Chester County Ag Council
The Ag Council develops data sheets on a variety of agricultural topics to assess agriculture’s contribution to Chester County’s economy and landscape. We receive data assistance from representatives from the Brandywine Conservancy, Chester County Conservation District, Chester County Economic Development Council, Chester County Open Space Department, Chester/Delaware Farm Bureau, New Bolton Center, Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA), Penn State Cooperative Extension, and USDA Farm Service Agency. Please let us know what topics you would like to learn more about at adc@chesco.org.
January 2023
Agriculture is always adapting to current trends, adopting technology, and embracing environmental practices; all redefining how food, fuel and fiber are produced. Learn how and why municipalities should support Chester County's top industry.
December 2022
Chester County's strong agricultural industry is usually associated with the county's rural and farming communities, but food production can also thrive in developed areas, as either a business, as an accessory use to residential properties, or as a related use, like a farmers' market. With more public interest in local food, many developed municipalities are fielding more requests for agricultural uses and businesses.
October 2022
Chester County agriculture is changing. Small, more urban farms based on direct-to-consumer sales are becoming more feasible alongside increasing residential development. While it can be a challenge for municipal officials to know how to regulate accessory uses related to agricultural operations, it is important to understand that many farmers today rely upon revenue from additional uses to stay in business and bring in future farming generations. Many farmers have significant interest in providing agritainment (fun on the farm) opportunities for customers such as pick-your-own opportunities, winery tasting rooms and creameries.
November 2021
Dairy is one of Pennsylvania’s largest agricultural industries (and PA ranks 6th in the nation for dairy) with value of sales estimating almost $2 billion (USDA Milk Production, Feb. 2020, 2017 Ag Census). Chester County farms rank fifth in dairy revenue generation in Pennsylvania with at total farm revenue in 2017 of approximately $83 million, representing about 12% of the value of total agricultural products sold in the County (2017 Ag Census).
September 2021
Chester County is the Mushroom Capital of the world and mushrooms are the top vegetable crop in the county. The over 50 mushroom farms located here cultivate about 11.2 million square feet of growing space annually (2019-2020 Mushroom Crop Report, NASS).
February 2019
Chester County’s agricultural industry is very strong ranking 2nd among all 67 Pennsylvania counties (ranking 53rd of over 3,000 counties in the U.S.) in the total value of agricultural products sold with annual sales of $712,468,000. In addition, Chester County ranked 18th of over 3,000 counties in the U.S. in value of agricultural products sold per acre of land in farms with a value per acre of $4,733.00.
Mushroom, field crops and dairy production remain our top sectors, but we have incredible diversity of agricultural operations including nursery and greenhouse, equine, vegetable, fruits and tree nuts, Christmas trees, livestock and egg and poultry. Our fastest growing segment of agriculture is organic production with a 296 percent increase from 2012 ($11,801,000 to $43,625,000).
September 2020
Chester County is home to a vibrant, diverse equine community that significantly shapes our sense of place and contributes to our local economy. People of all skill levels participate in equine activities, and non-riders can partake as well by attending many fun, family-friendly events throughout the year.
View the Equine Info Sheet or learn more about the economic impact of the equine industry in the 10-County Southeastern region of the Commonwealth by viewing the full report commissioned by the Chester-Delaware County Farm Bureau and funded in large part by a grant provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, and the Chester County Commissioners.
August 2020
As with any relationship, communication is key. It would be great for municipal officials and agricultural producers to work together to support the agricultural industry, but that doesn’t always happen. Here are some practical considerations for both municipal officials and producers to foster successful relationships, encourage an environment in which agriculture can thrive, and ACRE challenges can be avoided.
February 2018
Small-scale, non-commercial raising of chickens and other fowl is an increasingly popular activity. For zoning purposes, backyard chicken keeping is considered a residential accessory use and does not meet the definition of agriculture required for ACRE and the Right to Farm Act. Homeowners need to follow certain steps to ensure a positive experience for themselves, their neighbors, and their flock. Visit the Planning Commission's Backyard Chicken Keeping eTool for information on how municipalities can address community concerns with this practice.
March 2022
Growing field crops is a significant land use that helps maintain the underpinnings of our agricultural industry. Crops in Chester County are generally grown for the purpose of producing animal feed, but they support and are used in other agricultural sectors, such as the mushroom and equine industries, as well.
Learn fun facts about Chester County farming while coloring in fun designs and solving a word scramble.