According to the 2007 USDA Ag Census, Jefferson County has 230 dairy farms. This number is changing every year with a trend downward. The average dairy farm in Jefferson County owns approximately 350 acres, but that amount is trending upward. The trend seen by agricultural professionals in Jefferson County is in the primary dairy belt of the County, the Towns of Ellisburg, Adams, Henderson, Rodman, Hounsfield, Rutland, and Champion, larger farms are buying neighboring smaller farms when the owner retires or goes out of business. Good cropland is in high demand in these areas. The farms may be consolidated into the larger operation or run as a satellite farm by another family member.