Spread over 700 acres in the town of Northumberland, Welcome Stock Farm has been tended by the Peck family since before the Civil War.

"My family has been at this farmstead right here since 1836,” said co-owner Bill Peck. “My brother and I are the sixth generation on this farm."

Less than a mile away from the Peck's dairy operation sits Thomas Poultry Farm, which has been in Jamie Pettis's family for more than 70 years.

"I have been a farmer since I was a wee little kid and I can’t imagine doing anything different," said Pettis, whose grandparents opened the farm in 1948.

The two stalwart operations are part of an agricultural industry that's faced no shortage of upheaval over the past decade.  As Northumberland Town Supervisor, Peck has seen many of his neighbors and peers struggle to make ends meet as milk and other commodity prices have plummeted.

"It is discouraging and disheartening is what it is,” Peck said. “The upstate economy is really driven by the agricultural sector."

"Milk prices are low, egg prices are low, soy bean prices are not where they should be," Pettis said.

According to the USDA's latest agriculture census, the number of farms in New York State dropped by more than 2,100 since 2012, marking the sharpest decline in 20 years.

Pettis, who serves as Saratoga County Farm Bureau president, says many aging farmers don't have younger generations in their family willing to take the business over.

"Without having a succession plan, farmers are deciding to get out rather than continue and get deeper into debt,” he said.

Peck and Pettis say increased labor costs and burdensome regulations also hurt their bottom line, but there are some bright spots.

“We have actually increased the number of small farms in Saratoga County because of the farm-to-table movement,” Pettis said.

Last year a study revealed the agricultural industry has a $500-million economic impact in Saratoga County alone.

Despite facing more and more challenges, many local farmers say it's a way of life they will never walk away from.

"The obligation and pride to be successful and keep this operation in business is what keeps us going," Peck said.

"The emotional ups and downs can take their toll on people but if you love it and you figure it out, you will be able to be successful at it and keep on going," Pettis said.