New York is a state built on farming.  Although now when you say New York people think of the city, and that's where the majoity of people are, most of the land area in New York state is wilderness or farmland.  The most important crop depends on the region, but corn is hands-down the most commonly grown vegetable.  Western New York has acres and acres of corn fields, interspersed with other crops such as cabbage, beets, soy, etc.  The finger lakes area, especially the western shore of Cayuga lake, is well known as wine country, the grapes are locally grown and harvested and our production is second only to California in the United States.  As far as livestock goes, dairy cows are the most commonly kept commercial animal.  Farmers here, like farmers all over the country, have been losing a battle against weather, technology, and cheaper overseas production, and fewer and fewer people farm for profit these days.  Most farm just because they enjoy it.