:
400
INDIRECT
350
$14,000,000 117 INDIRECT
300
INDIRECT
New York State $12,000,000
$10,000,000 $8,435,153 250
100

Deer & Elk Farms $8,000,000 200

DIRECT
150 DIRECT
$6,000,000 DIRECT 267
228
Top 10 Counties $4,000,000
$2,000,000
$5,442,034
100
50
$0 0
Full-Time Part-Time
Rank County Farms
1 Oswego 14 $14 million of output and 712 jobs
2 St. Lawrence 11 Another study, done by Cornell University in 2001 and titled Agricultural-Based Economic
3 Cattaraugus 10
Development: Trends and Prospects for New York, provides insights on the indirect effects of
4 Chautauqua 10
agricultural industries on employment. It indicates agriculture, forestry and fisheries service
5 Delaware 10
industries generate an employment multiplier of 1.44 or roughly one new job in the overall
6 Erie 10
7 Jefferson 10 economy for every two created in the industry. Applying this conservative multiplier to employment
8 Lewis 9 data provided by New York deer and elk farmers (an average of 3.18 full-time and 2.71 part-time
9 Cortland 8 jobs per farm) indicates these farms generate approximately 712 jobs in total for residents, 384 of
10 Wayne 8 these being full-time plus another 328 part-time workers.

Deer and elk farming is already a major

element of the niche agricultural economy of Deer & Elk Farm Industry Compared with
Other Agricultural Specialties
New York State. Its $5.4 million of direct
$9,000,000
farm receipts compare very well with other $8,000,000

farm sectors for which New York State $7,000,000

$6,000,000
agriculture is well known (e.g., Christmas
$5,000,000
trees, meat lambs and sheep), as the chart $4,000,000
NY Counties with
illustrates. It has, more importantly, the $3,000,000
Deer & Elk Farms $2,000,000
potential to grow by a large amount, still
$1,000,000
The New York State Department of being a relatively new player on the $0

Agriculture and Markets indicates there as agricultural scene with a rapid growth
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New York Deer & Elk Farmers Association 716-685-4019 (www.nydefa.org)

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 ECONOMIC IMPACT OF NEW YORK DEER & ELK FARMS
An Industry with Potential to Grow Further Deer & Elk Farm Sales by Product

Surveys of producers conducted for this Other Bucks $1,844,763

Estimated and Projected New York State Bred Does $992,526
Deer & Elk Farm Sales study indicate New York State’s deer and Breeder Does $869,733

$12,000,000 elk farms expect to reach $11.6 million in Urine $518,531

sales by 2012. This is up from $3.6 million Open Does $311,755

$10,000,000 Breeder Bucks $289,487

in 2003, a gain of fully 225% or 14% per Venison $217,592

$8,000,000 year on a compound basis. This steady Wild Game Birds $146,334

Semen $95,435
growth is without considering the
$6,000,000 Rams $54,080
additional growth likely to come from new Wild Boar $48,990

$4,000,000 farmers steadily entering the industry. Buffalo/Bison $25,449

Antlers $22,268

$2,000,000 Hides $5,090

The rapid growth taking place is a factor of

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2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
diversity of animals, enterprises and
products involved. New York State’s deer and elk farms turn out a broad array of products and
services, ranging from venison meat to deer watching. Hunting, breeding stock and other New York State commercial
specialties and tourism services are among the items offered. Most farms and preserves provide deer and elk farmers have over
multiple products and services, although there is also a great deal of industry specialization, with $4.8 million invested in animal
stock inventories
some farms concentrating on genetics, others on tourism-related activities and still others on the
livestock products.
Deer & Elk Farm Inventory by Value
This diversity is illustrated by the charts to the right. Deer and elk animal stock is the primary
$5,000,000
product with breeder does accounting for 16.0% of sales and breeder bucks representing 16.0%.
Other bucks are the largest category with 33.9% of sales. Bred does account for 18.2% and open $4,500,000

does 5.7%. Other animal stock (boars, rams, bison and wild game birds) constitute 5.1% of sales
Bred Does
and offer significant potential for growth. These other species also serve to diversify the industry $4,000,000 $1,288,900

and create year-round tourism business for New York.

$3,500,000
Deer urine is also a major product. Marketed as a deer attractant to hunters and others, it
represents an estimated $518,500 in sales and 9.5% of all deer and elk farm sales. Venison meat $3,000,000 Breeder
Bucks
is a significant product within New York State. It accounts for $217,600 in sales, some 4.0% of $1,286,600
total sales. Still another product is deer and elk antler, velvet antler being used heavily in $2,500,000

traditional Chinese medicine. Antlers also have craft and trophy uses. Other significant products
and services include, hides, semen, deer watching and associated lodging and dining services. $2,000,000
Other
Bucks
Altogether, these non-animal miscellaneous products and services are responsible for an $869,450
$1,500,000
estimated $858,900 in sales, 15.8% of all New York State deer and elk farm sales.
Breeder
The typical New York State deer and elk farm is a small agricultural business, often a family farm, $1,000,000 Does
$633,800
generating an average of $65,096 in annual sales in 2007. Nevertheless, the industry includes
Open Does
$500,000
several farms with more than $200,000 per years in sales. It provides niche agricultural $375,900
Other
opportunities for many landowners to gross good returns from relatively small acreage, keeping $313,830
$-
smaller farm properties in agricultural use.

New York Deer & Elk Farmers Association 716-685-4019 (www.nydefa.org)

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 ECONOMIC IMPACT OF NEW YORK DEER & ELK FARMS
DEER FARMING OPPORTUNITIES
Deer & Elk Farms Spend Heavily in New York
The State, because it is home to New York
New York’s deer and elk farms put their money back into the State, providing economic
City and some of the nation’s finest
development opportunities for rural areas as well as many small family farming opportunities for
restaurants, provides an excellent
more suburban or exurban areas where open space preservation is critical.
opportunity to market venison. This is a
very healthy meat product as the following
data supplied by the USDA National Nutrient
NYS Deer & Elk Farm Spending in 2007
Database indicates. Taxes (property)
Breeding and other stock
Vehicles and equipment
Nutritive Value of Meats Utility expenses
(100 Grams) Building and other non-fencing repairs
Feedstuffs
Fat Cholestrol Calories Protein
Meat (g) (mg) (kcal) (g) Labor expenses (including owners)
Venison 2.38 79 150 30.2
Fencing repairs and farm supplies
Turkey 2.63 98 150 29.6
Chicken 7.78 84 197 29.8 Taxes (sales & other)
Salmon 8.13 71 182 25.4
Fertilizer, seed, etc.
Pork 9.44 85 211 29.5
Lamb 9.73 95 216 30.0 Veterinary expenses
Beef 11.43 90 248 33.8
Other and miscellaneous
Marketing and distribution

Venison offers very low fat, cholesterol and Food, linens and other lodging expenses
Retail goods for resale
calories, while also providing good protein.
Meat processing services
Very few meats furnish the combined
nutritive value venison affords. $0 $200,000 $400,000 $600,000 $800,000

In New York Outside New York

Venison is also important in American and
fusion cuisines. Many of the highest rated Deer and elk farms spend an estimated $1.5 million per year on real estate taxes, this being the
restaurants in the New York City metro area largest expense item for most farms. Another $1.4 million is spent annually on stock and $1.1

have included venison on their dinner million per year is expended on vehicles and equipment. Utility expenses for 2007 were $825,000
menus. The famous 21 Club, for example, while building related expenses were $814,000. Feeding of captive deer and elk requires still
offers New York State Venison with Gratin of another $553,000 of annual expenditures of which $495,000 is spent within the State. Labor

Fall Squash and Roasted Chestnuts, while expenses are $452,000 per year. Among other expenses, deer and elk farms spend funds on
the Gramercy Tavern serves Venison with fencing, sales taxes, veterinary bills, marketing and meat processing. Altogether, New York’s deer

Onion Marmalade. The Saddle River Inn and elk farms spend $8.3 million annually on operations, 93% of it within the State, indicating a
(New Jersey) menu also includes New York total economic impact of $21 million, given the 2.55 multiplier discussed earlier. This does not
State Venison Medallions, while Applewood include major capital spending.

in Brooklyn offers Grilled New York State
Venison. The D’Artagnan (well-known fine-
dining restaurant supplier) catalog also
includes New York Venison Strip Steak.
These listings and menus, among many
others, indicate opportunities exist to attract
additional venison business through New
York State branding.
The high rate of intrastate spending is one reason deer and elk farming enjoys a high economic
multiplier. Deer and elk farms are family farms and small businesses that foster economic gains for
all New Yorkers by recirculating money spent within the industry. They also indirectly support
hunting, which the 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation
estimated was responsible for $715,707,000 of expenditures in New York. Significantly, there was
another $1.6 billion spent in the State on wildlife watching, one of the growing markets for deer and
elk farmers. Deer and elk preserves are also providing new opportunities for wildlife watching by
diversifying their animal stocks to include bison, boar and rams.

New York Deer & Elk Farmers Association 716-685-4019 (www.nydefa.org)

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 ECONOMIC IMPACT OF NEW YORK DEER & ELK FARMS
DEER & ELK FARM TOURISM
Deer Farms Invest in New York State
New York deer and elk farmers are major
New York State’s deer and elk farms not only spend heavily on operational expenses, but also are
tourism generators for the State made
investing in New York and protecting its land. Altogether, these farms spent an estimated $166.9
famous by the I Love NY campaign. Deer
million on capital items over the last five years and expect to spend another $27.6 million this year.
and elk farmers use a variety of modern
Total investments in New York State for the period 2003 through 2007 included $86.7 million on
sales techniques, offering a model for all of
land, $57.1 million on buildings, $10.8 million on animal stock, $6.2 million on fencing and $6.0
agriculture. They are leaders in direct sales,
million on equipment. The State’s deer and elk farms expect to invest an average of $18,700 per
retailing of products and services at the farm
year of new capital on their enterprises over the next five years, indicating the growing strength of
being the most common method of sales
the industry throughout the State and its potential to become a dominant niche agricultural feature.
and nearly one-third of farmers using this
approach. Another 17% rely upon shows
New York Deer & Elk Farm Capital Spending and auctions to sell products and services,
Last Five Years (2003 – 2007)
while 16% use the Internet to sell worldwide.

Land
Methods of Selling
Other 9%
Buildings Restaurants Retail
8% at Farm
Direct to Stores 9% 32%
Stock
Mail Order 9%
Shows/
Internet Auctions
16% 17%
Fencing

Equipment
Deer and elk farmers also involved directly
Other in several specific tourism activities. Some
20% offer hunting on their land, 18% provide
$0 $20,000,000 $40,000,000 $60,000,000 $80,000,000 $100,000,000 nature photography opportunities, 15% offer
hiking and horseback riding trails, 14%
This steady investment over a period of several years is what has led to deer and elk farming provide fishing, 12% offer bird watching and
becoming a recognized niche agricultural sector now large enough to now enjoy its own category in
the USDA Census of Agriculture. The spread of the industry across 45 counties across the State Tourism Offerings
indicates it is particularly well-suited to New York’s geography (especially within Upstate New York Other 8%
Hunting
Wildlife Tours
where new economic development is critical) and has the potential to grow much larger. Moreover, 12% 20%

the capital investments made in farm infrastructure have now positioned the industry to expand its Bird Watching 12% Nature
Photos
offerings of products and services to include additional species such as exotics and wild game Hiking/ 18%
Fishing
birds along with more ancillary services such nature photography offerings and lodging. This 14% Riding
15%
targets the tourism industry on which Upstate New York’s economy increasingly depends. Tourism
sales, or visitor expenditures in New York State, grew 9% in 2005 following a 10% expansion in
tourism sales in 2004, according to Oxford Economics. Some 10% of the tourism sales were 12% conduct wildlife viewing tours. Several
recreation related, a category that includes many of New York’s deer and elk farms, which offer farms also offer these services to youth
animal watching, hunting, lodging, dining, nature photography, hiking and other recreational groups and schools and make their facilities
activities as part of their business enterprises. available for seminars and other tours.

New York Deer & Elk Farmers Association 716-685-4019 (www.nydefa.org)

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 ECONOMIC IMPACT OF NEW YORK DEER & ELK FARMS
BRINGING BUSINESS TO NEW YORK
Deer & Elk Farms Conserve New York’s Land
New York State’s deer and elk farmers
New York’s deer and elk farmers are good land stewards and conserve the State’s invaluable
attract customers and visitors from across
open spaces. Wildlife and land conservation activities on these farms and preserves assure
the State and nation, as the following chart
New York State continues to
demonstrates. Fully 27% of customers
come from other states or countries. Still,
support wildlife and remains as Conservation Activities
open space with all its attendant
72% come from within New York State, Wildlife food plots 65%
benefits. Deer and elk farmers Forest regeneration for birds 48%
indicating deer and elk farms are an integral
provide wildlife food plots (65%), Conservation of fruit trees for wildlife 45%
part of the State agricultural economy. Forest management to support wildlife 43%
engage in forest regeneration
Nesting boxes for nongame birds 40%
Sources of Customers practices to create upland game Apple trees for wildlife use 35%
bird habitat (48%), develop new Wetlands development 33%
Other
Water quality management 33%
N.E. &
16%
Home County wetlands and areas of water for
Mid-Atlantic
36% Spruce and cedar plantings 28%
11% wildlife (33%), establish stream Game bird habitat management 28%
Elsewhere in buffers (25%), restore wetlands Stream buffer creation 25%
New York Adjoining
18% Counties (25%), protect wildlife corridors Wetlands restoration 25%
19%
Wildlife corridor protection 18%
(18%), put open space under Conservation easements 15%
land conservation easements Fisheries improvements 15%
Endangered species protection 13%
(15%) and engage in stream
EDUCATION AND RESEARCH Trout stream improvements 10%
improvement activities in support
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
New York State’s deer and elk farms are of fisheries (15%).

education and research laboratories for the

State’s agricultural and hunting industries. Many Species, Many Benefits
Education/Research Activities New York’s deer and elk farms
Educational
83%
keep multiple species of cervids Major Species
Programs
and other animals. Most cervids Sika
Charitable Red Deer 3%
Fund Raising
65% fall into two sub-families; the 12%
Certified
58%
cervinae and the odocoileus. White Tail
Testing Exotics 38%
The cervinae includes red deer 15%
Research
48%
Programs
or elk (cervus elaphus), sika
Other
Events
25% deer (cervus nippon) and fallow Fallow
deer (dama dama). The 16% Elk
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 16%
odocoileus includes not only the
New York deer and elk farms conduct white-tailed deer (odocoileus
numerous education, research and fund virginianus), but also the mule
raising activities. These involve over 13,000 deer (odocoileus hemionus). Taxonomically, American elk are red deer. The red deer listed
participants annually. Educational programs above represent hybrid and Eurasian deer types. These many species help create the niche
include scouting, 4-H and school events. value of the deer farm industry. The white-tailed deer is also the mainstay of the State’s hunting
Research involves several universities (e.g., industry. Deer farms help to sustain interest in hunting by offering additional opportunities to so
Cornell). Fund raising activities includes on private lands throughout the year. The variety of species (including exotics such as bison,
Hunters for the Hungry and many others. boar and rams) also support wildlife watching away from home.

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 ECONOMIC IMPACT OF NEW YORK DEER & ELK FARMS

The Key Facts:

Over 200 commercial deer & elk farms and over 500 altogether
with 58% of commercial farms created less than 10 years ago

New York ranks No. 6 among the states in deer & elk kept

New York ranks No. 7 among the states for deer and elk sold

Deer or elk farms found in 45 of 62 New York Counties

Average deer or elk farm protects 282 acres of open space

Deer & elk farming is a $14-21 million industry in New York

Deer farming generates over 700 jobs for New Yorkers

Typical deer or elk farm generates $65,000 of sales per year

Deer & elk farm sales are growing by 17% per year

New York deer & elk farms invested $167 million of

new capital in the State over the last 5 years

The deer & elk industry is now a major agricultural niche

larger than meat lambs, aquaculture or Christmas trees

For more information:

NEW YORK DEER & ELK FARMERS ASSOCIATION
28 Bernice Drive, Cheektowaga, NY 14225-4410
716-685-4019
www.nydefa.org

New York Deer & Elk Farmers Association 716-685-4019 (www.nydefa.org)

Shepstone Management Company (www.shepstone.net/NYdeer.pdf) Page 7