Acres – Cropland

Total cropland acreage has decreased in the state of Massachusetts by 16.0%. Every single county thoughtout the state saw a reduction in cropland acres. The percent reduction ranged from as low as a 6.4% reduction in Plymouth to an astouding 51.1% reduction in cropland acres in Dukes/Nantucket.

The huge reduction in harvested cropland acres can be attributed to increased population pressure, development, and suburban sprawl throughout the state. Most notably, these changes have been witnessed in the counties of Dukes and Nantucket. From 1970 to 2000, Nantucket had the highest population growth percentage (152.2%) followed by Dukes (145%). These figures are considerably large relative to the average statewide growth of 11% during that same period.¹ As more and more people migrate to these coastal counties, harvested cropland acres continue to diminish.

1 TRENDS IN THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF HUMAN POPULATION & THE MASSACHUSETTS MARINE ECONOMY http://www.mass.gov/czm/oceanmanagement/waves_of_change/pdf/trdemogecon.pdf