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Water Conservation Boosts Cranberry Production

State Grant Should Help Reduce Consumption, Boost Crops

POSTED: 11:32 am EDT June 16, 2009
UPDATED: 6:17 pm EDT June 16, 2009

There are massive renovations going on in Massachusetts cranberry bogs.

NewsCenter 5's David Brown reported that upgrades that are costing millions will keep local growers competitive in a growing global market.

As part of the renovation, hundreds of acres of Massachusetts cranberry bogs are being leveled. New irrigation is being put in and new varieties of vines are being scattered.

For bogs that have been producing cranberries for more than 100 years, this is a welcome face-lift courtesy of a $1.5 million state grant.

The state hopes to help growers reduce water consumption and energy use and bump up the yearly yield.

"Our growers are capable of producing some of the same yield of those growing regions but it requires investment in the properties. An investment in new technologies and investment in new varieties, it's pretty expensive," said Jeff LaFleur of the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers Association.

It is expensive to compete with cranberry growers in Wisconsin and Canada. It is estimated that it costs growers $30,000 to $40,000 per acre to renovate. Then they need to replant the bogs by scattering cut vines, all in an attempt to increase yield while cutting down on costs.

The newly planted bogs, however, should save a lot of money. It is estimated that every acre that is renovated will save 1 million gallons of water. Across the state, growers are renovating 500 acres.

"It's a lot of water and at the end of the day, a lot of money. So any time we can save half the amount of water, it saves us on electricity, fuel, and the most important thing is the water savings," said cranberry grower Scott Hannula.

Improving yields can be dramatic, with new bogs producing more than double the amount while using less water and energy.

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