As of 2012, there were 7,755 farms in Massachusetts encompassing a total of 523,517 acres (2,120 km2), averaging 67.5 acres (27.3 hectares) apiece, [1] but by 2017 this had declined somewhat again, to 7,241 farms in the state. [2] Greenhouse, floriculture, and sod products – including the ornamental market – make up more than one third of the state's agricultural output. [2] [3] Cranberries, sweet corn and apples are also large sectors of production. [3] Massachusetts is the second-largest cranberry-producing ( Vaccinium macrocarpon) state in the union after Wisconsin. [4] Agriculture in the state is served and represented by the Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR).
Fruit cultivation is an important part of the state's agricultural revenues. [5] The UMass Extension Fruit Program provides information to support growers. [5] Strawberries suffer from Botrytis Gray Mold (Botrytis cinerea) [6] and Tarnished Plant Bug (Lygus lineolaris) [7] here, and the Extension provides data sheets for both.
The Asian long-horned beetle (ALB, Anoplophora glabripennis) was detected in Worcester in 2008 and as of April 2021 [update] is still un eradicated. [8] However, a ALB population in Boston that was detected in 2010 has since been successfully eradicated. [8]
Cover cropping has been successful elsewhere and can be used here. [9] Akbari et al. 2019 finds that Winter rye ( Secale cereale) and Hairy vetch (Vicia villosa) are effective covers for weed control in Massachusetts. [9]
As of 2012, there were 7,755 farms in Massachusetts encompassing a total of 523,517 acres (2,120 km2), averaging 67.5 acres (27.3 hectares) apiece, [1] but by 2017 this had declined somewhat again, to 7,241 farms in the state. [2] Greenhouse, floriculture, and sod products – including the ornamental market – make up more than one third of the state's agricultural output. [2] [3] Cranberries, sweet corn and apples are also large sectors of production. [3] Massachusetts is the second-largest cranberry-producing ( Vaccinium macrocarpon) state in the union after Wisconsin. [4] Agriculture in the state is served and represented by the Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR).
Fruit cultivation is an important part of the state's agricultural revenues. [5] The UMass Extension Fruit Program provides information to support growers. [5] Strawberries suffer from Botrytis Gray Mold (Botrytis cinerea) [6] and Tarnished Plant Bug (Lygus lineolaris) [7] here, and the Extension provides data sheets for both.
The Asian long-horned beetle (ALB, Anoplophora glabripennis) was detected in Worcester in 2008 and as of April 2021 [update] is still un eradicated. [8] However, a ALB population in Boston that was detected in 2010 has since been successfully eradicated. [8]
Cover cropping has been successful elsewhere and can be used here. [9] Akbari et al. 2019 finds that Winter rye ( Secale cereale) and Hairy vetch (Vicia villosa) are effective covers for weed control in Massachusetts. [9]