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Released July 20, 2001
Seasonal
No. 984-5-01

The 2001 Muckland Survey, which was conducted in New York's five major muckland vegetable areas, showed an increase of 4 percent in muckland utilized for crops, up to 27,993 acres this year, and up 11 percent from the 25,331 acres planted in 1999. Across the state, onion acreage decreased from 11,001 acres in 2000 to 10,020 acres in 2001. Total potato acreage is 799 in 2001. Acreage not planted at the time of the survey (June 18-29) increased 5 percent from last year's season, mostly due to the hot, dry weather.

In the Orange County mucklands which include Chester and outlying areas, acreage planted to onions (seed, sets and transplants) dropped 14 percent, down to 4,343 acres. Turf grass, the second major acreage in Orange County, decreased 2 percent to 2,961 acres. The acres that were not planted at the time of the survey (June 18 - 29) increased dramatically. This may be due in part to the hot dry weather during this period. Growers were waiting for rainfall before planting. Other crops which show a big increase are sweet corn (up 46 percent), carrots and lettuce (both up 28 percent) and field corn (up 13 percent).

Oswego County onions showed a 2 percent decrease from last year, down to 2,213 acres. Lettuce acreage, which decreased last year, plunged to zero acres. Carrots increased from 2 acres last year to 32 acres this year. Acres that were not planted jumped to 1,012, an increase of 27 percent.

In Orleans and Genesee Counties, onion acreage dipped 2 percent again from 2000 but potato acreage jumped 85 percent and field corn more than doubled last year's acreage. Acreage not planted by the survey completion date was 1,096 acres about half of the amount last year.

Onion acreage in the muck of Madison and Oneida Countiesincreased 31 percent from 191 acres in 2000 to 250 acres in 2001. Field corn acreage more than doubled this year to 763 acres from 284 acres last year. Turf grass acreage also increased by more than a factor of two from 78 acres to 166 acres.

The Ontario, Steuben and Yates Counties muck region experienced a big increase in sweet corn acreage from 294 acres in 2000 to 804 acres in 2001. Carrot acres increased 78 percent to 504 acres. Onion acres declined to 791 acres, a 24 percent drop.