USDA-NASS-NY MUCKLAND REPORT September 2008

E-mail: nass-ny@nass.usda.gov
(518) 457-5570

MUCKLAND REPORT

September 2008

MUCKLAND VEGETABLES

Onion, Carrot and Turfgrass Acreage Down;

Lettuce, Potato, Field Corn, Sweet Corn Up

The 2008 Muckland Survey, which was conducted in New York=s five major muckland vegetable areas, showed a slight decrease in muckland utilized for crops, at 30,196 acres this year. Across the state, onion acreage decreased from 9,764 acres in 2006 to 9,138 acres in 2008. Total potato acreage is 1,257 in 2008. Acreage not planted at the time of the survey (July 10-21) was 7,482.

In the Orange County mucklands, which include Chester and outlying areas, acreage planted to onions (seed, sets, and transplants) dropped 11 percent, down to 3,303 acres. Turfgrass, the second major acreage in Orange County, decreased 3 percent to 2,692 acres. The acres not planted at the time of the survey (July 10-21) increased 9 percent. This was due in part to the lateness of this years planting. Other crops which showed a decrease are carrots, field corn, and sweet corn. Lettuce and potatoes increased.

Oswego County onion acreage showed a 15 percent decrease from 2006 to 1,870 acres. Acres that were not planted decreased 35 percent to 744 acres.

In Orleans and Genesee Counties, onion acreage increased 5 percent from 2006 and field corn acreage jumped 23 percent. Carrot acreage equaled 26 acres. Acreage not planted by the survey completion date was 591 acres, 3 percent less than in 2006.

Madison and Oneida County mucklands onion acreage decreased from 308 acres in 2006 to 247 acres in 2008. Field corn acreage increased from 278 to 544 acres.

The Ontario, Steuben, and Yates Counties muck region experienced an increase in onion acreage from 773 acres in 2006 to 796 acres in 2008. Sweet corn acreage increased to 339 acres in 2008.

STATE TOTALS BY CROP, 2006 and 2008

Year	Onions	Lettuce	Potatoes	Field Corn	Sweet Corn	Carrots	Turf Grass	Other Crops	Not Planted ²^/	Total Cropland
2006	9,764	361	1,193	2,424	718	723	3,140	3,976	8,109	30,408
2008	9,138	455	1,257	3,017	864	641	2,948	4,394	7,482	30,196

GROSS ACRES OF VEGETABLES, 2006 and 2008 ¹^/

Crop	Orange County		Oswego County		Orleans-Genesee		Madison-Oneida		Ontario-Steuben-Yates
Crop	2006	2008	2006	2008	2006	2008	2006	2008	2006	2008

ONIONS	3,704	3,303	2,197	1,870	2,781	2,921	308	247	773	796
LETTUCE	298	322	62	133	0	0	0	0	0	0
POTATOES	17	43	3/	0	662	590	3/	213	467	410
FIELD CORN	897	895	20	0	1,164	1,428	278	544	65	150
SWEET CORN	421	287	3/	56	24	12	3/	171	253	339
CARROTS	28	0	16	7	106	26	0	0	674	609
TURFGRASS	2,782	2,692	0	0	35	35	323	221	0	0
OTHER CROPS	1,923	2,248	141	807	599	425	516	487	797	426
NOT PLANTED ²^/	4,036	4,392	1,156	744	608	591	2,007	1,706	302	50

TOTAL CROP LAND	14,106	14,182	3,602	3,617	5,979	6,028	4,489	3,589	3,231	2,780
1/ Based on gross acres in field including land taken up by ditches, hedges, driveways and small buildings. Includes double cropping. 2/ Not planted (idle) acreage at time of survey (July 10-21). 3/ Not published.