ALBANY, N.Y. – The New York Agricultural Statistics Service released its New York Turfgrass Survey, which contains 2003 statistics, was compiled in November 2004 and was supported by the New York State Turfgrass Association and the New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets.
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“In recent years, the turf industry has become an increasingly important sector of New York’s agricultural industry,” said Nathan Rudgers, commissioner, Department of Agriculture & Markets, the State of New York. “As a result of this survey, we are better able to understand the actual impact of this industry on our businesses, our homes and on our state’s economy.”
According to the survey results, New York’s lawn care service companies accounted for 649,350 service accounts in 2003, an average of 333 accounts per company. These lawn care companies maintained a total of 278,850 acres in New York.
In 2003, the survey also identified that a total of 21,450 new turf acres were established by lawn care service companies at a cost of more than $43 million. Lawn care service companies employed 5,850 full-time and 7,800 part-time employees for a total of 13,650 employees in 2003. Total payroll for these employees was more than $154 million. The value of turf equipment owned or leased by lawn care service companies totaled more than $174 million.
Weeds were the top turf management problem for New York private residences in 2003, with 58 percent reporting. Another 36 percent said insects and grubs were the top problem, 28 percent said poor soil was a top issue, 22 percent said excessive shade was a problem and 20 percent said moles/voles were an issue. Poor drainage and drought came in at 17 and 16 percent, respectively.
Private residences spent more than $3.24 billion on turf maintenance expenses during 2003, with paid labor accounting for $965 million – or 29.8 percent – of their total expenses.
“The turf industry plays an important role in New York’s economy and way of life,” Rudgers explained. “Economically, environmentally and aesthetically, the turf industry is important to all New Yorkers.”