Muckland Vegetables August 2002

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MUCKLAND

Released August 9, 2002
Seasonal
No. 984-5-02

MUCKLAND VEGETABLES

Onion Acreage Down; Potatoes, Sweet Corn Up

The 2002 Muckland Survey, which was conducted in New York's five major muckland vegetable areas, showed an increase of 3 percent in muckland utilized for crops, up to 28,844 acres this year, and up 7 percent from the 26,957 acres planted in 2000. Across the state, onion acreage decreased from 10,020 acres in 2001 to 9,592 acres in 2002. Total potato acreage is 1,434 in 2002. Acreage not planted at the time of the survey (July 8-19) decreased 10 percent from last year's season, mostly due to conducting the survey three weeks later than in 2001.

In the Orange County mucklands which include Chester and outlying areas, acreage planted to onions (seed, sets and transplants) dropped 6 percent, down to 4,070 acres. Turf grass, the second major acreage in Orange County, decreased 4 percent to 2,844 acres. The acres not planted at the time of the survey (July 8-19) decreased 30 percent. This may be due in part to the lateness of last years planting. Hot, dry weather in 2001 caused growers to wait for rainfall before planting. Other crops which showed an increase are sweet corn (up 53 percent), carrots, lettuce, and field corn.

Oswego County onions showed a 2 percent decrease from last year, down to 2,164 acres. Acres that were not planted decreased 4 percent to 975 acres.

In Orleans and Genesee Counties, onion acreage dipped 6 percent from 2001 but potato acreage jumped 47 percent and field corn increased 12 percent. Acreage not planted by the survey completion date was 987 acres, 10 percent less than last year.

Onion acreage in the muck of Madison and Oneida Counties increased 39 percent from 250 acres in 2001 to 348 acres in 2002. Potato acreage jumped from 50 to 202 acres.

The Ontario, Steuben and Yates Counties muck region also experienced a big increase in potato acreage from 25 acres in 2001 to 153 acres in 2002. Field corn acreage dipped to 14 acres in 2002.

STATE TOTALS BY CROP, 2001 AND 2002 1/

Year	Onions	Lettuce	Potatoes	Field Corn	Sweet Corn	Carrots	Turf Grass	Other Crops	Not Planted 2/	Total Cropland
2001	10,020	316	799	2,789	1,223	695	3,208	3,288	5,655	27,993
2002	9,592	472	1,434	2,504	1,375	755	3,105	4,528	5,079	28,844
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 8-19).

GROSS ACRES OF VEGETABLES, 2001 AND 2002 1/

Crop	Orange County		Oswego County		Orleans- Genesee		Madison- Oneida		Ontario-Steuben- Yates
Crop	2001	2002	2001	2002	2001	2002	2001	2002	2001	2002
ONIONS	4,343	4,070	2,213	2,164	2,423	2,286	250	348	791	724
LETTUCE	316	366	0	86	0	0	0	20	0	0
POTATOES	57	101	0	0	667	978	50	202	25	153
FIELD CORN	1,086	1,151	0	0	761	851	763	488	179	14
SWEET CORN	339	517	29	64	18	3	33	37	804	754
CARROTS	158	164	32	0	1	0	0	0	504	591
TURF GRASS	2,961	2,844	0	0	81	114	166	147	0	0
OTHER CROPS	2,013	3,111	92	140	508	331	278	597	397	349
NOT PLANTED 2/	2,124	1,484	1,012	975	1,096	987	1,296	1,443	127	190
TOTAL CROP LAND	13,397	13,808	3,378	3,429	5,555	5,550	2,836	3,282	2,827	2,775
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 8-19).

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